Today we’d like to introduce you to Christie Shinn.
Christie, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I am an artist, and I don’t give a sh*t. I used to; then I realized that it only held me back. When I started drawing for myself purely, then my stuff became rad, and people actually liked me for me. I went through my college years at UC Santa Barbara – strangely not partying and making an ass of myself, but I actually studied and never went on academic probation! Hooray for me! Now, I sit down and home and draw really mean cartoons of everything stupid I see around me in my personal life, and it makes people laugh! That’s gratifying within itself.
Also, I’ve made some awesome friends along the way and met my heroes. I’ve always wanted to be published with Fantagraphics, but I figured being out on my own has taught me to be vile and professional in all ways possible. I also love talking to people and with my fans very openly and honestly. I’ve even started a ‘Lunch Hour’ on my Facebook live and talk about the ups and downs of being an artist. It’s mostly to shy away about being ‘perfect’ because f*ck that sh*t!
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I illustrate and draw comics. Mostly, it’s about things/people I f*cking hate. I create artwork out of all the assholes that have bothered me and my friends on a deeply personal level. I started it because I had just moved to LA in 2009 and I had to deal with the crust of sh*t that people inevitably do when they first move to LA. I consider that a training ground. The first book was, “Personal Monsters – A Compendium of Monstrosities of Personality.” It was either that, or I commit murder. So, I’m not in jail, and that means I make great life choices.
However, in my upbringing and in society, we’re supposed to shy away from anger and all the sh*tty hate pile we get in the most unhealthy ways possible. Mostly, that we should just “get over it” – which in layman’s terms is just shove it down inside until we spew it out unto others or just make ourselves so keyed up that we start being pissy to just about everyone else, including ourselves. However, whenever I’ve gotten really mad, I become funny because hey, who wouldn’t like to laugh at their sh*t? If I don’t laugh like a goon when I draw ‘Demon Bitch,’ then it’s not really funny to people. I have to laugh like an asshole to my own cartoons. They can tell when I like it; they’re going to like it.
What I’ve found in my personal and spiritual journey, is that you NEED to go through the hate pile and just admit it. If you have a problem, it’s best to assess it in its full entirety, and that’s how you get it out of your system and forgive. I also find in our current rules of society also gives us nice little “safe” ways to deal with it, which doesn’t work for everyone else. I’m not saying punch out some asshole that gives you sh*t or do stupid sh*t like murdering someone – but really admit how you feel, regardless of anyone else telling you that’s wrong, then logically talking your way through the issue. NEVER CONDEMN YOUR FEELINGS. Holy sh*t, they’re yours – own up to them.
There are also many types of forgiveness. You can’t just “forgive” right away unless you’re Jesus or Buddha or any of those Ascended Masters of whatever you choose to believe in. Sometimes you really can let it go and reconcile. Sometimes you just don’t give a f*ck anymore. Whatever way you do it, you need to do it for yourself. Now today’s society may gasp and think, “OMG, that’s selfish.” What I find is more selfish is spewing your sh*t unto people that don’t deserve it and saying stupid, trite sh*t and not listening to the individual and what they need. The advice given by most people is to satisfy their own ego and it f*cking sucks balls to the person that needs it. Listening to people is more helpful than saying stupid sh*t.
There is also this pressure to be perfect.
You do not need to be perfect. Again, YOU. DO. NOT. NEED. TO. BE. PERFECT. Do your own thing. If you think that’s an issue with client work, it isn’t. I hear artists bitch a lot about jobs that they hate, and you know, I’ve been down that road. However, if you are being you, you will be much happier as your tribe will gravitate to you. Hell, you might just find your own true love, even. Trust me; you’ll be happier. It’s scary and hard, but it will ultimately be worth it. More people than you know will accept you because you’re showing the balls to them that it’s okay to be themselves.
In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
Being honest with themselves and what they’re capable of. No, I’m not talking about how much they can expand artistically. I’m talking about just doing what you want and not killing yourself about it. What I hate is when artists half my age start overworking themselves to the point of being insane or cutting their careers short with repetitive-stress injuries. Just stop. Take care of yourself. Yes, you do have to work a lot. No, don’t overwork yourself. There is this illusion that you have to die for your artwork, but you won’t be around to enjoy the benefits and fruits of your labor if you do.
Also, you have to adapt. I have to talk to people and learn basic social media skills. Does that mean you have to be a car salesman? No, because people generally f*cking hate car salesman. Be YOU. If you’re quiet, fine. Great. But you only need 30 seconds to a minute overview of each book you have. Also, not everyone is going to be as critical or as judgemental of you as yourself, except if they’re an asshole and they don’t deserve your attention anyway. Take the constructive criticism – but don’t follow it if in your gut you know it isn’t right for you.
Also, be f*cking nice. No one likes a person that is a dick without reason. Some people don’t deserve your time or kindness, and if you get screwed over, it’s a learning experience. I had people tell me that I was “too nice” or “too trusting.” However, the irony is that if you are never nice or trusting, you never get anywhere. You just learn who and when to trust people. Feel in your gut about the red flags. It’s okay to take a break and wait. It’s okay to relax and hang out.
In addition, sometimes you will feel nothing does nothing. That no matter what you do, it doesn’t mean sh*t. Give it time. Keep doing the thing. Adjust if you need to. You don’t need to completely slash-and-burn everything all of the time. Little adjustments are enough to get you on the right track.
Most of all, HAVE FUN. Sometimes it’s hard, and it sucks, but overall, I do have fun. Aspire to have fun and enjoy your life. You wouldn’t want to do anything else, now would you?
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can see my work on Comixology, Amazon, and contacting me through my own personal website.
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.amazon.com/Christie-Shinn/e/B07NY66ZJC?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_5&qid=1556346716&sr=8-5.
MY WEBSITE: www.HoraToraStudios.com
[If you type goredance.com, that goes there too. :)]
I also have links to my ‘Lunch Hour’ on my website that I show every M-F 1230-130PM PST. Sometimes I can’t do it because of other obligations like life and cons, but it’s up there 90% of the time anyway, and I save all the videos if you can’t make it.
LINKS
TWITCH: http://www.twitch.com/HoraToraStudios
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChristieShinn
FACEBOOK LIVE: https://www.facebook.com/christie.shinn
To support my work, you can buy my stuff, or contribute to my Patreon to help keep this stuff going. I seriously do talk with people.
PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/HoraToraStudios.
Hell, just send me an email through my website (if it isn’t sh*tty) or contact me at [email protected].
Oh yeah, my Instagram and Twitter are at: @horatorastudios
Contact Info:
- Website: www.HoraTorastudios.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/HoraToraStudios
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/HoraToraStudios
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/HoraToraStudios
- Other: goredance.com
Image Credit:
Christie Shinn
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