Meet Christopher Adcock: Digital Illustrator/Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christopher Adcock and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christopher, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
When it came to starting my business I had to keep my expectations grounded with the speed at which it would grow. Unless you hit it big with some sponsorship or promotion, you’ll have to learn a basis in patience. I saw how people were growing so fast whenever I went onto other artist’s profiles on Instagram and other platforms, not fully thinking about how they also started out with no following and had to form it over time, and this goes for a business too. Even now I may not be perfectly happy with where I am, but it has grown alot from where I started. I’ve seen artist like myself try to start their own businesses and then Ive seen them stop as soon as they don’t sell as much or as fast as they thought they would. In business and art you have to have patience, tempered expectations and perseverance, especially when starting out.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When starting out in art it was actually pretty recent, when I was in college even. I never thought of ever becoming an artist before that but growing up with cartoons and video games I connected with them and found it was something I wanted to make. I’d say when making my art I like to form intense and strong feelings with the characters I either make fanart of or original art. I like making art that shows focus, drive, and motivation whether at times for positive or the negative. We as people are driven by emotion’s whether positive or negative and those are the moments when watching shows that stick with me the most because they inspire change and improvement and a push forward to something new. I think this is why I choose to use so much contrast in my art, in order to capture the emotion and shock and exposure that comes from our emotions at their most intense.

I’d say as of now the toughest aspect of making this business and my art is keeping myself driven and focused. I’m always wanting to improve and feel I don’t have enough time to make the art at the level that will get noticed and feeling as though other artists are so far ahead it’s hard to catch up. Which on the other hand is growing the business aspect and getting people to buy prints and get commissions which in itself can be difficult to do. I’m always wondering if the art I’m creating is something people want or if I need to expand into a territory I may not be as driven in but will get me more exposure, and risk losing the base I have formed. It’s a constant balance in my mind of expectations, patience and learning to get myself out there more and growing. I feel so far I am doing well, it’s just a matter of not getting to tangled up in the thoughts of negativity and failure that go though every business owner and artist’s head over time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Interestingly enough I actually live right next to some of the best spots in Atlanta, being the Battery which is an easy place to find food such as the Wahlburgers, and while we are there, we could plan it around a time to see one of the Braves games too. Another great spot I’ve enjoyed going to a few time is the Vortex restaurant and with that can come with a trip to the Aquarium. One big thing I’m into, which we would have to plan it around the times that these are happening, but I would go to one of the few conventions that happen such as Dragon Con or Anime Weekend Atlanta.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When it comes to support and inspiration I think heavily of my parents whose push and support has led me to where I am, in choosing art and expressing myself through it. Which then led me to going to school for art which I would say that a few of my college professors or teachers helped me hone my skill and to inspire me to keep going, such as Sandee Chamberlain and Craig Brasco. And finally Id say the animation industry in general, I know it’s kind of vague and big but it’s a big portion of what inspired me to become and artist, it also inspires a lot of the art that I make, and the person I am too.

Website: https://chrisarts.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris.arts5/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBPciuydIhu-lb0mXcFQX7A

Other: https://www.artstation.com/chrisarts5