This is artist/writer Brian Talbot… (the one with the long hair, not the guy eating the fish taco.  That was just some guy at the restaurant earlier that day.)

Brian Talbot has done a lot of work in his career, but the book that always stood out to me was “A tale of one bad rat.” It was a very powerful story that helped me personally heal from a lot of emotional pain, and its something I’ve bought for many friends to help them.  It was cool getting to meet him and tell him in person, although I’m certain he gets it all too often  There were quite a few other artists on the panel.  I believe it was called “After the first 1,000 pages.” Referring to the fact that it takes a person 10,000 hours to get prolific at any one thing.  Which breaks down to roughly 1,000 pages in comic book terms.  I figure I am close to that in my own career. Although its hard to tell these things.

I tried doing sketches of Gene Colan and a few other people on the panel but none really turned out.  I think it could have been a really amazing discussion, but the moderator was frustratingly passive and hardly asked any questions, most of which were not all that engaging and didn’t really get artists talking to each other.  He even ended the panel early.  These things happen I guess.

The thing that came up over and over from the artists is the love for doing what you’re doing.  Not doing it for credit, or for fame or anything outside of yourself.  But drawing because you absolutely love to draw and creating stories that you want to read.  Like the Straczynski panel, talking about a fire that burns from within you, and not based on any external motivation.  This is the thing that sets highly successful creators apart from the rest.

-Will