Life & Work with Julian Cooper of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julian Cooper.

Hi Julian, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve had a lifelong passion for comic books and movies, which led me to seeking out a career in the arts in anyway I could.

One of my first jobs was as a graphic designer which introduced me to the digital side of art, and later on I found myself working any job that would keep me in and around the arts, doing everything from caricatures of visitors at Universal Studios, to delivering art supplies to Disney Imagineers.

Having originally been from Los Angeles, I moved back home in October of 2019 right before the pandemic took hold and the shutdowns that followed.

In the span of that time, being shut inside I took to my own art again and with the nudging of my friend and mentor Sean L. Moore I decided to look into Storyboarding as a focus.

This would be an incredible turn for me as I quickly took to the core concepts and started freelancing, working on several projects, and soon after I was approached by Netflix for a position based on my background.

I would then have a stint at Nickelodeon where I learned a great deal from people like David Shair and Kevin Silva amongst others, who’d further my desire to create and understand storytelling.

And with that I set out to create a story that is now being turned into a graphic novel, which has been in development for better part of a year.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not ha.

I faced many moments and was often told that art was not a realistic or feasible career. I was encouraged to do literally anything else, and that mixed with the changing landscapes of digital art being introduced to the masses made it a career that seemed out of my reach for a long time.

The lockdown gave me the time and quiet to hone my skills and improve, but I was already in my 30’s by that time and was grappling with questions of if it was “too late to start”, and other insecurities that I’m sure all artists have at some point in the climb up.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a Storyboard and Comicbook artist. I specialize in action and comedy in boarding, while my art style for comics can vary wildly depending on the subject matter. I’m most proud of the book I’m currently in the process of writing ‘Loose Ends’, which is the culmination of a lot of my work up till this point.

I would say what sets me apart from others is that I’m legitimately insane and I think not just that I can do this, but that it’s what I am on this earth to do. So delusions of grandeur, mixed with a desire to pay my bills on time.

What makes you happy?
1. The Boston Celtics losing in the playoffs

2. Figuring out a technical aspect or overcoming an issue with a piece in working on.

3. My wife Monica, because if I did not mention here within at least top 3 I would be very unhappy and potentially in danger haha. She’s been an incredible partner and in my corner all the way enabling me to get to this point and it means the world to have that when you’re creating something.

4. Movies. Bad movies, good movies, foreign films, I love them all. Theaters are my church.

5. Learning. I’m constantly trying to learn new things and have new experiences, it gives me a sense of wonder and fascination that never seems to wane.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coopthemagnificent?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr