I've been a fan of Bruce Lee since I was in diapers. As I got older I became more and more aware of his philosophies and realized that they could be applied outside the martial arts.
Bruce alway spoke of the solvency of martial art, how over time, a fighter can eventually discard the unnecessary elements of combat. This is part of what makes a discipline unique, not in name or style, but to the individual practioner.
I was constantly thinking to myself, 'can't the same thing be said for art?' Indeed it can! In fact it is my belief that visual arts is where the essence of this philosophy is most readily shown! So many artists, so many styles and schools of art, and yet nearly every art style is unique in one way or another to the artist who applies it and uses it in self expression.
For years and years I have strived to emmulate my favorite artists. Studying every panel and pencil line veraciously and every art style I've ever seen has one thing in common: They are not MINE. I've spent all this time comparing myself to the artists I idolized and I wound up barely developing my own skills, thus impeding my natural growth.
For a more practical way of looking at it, consider this: One of my favoite comic book pencilers is John Buscema. His pencil work was masterful and to this day I look at his work with a sense of awe. I could spend a lifetime honing my abilities and creating a body of work that is exactly identical to his and still not be satisfied because it would not be my own, and there would be a part of me that felt I would never reach his level.
This is possibly the most valid reason for my fear of rejection by a publishing company. Not because they think my work isn't good enough, but because I think my work isn't good enough, because I've been trying to do someone else's work.
Adversely, I have sought to stay away from more contemporary styles that many artists have aped over the past decade, namely the anime and manga styles that tend to emphasize AND overuse action shots and whose lack of subtance is nursed along or overcompensated for with computer coloring and manipulation. These artists rely heavily on the marketing machine (generating a buzz for the sole purpose developing a movie or animated series). But the cleaner and more improved my work becomes, as I discard unnecessary elements, and develop and hone what is useful (as Bruce so frequently taught), I am coming to the realizaton that my visuals contain a look and feel not that dissimilar from a manga style. Particularly in the simplicity of my line work.
Thus I must learn from this and accept that the manga influence is an irrevocable and beneficial influence on my work as a comic book artist. I will seek to develop myself further and in doing so remember what letterer Richard Starkings once wrote to me: "Style is always secondary to Craft." I will stop worrying over my visual style...forget that have a style...forget style all together, and give all that I have to my craft. My name is Ryan Scales. I am a storyteller.
-Ryan Scales
July, 2009
