Polyhedral Earth Society
CREATOR
4 days ago
Project Update: Artist Spotlight: John Cichowski
Hello Gamer Family,
We periodically do an artist spotlight to highlight the artist and inspire others to create more. We ask the artist a series of questions to provoke conversations and help spread positive energy.
Today, we feature John Cichowski. For this campaign, he chose pen and ink as his medium. His art is super cool, and we love how much attention he pays to the process of creating.
What initially drew you to art, and how did that passion evolve over time?
We periodically do an artist spotlight to highlight the artist and inspire others to create more. We ask the artist a series of questions to provoke conversations and help spread positive energy.
Today, we feature John Cichowski. For this campaign, he chose pen and ink as his medium. His art is super cool, and we love how much attention he pays to the process of creating.
What initially drew you to art, and how did that passion evolve over time?
- I got into art later in life. I was 30 when I took my first class at the Art Student’s League in New York City. I always wanted to draw and paint but was a professional procrastinator. This was when I started to make more good decisions than bad ones. I began finishing things that I started and keeping my word. I guess I finally started acting like an adult.
Can you describe a moment when creating art felt like a breakthrough or a transformative experience for you?
- After taking a few classes, I did a portrait drawing at the School of Visual Arts and finally thought I wasn’t wasting my time (and I enjoyed doing the work). I still have that drawing upstairs in my attic. I drew a chimpanzee 14 years ago that I will never sell.
What do you find most rewarding about the process of creating, even if the end result isn’t exactly as you envisioned?
- Doing work that I am proud of. I’ve given up trying to make art that other people like, if I don’t like what I’m doing, then why do it? I make art that I enjoy making. I am glad when people appreciate my efforts, but I don’t let them dictate what I create.
How do you overcome creative blocks, and what advice would you give to artists struggling with self-doubt?
- I mentioned before that I procrastinate. For me, “creative block” means that I’m being lazy. I make art every day. I think people hide behind the term “waiting for inspiration” as a cop-out for being afraid to fail, being lazy, or just being content with mediocrity. It’s easier to watch than to do or make or try . . . to coast through life on a sofa binge-watching Game of Thrones. Step up and do something. Participate in your own life.
Is there a piece of art (your own or someone else’s) that deeply influenced your journey as an artist? Why?
- I jump around looking at a wide variety of art, but the life and work of Norman Rockwell seems to be what I keep coming back to. I know he is not talked about much today, but I wish he was.
- For sci-fi and fantasy art I used to pour over the works of Frazetta, Boris, the Brothers Hildebrandt, and Michael Whelan (he did the Elric covers for DAW paperbacks). For comic art, Michael Golden, Gil Kane, Neal Adams, Marshal Rogers, for old school artists, later I really fell in love with Simon Bisley’s work and Arthur Adams. I’ve lost touch with the comic world, but the stuff I see now is amazing.
- For RPG art, I’m a product of the early 1980s. The art in first edition D&D, Metamorphosis Alpha (and later Gamma World), and Steve Jackson’s Fantasy Trip took up too much of the time I should have been spending studying in high school. Funny thing is I barely finished high school, and I now have a doctorate in education. I wish I could apologize to my high school teachers for being such a pain in the ass now that I’m in the education biz.
What would you say to someone who wants to start creating art but feels intimidated by the idea of not being ‘good enough’?
- Any artist that thinks they are “good enough” probably isn’t. : ) I have lots of really bad days and a couple of good ones that make it all worthwhile. Keep swinging muchachos.
What's one piece of advice you would give new artists that you wish you had known early on?
- Spend more time learning to draw, and then draw some more. Drawing is thinking on paper.
Do you have any social media links you want to highlight?
- I’ve been posting a daily drawing on Instagram since January 1st, 2019. I’m up to 2,134 consecutive days as of the time I’m typing this. Six or seven of them are pretty good.
https://www.instagram.com/johncichowskinow/
This guy is amazing. He spent 2,134 consecutive days creating, which is a considerable feat. We found him on Facebook and tracked him down to work with him. He's super easy to work with, and you can feel his passion for the art and how he treats the creation process.
Till next time,
1's over 20's because the story is better - Synica Melton.
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