Life & Work with Bobby Sassone of Irvine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobby Sassone.

Bobby, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
So I’ve been drawing since I was a toddler; one of my favorite childhood toys was a MagnaDoodle my parents gave me when I was 3 or 4. Anyone remember those things? Like the Etch A Sketch but way cooler? What happened to them?

I really began to apply myself to learn how to draw properly at the age of 13. Storytelling and sequential art has always been a fascination of mine, and I spent hours every day as a teen studying comic books; influences in my developing years include artists like John Buscema, Steve Ditko, and every teenager’s favorite comic artist Mike Mignola. How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way was like an art Bible to me for a lot of my formative years.

Surprisingly it took a while before I realized I wanted to pursue a career in the arts; I only got it after watching Avatar: The Last Airbender for the first time in freshman year of college. I was an undecided major at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa at the time, but after recognizing my professional calling I immediately transferred into the University’s fledgling animation program, made a couple of short films and graduated with a creative media degree. A small point of pride– I was the only animation student to graduate with Honors in my year. I flex that whenever I can.

Fast forward a few years and I’m now producing art in SoCal for my small business and teaching design at Laguna College of Art + Design.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road to a career in anything art-related is rarely smooth, and I’m no exception.

I spent the first few years out of college working retail jobs while scrounging for freelance work; finding a path was difficult for me considering I knew no one in the California art or animation industry at the time. The imposter syndrome that sets in in the aftermath of graduation is no joke, either. After years of managing a cash register or shoving carts around a parking lot, it becomes easy to wonder if this is all you’re meant for. To my fellow retail workers out there, let me reassure you: it isn’t.

I’ve also suffered from a mood disorder for most of my life and spent the majority of my college years with no idea how to cope with it, or even what was happening to me. Post graduation was particularly difficult. In recent years I’ve found ways to treat my symptoms that don’t affect my productivity and actually enhance it. Pro tip: if you’re an artist, do yourself a favor and go outside more. Walking in nature or a quiet neighborhood is a gift that keeps on giving.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My art specializes in whimsical, character driven pieces featuring bright colors and bright personalities! I love when art tells a story and really value being able to pack a lot of character into my work– whether it’s a comic page with a sequential narrative or a single doodle, the thing I respond to most about art is the story. I’ve worked as an animation concept artist, a traditional animator and a comic artist, but recently I’ve been spending more and more time delving into illustration. There’s a purity to devoting a lot of time and attention to a single image that’s hard to replicate.

What I’m most proud of is probably the work I’ve done as a designer for my own tabling business! I enjoyed working for clients and am proud of my past portfolio, but there’s something really special about bringing an image that’s entirely your own design to life, and seeing people respond to it. I recently started a product line of “Dapper Animal” designs that feature various kinds of animals dressed in vintage gear playing jazz instruments. It’s an aesthetic I’ve only just begun to explore.

What makes you happy?
Being an artist can feel like a solitary existence sometimes, but what really raises my morale is the time I spend with my friends and family. I think having a strong social fabric is vital for anyone working in the arts; there’s no way I’d have been able to thrive without the great people surrounding me!

I also have activities that I rely on for my health, mentally and physically. I’m an avid swing dancer and go dancing at least 3 times a week (shoutout to ATOMIC Ballroom in Irvine and Lindygroove in Pasadena), and I’ve actually met a lot of my closest industry friends through my time spent in the ballroom. It’s my second passion next to drawing; in fact I enjoy it so much I’ve made the leap from dancing socially to competitively in the last year. If you’ve ever considered giving it a shot, take the leap– it’s a welcoming community and I promise you won’t regret it!

Hiking is also up there as a form of therapy/exercise; I really value my time spent in the great outdoors and find California trails extremely refreshing. I’ve also recently started a gym routine and the old cliche about the gym boosting your morale is true. Come interview me in 6 months and I’ll send you some pics of my gains!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.coolbonesart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coolbonesman/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
• Other: https://www.starseerwebcomic.com/