Interview with Kevlen Goodner

I was able to catch up with illustrator Kevlen Goodner and ask him a few questions about professional development as an artist.

Please tell me about your art practice. What different types of things do you do?

I'm an illustrator. Which means I tell stories visually. So, I do everything from comics, graphic novels, to advertising, and everything in between.

Describe your typical week in the studio, at home or other activities.

I work everywhere. Studio, home, coffee shops, restaurants. Everywhere. I try to keep typical business hours. So the bulk of my work is done between 9am and say 9pm.

Describe your influences. What sources or artists do you look to for inspiration?

I have literally dozens of Influences. I draw inspiration from everywhere. Comic books however, remain my touchstone. John Buscema, Jack Kirby, Alex Ross, Brian Stelfreeze, Kim Jungi, Norman Rockwell. So many others. I study their works on a daily basis.

Where is your studio and what does it look like? (Can you share any photos?)

I have a studio space at Mellwood Art Center in Louisville Ky. I share the space with my publishing imprint Eureka Comic Labs which I co-founded in 2010. It's a small but intimate and well curated workspace.

How do you balance your art practice and other non-art related responsibilities or jobs?

I don't know if there IS a balance between my work and the rest of the world. My work IS my world. It's also given me an opportunity to build relationships. So, my work is what drives me. I travel, teach, and meet fascinating people because of my work. "Balance" is overrated. Lol!

What opportunities for professional development have been most helpful to you? Were there things that were more helpful in your earlier years to get you started or help you become more professional?

I had nothing but positive reinforcement from my loved ones. Like most creative endeavors however, there's no one path to persue. It took me many years to figure out my purpose. Not to mention the hours of hard labor to achieve a certain level of proficiency. The most impactful conversation for me early on was having an art teacher tell me that comics are NOT art. I say, In the immortal words of Diddy..."TAKE THAT, TAKE THAT!..."

Can you share what ways have helped you get your work out there the best or most consistently?

I work in public anytime I can. I do workshops, classes, and of course share my process through social media. I try to demystify the creative process so that everyone can see that "talent" isn't real. Hard work! That's real.

Would you mind sharing and social media links?

you can find me @KevlenGoodner our @ILLEST-STRATOR on facebook, instagram, Twitter, etc