Life & Work with Laurel Brock of Sherman Oaks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurel Brock

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Thanks for having me! My journey has been quite the ride. Born in Scotland and raised in Houston, Texas, I discovered my love for creative expression early on. By seven, I had my first art show, and by twelve, I was working backstage in theater. My enthusiasm extended to art, television, comics, and movies—if it involved storytelling, I was hooked.

Naturally this led me to study theatrical design at the University of Texas at Austin, where I earned a BA with a focus on costume and set design. Discovering that I could turn my zeal for playing make-believe into a career was thrilling and set me on an exciting, albeit winding, path.

During college, I worked with a university-affiliated production company and developed a fascination for film design. This newfound passion drove me to LA with everything I could fit in my pickup truck. Fifteen years later, I’ve become an accomplished Art Director and Graphic Designer in TV, with credits including “The Wonder Years” (2021), “Abbott Elementary,” and “Black-ish.”

Alongside my television career, I also pursue my love for sequential art through comic creation. My latest comic, “Keola,” is a follow-up to my debut comic “PANDAdemic.” Both fall under a subgenre I’ve coined “Modern Historical Fiction from the Point of View of Animals,” blending animal biology and historical facts with humor. Creating comics allows me to craft my own narratives and express my artistic vision in a personal way.

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?
That’s a great question. After graduating, I faced obstacles breaking into the film industry in Austin and even considered law school. I remember sitting by my apartment pool with an LSAT prep book when I received a call offering me “one last show.” That film introduced me to a Production Designer from Los Angeles who became an incredible mentor, prompting me to move west with only three hundred dollars to my name.

When I arrived in LA, I was fortunate to stay busy with work, though I faced difficulties along the way, such as the writers’ strikes and the pandemic. During these periods, I channeled my energy into my comic projects. The pandemic inspired my first comic, “PANDAdemic,“ while the recent writers’ strike led to my latest creation, “Keola,” which explores the life of the world’s oldest living wild bird.

Based on true events, “Keola” is a poignant tale of grit, determination, and survival. Learning to fly, survive and thrive in a harsh environment, we follow this incredible albatross throughout her lifetime as Keola braves her harsh environment, struggling through a series of unfortunate events.

These personal projects transformed challenging times into creative opportunities, and I’ve been thrilled to see both comics top the New Releases Charts on Amazon in their respective genres.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in art direction and graphic design for television, crafting eye-catching environments that elevate productions. My varied background and passion for creativity in different mediums sets me apart. I take pride in being adaptable and inventive, whether I’m working on TV, film, or live events.

In my free time, I channel my love for imagination into comics, balancing television work with comic creation to keep myself creatively inspired and engaged. I enjoy mixing historical facts with comedic narratives, showing that sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction. A big part of maintaining this creative rhythm comes from my dog, Luke Skybarker. Our walks often turn into impromptu sketch sessions, where his supportive energy helps me stay sharp with my drawing practice.

While I’m incredibly proud of my work in television and film, one of my most special moments was meeting some pandas up close at the Atlanta Zoo after writing my debut comic “PANDAdemic.” It was an incredible experience to connect with these creatures I had spent so much time researching. Meeting them was like meeting a best friend for the first time. It’s also been humbling to realize how my follow-up comic, “Keola,” has been received by readers. Though I never aim to make people cry, hearing how deeply some have connected with Keola’s story has truly touched and inspired me to keep telling these tales.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
During the Covid-19 pandemic, I found myself with unexpected free time as the entertainment industry effectively shut down. While trying to make sense of the world’s chaos, I discovered a fascinating story about two middle-aged pandas who mated for the first time when their zoo closed due to the lockdown. These pandas, often misunderstood, inspired me. Giant pandas get a bad rap for being lazy and uncooperative in captivity, but in the wild, they’re actually quite frisky.

Feeling a surprising connection to the pandas’ situation, I channeled my energy into creating “PANDAdemic,” a comic about the pandemic from the pandas’ point of view. Working on the comic during lockdown allowed me to explore themes of resilience and adaptation, turning a difficult time into something inspirational and meaningful.

While the pandemic was an extremely tough period, it taught me that I could use my creative skills to tell my own stories, which I’m now proud to share with you all. I plan to continue telling these animal tales, so stay tuned if you’re interested in the next installment!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.laurelbrock.com/comics.html
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurelkbrock/
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2247754/

Image Credits
Personal Photo by Wendy Kutzner
Author Photos by Luc-Richard “L.R.” Elie
Product Photos by Laurel Brock