Today we’d like to introduce you to Saul Washington.
Hi Saul, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I’m an Illustrator and Graphic Novelist originally from Charleston, SC. At a young age, I saw a picture of Hal Foster at his art table drawing Prince Valiant. When I saw that, I knew what I wanted to do someday. After high school, I served 26 years in the United States Marine Corps. Upon retirement from the Corps, I decided to pursue a lifelong goal and become a professional Illustrator. I graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco where I received a BFA in Illustration. Since graduation, I now reside in San Diego.
I’ve done traditional illustrations for greeting cards and storyboards for a children’s show. In the fall of 2021, I was part of a group of military veteran artists that created original art for a new VA Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Comics and Graphic Novels are my favorite medium. I love to tell stories. The genres I enjoy working in most are Historical Fiction and Science Fiction. I’m actively pursuing opportunities in children’s books and comics. It has taken a while, but I’m finally doing what makes me the happiest.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Where I grew up in South Carolina during the 80s, there weren’t any nearby schools to teach me what I needed to learn. This was also before the internet as we know it today. No one advising me could speak intelligently on the subject. The only art education I had growing up was from art books. I still have the first Art Book my mother bought me in 1980, “How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way”, my most prized possession. I collected a total of over 160 “How To Draw” books before going to the Academy of Art University.
One of the many struggles was losing bad habits I developed being self-taught. The other struggle I had to overcome was that I learned art concepts out of context. I didn’t fully understand many art fundamentals.
Lastly, finding the time to do the work and not losing your enthusiasm was always challenging. Life can sometimes get in your way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an Illustrator that works in a comic book art style. What exactly is an Illustration? An illustration is art that works. The type of work I specialize in is Narrative Illustration, art that tells a story. I also specialize in Editorial Illustration, art that expresses an opinion. An Illustrator’s job is to solve visual problems when illustrating ideas and concepts.
Work I’m most proud of? Until I can draw a picture exactly the way I see it in my head, that would probably be the art I created for the VA Hospital in Boston. I provided illustrations representing the six branches of service. They’re being displayed at the main lobby entrance. I hope to one day see it in person.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Try to find your tribe. Look for people that are doing exactly what you want to do and try to learn from them. Find a community of people doing the work that you want to do and join them. Learn from them. Do everything that they are doing. Don’t just copy their actions, but also understand the why behind it. Once you do that, find a way to make it simpler and streamlined. Make it your own. Most of all, don’t stop trying.
“If you hang around the barber shop long enough, sooner or later, you are going to get a haircut.”
Contact Info:
- Website: IllustratorByNight.weebly.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/saulwashington
- Facebook: Facebook.com/illustratorbynight
- Twitter: @Saul_Version_3
Image Credits
Saul A Washington III
