DF artist's possible mainstream backgrounds?

[Demosthenes]

I assume that many (most?) of the artists on here have done work in mainstream comics or animation. Might we be familiar with some of it? And does working for DF (or in adult comics in general) burn some bridges in the mainstream comic industry?

[ernestgreene]

No doubt. Throughout the history of mainstream comics, artists have done sexual material under assumed names. Major comic publishers will fire an artist discovered to be doing work of a sexual nature in a heartbeat.

A number of very famous American artists, going back to Superman co-creater Joe Shuster, who did bondage art as a sideline, have done this for some extra money (comic artists are notoriously underpaid) or because they enjoyed the material.

But comics have been suspected of corrupting young people in this country since the ridiculous hysteria generated by Senator Estes Kefauver's congressional investigation back in the early Fifties, which led to the hated Comics Code, and the big players in the comics industry have been ruthless about enforcing a strict separation between adult illustration and mass-market 'toon fare.

One unfortunate result of this has been the failure of the U.S. to develop it's own market for graphic novels aimed at adult audiences, long an accepted genre in Europe but nearly non-existent here until a small number of brave artists like Art Spiegelman and Frank Miller broke the curse with powerful works like Maus and The Dark Knight Returns (which revived the moribund Batman franchise by daring reinvention).

Overall, like most big media, mainstream comics tend to e very conservative when it comes to content and quickly distance themselves from artists who don't fall into line with the prevailing policies.

[Demosthenes]

Thoughtful post Ernest.



A mainstream comic book industry that gives us imagery like this and then shies away from artists who do actual adult comic work is more than a bit hypocritical.

[Ferres]

They maybe good at the cheesecake stuff but when they actually do nudes, the end result is a little less desirable.

Comicbook anatomy does not always equal real anatomy.

[STeve]

I did a long stint in comics, but mostly kids stuff; Transformers, He-man, Power Rangers, that kind of thing. Not much opportunity for sexy pin-ups in that area. Then again...My little pony?

[Demosthenes]

Why did you transition into adult comics? More financial opportunities? Or did you just tire of the mainstream stuff?

[STeve]

Year after year of tight deadlines and long hours took it's toll, especially when I was bored with the subject matter. I pretty much just burnt out.

I moved into book illustration and illustrated stories. This gave me a whole new area of work and more time to do it. At that point, I noticed that online illustration, especially in pornographic subjects was taking off, so I sent Nuria some BDSM samples and have never looked back.

The content is fun and it is the most regular source of work I have ever had, both major advantages over other options.

I have been illustrating stories here for ten years or so, mostly Geoff Merrick's amazing work, and I love it! I understand that most readers buy the comics and don't subscribe to BDSMartwork, so don't see much of my work.

I don't understand why subscribing at http://www.bdsmartwork.com/home.htm isn't more popular, For your subs you get a comic a month and all the BDSMartwork content too, which amounts to many hundreds of illustrated stories, thousands and thousands of images all updated regularly.

Seems like a no-brainer?

[ROBERTS]

I'm also a fugitive from the "mainstream". I have always drawn my own sex illustrations and BDSM 'toons, but it had to be a closely guarded secret due to my real-world art..I began my "professional" art career in print production..the technical/mechanical side. Yes, I know the ancient Black Arts of Making layouts, boards, shooting films, burning plates, stripping negatives, air brush and real photo retouching. As an illustrator, my love of technical precise drawing got me jobs in motion picture design and storyboards. I found myself drawing designs for Warner Bros. "Looney Toons" characters (Taz, Bugs, Daffy, Etc.) and also went to Orlando Fl. for awhile working on Disney projects. All of this is awfully boring once you get "inside" and realize just how little actual art and creativity exists in mainstream. It's all about business. Long hours, impossible jobs, low pay, and no respect at all.

My first published line art illustrations came out because some L.A. pulp porn publishers decided they liked my style, so in the '90s my art began to appear in print in BDSM paperback mags. A lifelong friend, one Goddess Diana Vesta (a fem dom of note) published episodes of a BDSM comic I did in her niche' magazine for awhile. Then this Internet thing happened...I got my first computer in '99. I began posting free pics in the newsgroups every day. My inbox flooded. I had created an instant fan club for myself. I opened my first website and it was an instant hit. At the same time, Nuria and I had found each other and since DoFantasy was still exclusively doing printed comics, I appeared in DoFantasy FANSADOX comic books. The success of that collaboration led us to where we are today. Many comics later and a partnership in Roberts-Comics.com, we are still doing it. I don't really go near anything mainstream now, it's not worth it, it's no fun, and you have to deal with far too many untalented people in positions of authority. I just don't need that. I'd rather go in my garage and build motorcycles. Yes, I do that too.

I am what is called a "lifestyler"...I live the BDSM sex life in real world. My art is a real expression of who I am. It is part of me, not just a job I do. My girlfriend-lover-slavegirl can attest to this (once I remove her gag) and we are both now creating my art together, she being a fabulous Photoshop artist and digital painter. This, for us, is a life. It is not just a job or career, it is our true selves.

[ROBERTS]

And as a PS, I'll throw down on the subject of BDSMArtwork.com

I am, like Nuria and Steve and most of the other artists, completely confused. The huge volume of content in that website should have it in the top ratings of most popular toon/comics websites. It's just friggin HUGE. Everything you could possibly want is there..for one price. And it updates. All the time. I can't understand why this site isn't overwhelmed with members.

Now I do know that Nuria made the concious decision a few years ago to shift the main product of DoFantasy away from members sites and paper books, and make the #1 product the downloadable PDF comic. Is it that everyone prefers to wait until they get to cherry-pick their specific taste in pervert BDSM art now? Has this become a case of people not buying a monthly membership because they can buy a complete comic by itself now? Feel free to clarify this issue, I am very curious.

[Demosthenes]

It's striking how many artists in both the mainstream and on here I've seen call Disney a terrible employer!
It's not something outside of the industry would associate with that company...