Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Clarke.
Scott, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been an artist as far back as I can remember, drawing was my best friend as a child. I was born with a gift or two. The gift of creativity. I would sit for hours drawing my own little movie books and the Flintstones among others. Hanna-Barbera cartoons were a huge influence on my cartoon drawings, you can still see the influence in my art today. I excelled in rt classes in school but I was painfully shy and insecure. I often hid behind my art. Later as I grew older I was frustrated because I had talent and I wasn’t sure how to apply it in to my life, it was like having magic powers and not knowing how or what to use them on, which through me in to alcohol and drugs because I felt so lost. After years of struggling to get sober in every way possible one day my daughter’s presence turned me around, I didn’t want her to remember me drunk nor did I want her to think it was acceptable behavior. THAT DAY I stopped drinking and drugging and dove back in to creativity. It was my passion, my friend, my healthy addiction. I began designing humorous cartoon greeting cards, which lead me to a Breast Cancer Awareness I sold around the world to help support the cause that had struck various members of my family. I then turned my focus on celebrity caricatures with humor and heart. I had loved drawing Cher when I was a child, she fascinated me, such a cartoon waiting to happen. I now draw so many celebrities, all with love and humor, poking fun at holidays and subject matter. I’ve self published many books containing my drawings. When I began my celebrity art I noticed there were MANY artists doing the same thing so that’s when I added the rhymes and different subject matter and decided to keep the drawings raw without computer generated drawing, all hand drawn, text added after. It made my work special, unique and easily recognizable. I’ve drawn hundreds but I have my favorites to draw…Cher, Dolly, Barbra Streisand, Joan Rivers and a few others, they are so much fun to draw! Cher has seen my drawings and even had one on a birthday cake for herself a few years ago and I’ve done some toons for her Mom before her passing. Joan Rivers LOVED my toons of her and bough me dinner in NYC one night when she saw them. Many others have seen my toons and I’m grateful the feedback is always kind. Today I still spend a lot of time doing my Celebrity Toons and I also work as a teaching artist, specializing in painting and drawing classes for senior citizens.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are ALWAYS struggles. The trick is to remain grateful and keep moving forward. Some of my biggest struggles have been self doubt and trying to find my way through an artistic community that often times doesn’t take cartoonists and illustrators seriously. It seems sometimes as though paint brushes are a far more serious tool that a drawing pencil. I Have a following that appreciate what I do so I don’t let the snooties get to me 🙂
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I draw and I paint, drawing being my lifelong true passion. I paint for the $. I’m KNOWN for my celebrity cartoons, and I am MOST proud of my celebrity TOONS, they are unique and from my heart, The subject matter, rhyming and style are truly my own.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I tell others when reaching for their best life to follow your passion and the money will come, don’t chase the money or you’ll be running forever.
Baby steps, start slow, make a plan but don’t overwhelm yourself, you’ll accomplish more when you move slowing. My biggest mistakes have been made when I rush a take on to much . Patience isn’t one of my gifts LOL BUT I’m still learning
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.scottclarkestudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_scottclarke/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scottclarkeart/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottclarkestudio/
- Twitter: https://x.com/_scottclarke
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@scottclarkestudio
- Other: https://bsky.app/profile/scottclarkestudio.bsky.social
