You know that pleasant moment when you find out a friend, who you already knew was gifted and smart, is actually quite a bit more talented than you thought? I was in Powell’s Books a couple of weeks ago and stumbled across a graphic novel, Not My Bag, that my friend Sina Grace wrote. Taken from his experiences of working at a certain retailer that shall remain nameless (which is how we originally met), it’s an emotionally complex and brave work. Read it. Buy it.
I invited Sina to be the next contributing editor for BLCKSMTH, and he accepted. But I’ll let him tell you himself! Take it away, Sina:
Hi! I’m Sina Grace, a graphic novelist trying to make it by on my creative endeavors. Not My Bag, which recounts a story of retail hell, is my newest book from Image Comics.
I also act as the artist for S. Steven Struble’s cult hit, The Li’l Depressed Boy, and I’ve provided illustrations for Amber Benson’s middle grade book, Among the Ghosts. My art has been used by various musicians, including Rilo Kiley, Childish Gambino, and Common Rotation.
Sina Grace (photo by Megan Mack)
The most interesting thing about my journey to date is that I recently walked away from the full-time gig of editing all of The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman’s comics for his Skybound imprint at Image. While challenging, fun, fast-paced and technically in the industry I wanted to be in, I hit a point emotionally where I knew I couldn’t be happy or productive if all my time was being devoted to a job that was using the wrong part of my brain. Taking a few precautions (hello eBay!), and cutting back a lot of expenses (so long dining out! Howdy public transportation!), I have been able to sustain myself as a freelance artist for the past six months. It has not been easy, but over the course of the next few posts, you’ll understand how it is the best decision I have ever made.
I live in Los Angeles, where I can be found in coffee shops working on whatever the next thing may be.
Sina and Friend (photo by Megan Mack)