We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michael Beaumont Jr a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Michael, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Growing up, I have always been a visual storyteller. I would fill school notebooks with fantastical creatures and heroic warriors born from my imagination. In these doodles, I drew exciting adventures that I wished I could go on and created whimsical characters that I wanted to befriend in my day to day life. It wasn’t until middle school when a classmate asked to read what I was making. I will never forget the stars in his eyes as he fell in love with the world I had created. From that moment on, I knew my life’s purpose was to share my stories with the world. As I grew older, I learned that there were many ways to tell stories, with some mediums being more effective than others. My love for storytelling only deepened as I was exposed to different mediums including illustration, photography, video editing, motion graphics, graphic design, and social media marketing. While the accolades and awards reassure me that people enjoy my work, what motivates me to keep creating is hearing how my work has inspired others. I am honored to play a small role in the future generation of creators finding their voice and sharing their stories with the world. Like I always say: “Everyone has a story to tell, so let’s hear yours.”
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am best known for my YouTube Channel, Monitor Comics. I created this channel 5 years ago to teach beginner artists and writers how to tell their own stories. In that time, the channel has grown to 90,000 subscribers and I have achieved over 6 million views. My videos range from tutorial content to writing workshops to industry interviews, I have even been invited to attend conventions like Fan Expo Philadelphia as a guest in the past.
As an illustrator, I have almost 10,000 followers on Twitter where I share my stories with the world. In the past, I have done paid work for brands like FlorkofCows, Gamersupps, and Swiss Alpine Wealth Management. I have collaborated with digital art tablet brands including XP-PEN, Huion, Gaomon, Xencelabs, Frunsi, and UGEE. I have also gone viral several times, with some of my comics reaching hundreds of thousands of views.
In my day to day life, I really enjoy photography. You can find me traveling to universities to take graduation photos or wondering around my neighborhood photographing nature. While I am formally trained in using studio equipment, I enjoy capturing the everyday moments that are often overlooked.
Looking forward, I will be a guest judge for UGEE’s 3rd Halloween Contest on December 14. I look forward to seeing all of the submissions and awarding prizes to the talented artists! I also have paid projects releasing soon for companies including VCardTCG and VFleet, so keep an eye out for those!
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?
1) Understand That Social Media Is A TOOL
A lot of artists and writers are afraid to put themselves out there. They fear rejection or are insecure about the quality of their work. Unfortunately, in this day and age social media is essential for growing an online brand and making a name for yourself. Even traditional publishers and companies take your social media presence into account when scouting new talent. The sooner you can take advantage of social media, the better off you will be. To do this, analyze viral trends, network with other creators, and have fun!
2) Fake It Until You Make It
Nobody starts out having a million connections or industry contacts. You make those connections by being authentic and taking advantage of opportunities when they come your way. Don’t be afraid to enter your work into contests, DM other creators, or send your portfolio in for reviews. If you come off as an amateur, people will view you as an amateur. Present yourself in a professional way and people will treat you like a professional. As you grow as an artist, you will have more accomplishments and accolades to support your work. Until then, do your best to continue to develop your skills, research what is working for others, and hold your head up high!
3) Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help
It is no secret that most artists are very independent people. We want to do everything ourselves. It is okay to ask for help from others in your community or network. The quickest way to grow online and get more views on your work is to collaborate with others and create “shareable content.” Aside from the numbers, you don’t want to be alone when you are at the top, so take some time to get to know others pursuing the same dream as you.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The most important thing my parents did for me was believe in me. Most artists know this, but pursuing a career in art is very unstable and unpredictable. Hard work is not always rewarded. Sometimes, high level skills are not even rewarded. Depending on the field, you might not even know where your next payment is coming from. The beauty of art is there are many different pathways you could take. You could be a freelance artist working for many different clients or a contracted artist working for a large studio. Whichever path you choose, it will be an uphill battle. Despite this, my parents still continued to support me because they knew art was the one thing in my life I truly loved. When I was 12 years old, my father worked extra shifts to buy me my first Wacom Art Tablet and Copic Marker set to further develop my skills. My mother enrolled me in art programs at school and pushed me to apply to a performing arts high school. While they knew pursuing a career in the arts would be difficult, they still chose to help me hone my craft and kindle the fire in my heart. I will always be grateful for the belief they had in me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://michaelabeaumontjr.wixsite.com/portfolio
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MonitorComics
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
