I’m amused by the fact that American comic-book artists discourage anime-influenced illustration styles in general. And not even just comic-book artists. There’s an overall stigma attached to anime-influenced styles when dabbling in the American artist community.

This is, of course, a cruel generalization. There are, as always, various gradients in the spectrum. Still, my experience for the most part has been relatively negative.

It’s like snubbing digital artists because their artwork isn’t traditional, hence lacks that validity.

Art is art, and it’s all a matter of personal preference. Taste is one of those gray areas shaped by a variety of factors. American comics are not my cup of tea, yet I don’t make a point of devaluing them because they don’t happen to please my tastes.

It’s not about whether one is better or worse than the other. It’s about cherishing the differences in both, and valuing each style on its own terms.

I recall the unfortunate case of an acquaintance that did gorgeous traditional illustrations. They struggled finding their own style, the way a writer struggles finding their own unique voice, then fell into the pressures of people not ‘taking them seriously’ because their style was anime-based.

It was unfortunate, but after this discouragement, it suddenly seemed like they were ashamed of their roots, trying to branch out as far as possible, resulting in not so very aesthetically pleasing, bastardized results.

Generic, lacking pathos.

There’s nothing wrong with experimentation. I’m very much an advocate for it. And there’s nothing wrong with innovating and encouraging the evolution of one’s style.

In their case, I suppose they were trying to find a niche for themselves in an area more close to home. They were thinking in terms of profitable profession rather than caprice. It was a necessary step, if they were going to get anywhere in the industry.

I remember their being so heavily invested in manga, then out of the blue there was that switch to American comics and this obsession to draw on those terms.

It was a shame to see that beautiful style wither and shift into something lacking pathos, though there’s nothing to say this is nothing more than a phase, that awkward adolescent phase when puberty hits, and it’s only a matter of time before their style blooms into adulthood.

I’m very capricious, and don’t particularly like to compromise my vision. It’s both a blessing as well as a curse, and it’s certainly something I make a point of working on.

As an armature artist trying to carve up a name for one’s self, one has to put pride aside and sell out as well as compromise, in much the same way a writer must, if one expects to make a living out of either career.

The key thing is the element of choice. One is able to choose just how much they’re willing to bend. Establishing soft limits as well as hard ones is essential from the very beginning.

If one is going into this specific career, one has to be willing to bend, compromise and constantly be open to redefinition and improvement. A newbie stubborn artist is a capricious starving artist.

C’est triste, mais vrai.

Going back to my initial point of the futility of comparison— it’s difficult, but it’s something that must be avoided. In all aspects of life, really.

Avoid comparisons, and value each thing for what it’s worth. Looking at things in a hierarchical manner only blurs judgement, and taints the overall enjoyment experience.

You can’t compare apples to oranges, despite the fact that they’re fruit.