1-Who are you?

I'm Drew Black, hailing from the Thuringian Outback (Germany). Taught myself almost everything I know. Grew up an orphan, didn't get the same support and nurturing as other gifted kids. But hey, I didn't let it bring me down. Kept honing my skills and pushing forward.

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with comic books (Spider-Man, Batman, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, and MAD). I was so inspired by them that I started coming up with my own stories and drawing them out in comic strips. I used to crack up my classmates with my crazy caricatures. My art teacher thought I just doodle nonsense. But somehow, I managed to get into art college. No idea how that happened, but I'm not complaining.

When I got to art college, I tried my hand at a few different things, like graphic design and game design, photography and animation. But I quickly realized that Concept Art was my true passion. I love creating new worlds and characters, and I dare say that I'm good at it. I've worked at a few different game studios, finding some great friends along the way. But I'm a free spirit, and I need variety-the-spice-of-life to keep my spirits up. That's why I'm now a freelancer: I can work on projects that I’m really keen on, and I still have the time to devote to my own stuff.

2-What do you do for a living? How does making art fit in your life or what’s your daily art routine like?

I went through a pretty rough patch with the ‘big D’, and I still sometimes feel like I'm not good enough. But that's where my other passion comes in: Storytelling. My game design professor got me into that, and I learned to paint with words. That led me back to art through writing a novel. So now I'm always switching between writing and painting, hoping to come up with something cool. I don’t really have a daily art routine, in fact I find that for me routine is rather counter-productive when it comes to getting into the famous flow. When inspiration hits me, and be it at midnight, I’ll work like a dog ... until it’s time to go out walking my dog.

3-When did you discover digital art? How was your first ever experience with Procreate? What role does Procreate play in your everyday life?

I was a teenager when I discovered digital art. I was browsing DeviantArt and came across the amazing work of Genzoman and Artgerm. And I said to myself: 'Damn, I wanna do that!' So I got myself a graphics tablet and started painting with Adobe Photoshop CS & Corel Painter. I was a bloody beginner, but my horror characters did make it into some art magazines, which encouraged me to persevere with this line of work.

Then I discovered Procreate, thanks to my best buddy. A whole new world opened up to me! Procreate is so powerful and versatile, and it's incredibly easy to use. I was like, 'This is the best thing ever!', and so I started using Procreate for just everything: For my personal projects as well as for the jobs I take on. It's my go-to tool for all kinds of stuff, from painting to drawing to animation. I can't imagine my life without it, and I’ve never looked back.

4-How would you describe your art style? What do you think helped you develop it?

I started out as a comic artist, but I got discouraged by all the art snobs who told me I'd never make it. So I tried to be more realistic, but I just didn't have the patience for it. I'm too ADHD for that. When I got a job as a concept artist I had to be really detailed and precise. That was a wonderful challenge at first, but after a while it started to get boring. I wasn't having fun anymore, so I decided to start over. I bought an iPad and began using Procreate. I forced myself to forget everything I'd learned and just painted for fun. And that's when it happened: I found my style.

It's still evolving, but it's a mix of all the things I love about art. It's impressionistic, because I like to capture the feeling of a moment. It's experimental, because I'm always trying new things. And it's comic art, because I still love to tell stories. A bit of this, a bit of that, whatever fits the occasion. And it's all me.

5-Have you ever had an “Aha!” moment while developing your art skills? Tell us about it.

Yeah, I did. It was last year, when I was feeling really discouraged. I was watching all these people on the internet making beautiful realistic paintings with AI programs, and I was feeling as if I could never compete. But then I thought to myself: 'Okay, you can either sit around and curse those people for making your life harder, or you can let your inner rebel out and make your own work stand out.'

I started painting in a more impressionistic style, with bold colours and loose brushstrokes. I wanted my art to be expressive and emotional, not just technically perfect. And you know what? It worked! My paintings started to get more attention, and I started to feel more confident in my own style.

6-What motivates you to keep going when art block hits?

First, I try to focus on something else for a while. Maybe I'll write a little more on my novel, or I'll just take a break from art altogether. Sometimes, all you need is some fresh air and a fresh perspective.

Second, I try to figure out what's causing the block. Am I just feeling uninspired? Am I overwhelmed by a project? Once I know what's at the root of the problem, I can address it.

Third, I try to avoid long-term projects, especially if they're not well-paying. If I'm not feeling motivated, it's going to be a struggle to finish the project, so I’ve learnt say “no thanks” rather than exhaust myself.

And finally, I try to do something completely different. This could be anything from learning a new technique to trying out a new medium altogether. This will get my creative juices flowing again whenever I’ve come to a grinding halt.

7-Is there an interesting Youtube art channel, art book or any other type of art resource you would like to recommend for other artists to check out?

I'm always hitting up Haze Long & Marco Bucci on YouTube, and Aaron Griffin on ArtStation (senior concept artist at EA), to learn a thing or two. Haze Long is definitely worth a look for Procreate users!

8-What is your favorite Procreate Manero brush set and why?

Before the #BRUSHTOBER 2023 brush set, I would have said Thick Paint without a doubt. It's got a great range of authentic and versatile oil brushes, and it really encourages you to put a little extra time and effort into your paintings.

But now that I've got the new set, it's a toss-up. It's like a box of chocolates: You never know what you're gonna get. I love mixing and matching the different brushes to see what happens. And I'm a sucker for a little bit of dirt and grime, haha.

9-Where can people check out your art?

You can find me on Instagram @black.n.drew. I'm always posting new stuff, so be sure to follow me to stay up to date. I'm also planning to launch a website and Patreon in the future, where you can get prints of my work and support me directly.

Check out Drew's Instagram!

Artist Spotlight is a place where I'm interviewing artists that I personally admire, who's art I find very inspiring, and that also happen to use Procreate and my brushes as part of their artistic routine. Watch this space for more interviews in the future, and make sure to check each artist's links to show your support!

Check out Drew's recommended Manero brushes for Procreate, and many more!

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