We recently connected with Arden Myers and have shared our conversation below.
Arden , looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I believe having a strong work ethic is one of the keys to success, no matter what field or industry you’re in. My work ethic comes from my deep passion to do the best I can, and prove to myself I can in fact, do what I set my mind to. But if we are talking about where I get it from, it would be my parents, Rebecca and Jason. My parents are the hardest working people I know, and growing up around them has set the best example for who I want to become. Their work ethics reach beyond getting the job done, as they’ve passed on their grit, kindness, resilience, and most importantly— their optimism to me. Its them I thank for believing in my love for my craft.
Art has always been a huge form of self expression for me, and it’s something I’ve turned to when I didn’t have any other way to use my voice. To me, having a good work ethic is immensely rewarding and a big part of my identity. My work ethic is defined by the morals, standards, and principles I hold myself to, and it’s more than just being consistent and meeting deadlines. Work ethic is powered by your passion, your love for what you do, and your determination to see things through to the end.
Speed is key being a comic artist as we are telling stories through multiple drawings. For example, if you’re posting a comic online and update it every month, making sure you hit deadlines is essential to keep your audience engaged. There have been many times where Ive struggled to pick up the pace, and fought against burnout when producing comics. If theres one thing that has kept me grounded through that it is remaining as optimistic as possible, like my parents have raised me to be. More so, reminding myself why I started doing what I do in the first place, and finding new ways to challenge myself.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a Story and Comic artist based in New York, currently heading into my Senior year at SCAD. My studies at school are in Sequential art and Storyboarding for animation. I’d like to think I have a good range of interests in visual arts, and feel like I’m at a point where I can apply the skills i’ve developed to several areas. I consider myself a pretty flexible person who is open to trying new mediums.
However, my primary focus is in comics, editorial for comics, and specifically at the moment Webtoon, as I’m currently working on publishing a series called “Best Mateys” to the platform! It’s a coming of age comedy series that follows three sisters as they adventure from their home island to help boost their family business, while also grasping their newfound independence of adulthood. I love telling stories that involve the struggles of interpersonal relationships we have with those around us, and how they form us into who we become. The story is also very inspired from my personal life, as I am the oldest of three sisters. This story has grown with me over the past year and I am so excited to share it with the world, so keep an eye out for Best Mateys on Webtoon!
The thing about writing stories that I I love so much is how every writer and person has such unique experiences, in which inspire stories from their own life. With stories, you can write a number of endings, events, and ideas. You get to choose where the story goes… But obviously, in real life you can’t control that, and some things are unfortunately inevitable. I think that’s why I love story telling so much, there’s a magic to it almost!
I’ve always loved writing my own stories, but it wasn’t until a year ago I discovered a different path I could take in the comics industry. For almost a year now, I’ve been working at a grassroots publisher in Savannah called Level Ground Comics. I’ve been working as an Editor and have recently been promoted to Webcomics Committee Head which focuses on webcomics specifically. At Level Ground, we have editorial services for students and creatives around the world, to practice professionalism and provide platforms for artists trying to break into the comics industry! We host an abundance of projects such as Anthologies and Zines for artists to participate in and get editorial advice through the process. If you’re an artist looking for a way to get your name out there, Level Ground Comics is the place for you!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I believe different people have different qualities that serve them the best in their personal journeys. For me, being taught to lead with kindness, empathy, and learning to master time management has proven to be the most impactful qualities in my journey thus far.
Being raised to treat people with nothing but kindness has led me to developing strong emotional intelligence, and I’ve always considered myself quite a friendly person. I love collaborating with other artists and creatives, and find the most joy in art when Im working with a team instead of working solo. But of course, many times in work and outside of work this kindness has been taken advantage of, which I’ve struggled with before and throughout college. But honestly, not once will I ever wish I was any other way, because that kindness has brought me so many incredible people, friends, and opportunities. Not just that, but emotional intelligence fuels my stories too, by giving people characters they can see themselves in and relate to.
Now we all know the beast that is time management… It can be overwhelming and tricky to find a balance, but managing your time is truly a muscle you have to exercise, and overtime you DO get better at it. However, the key I’ve found to managing my time is accessing how much i’m able to take on my plate at once, so I’m not drowning in work and setting myself up for success. Its also totally okay to say no to things too! I’ve always found myself to be a yes girl, taking on every project and role that comes my way. It’s something I’m still trying to get better at, but learning your limits can do a lot of good for yourself and those around.
Creatives need time to reset and unplug, so my biggest piece of advice to is make sure you’re conserving your energy for art, and finding new ways to make it new and exciting for yourself. Its easier said than done of course, but taking time to examine what motivates you is essential to any work ethic, and once you find that source of motivation you’ll feel unstoppable!!
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Yes, I am! I’m always looking for new projects to work on and collaborate with artists in in and outside of my school. I love working with other creatives, I feel like most of the growing i’ve done here at SCAD has been because of my peers and friends who push me to be a better artist!
I’m looking for ways to challenge myself and I love working with creatives who are passionate, driven, and eager to break into the industry like myself. If anyone is open to collaborating on indie projects or passion/personal projects, don’t hesitate to reach out to me on instagram or through email!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ardenkmyers.myportfolio.com
- Instagram: @exaggeratedbubble
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arden-myers
Image Credits
Art illustrated and created by Arden Myers
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
