Today we’d like to introduce you to David DeGrand.
Hi David, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been drawing comics ever since I was in the fifth grade. My art teacher assigned the class to write and draw their own comic strip, which I found incredibly fun. The teacher really liked my comic I turned in and I started writing and drawing my own comic strip, mainly inspired by Garfield and Peanuts. I eventually started drawing weirder and crazier art, inspired by Ren and Stimpy, The Simpsons and MAD Magazine.
After graduating college with an art degree, it took my about ten years of submitting before I finally got my first big break: an assigment to write and draw for the SpongeBob comic book. I began writing and drawing for that book regularly, which led to work from MAD Magazine, BOOM! Studios and various kids books.
After doing comics and book illustration for a few years, I had the desire to work on a graphic novel. I collaborated with the amazing writer Rob Kutner on the book SNOT GOBLINS AND OTHER TASTELESS TALES. The led to my first graphic novel as the writer and artist, I AM NOT OKAY. I am currently working on getting my next book off the ground.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It was definitely not smooth, I struggled with a lot of self doubt and rejection along the way. What kept me going was simply my love for drawing, and wanting to eventually get to do it as a career.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have written and drawn for a variety of comic books and magazines such as SpongeBob Comics, MAD Magazine, Garfield, The Simpsons, and Adventure Time among others.
I have also done design work for animation, workign with Augenblick Studios for the Snapchat animated series Death Hacks and the music video for POLKAMANIA by “Weird Al” Yankovic.
What matters most to you? Why?
It’s very important to me to do my best to be original and entertaining in my art. Whether it’s comics, graphic novels or animation, I always try to at least get a smile or hopefully a laugh by my drawings alone whenever possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://degrandland.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daviddegrand/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daviddegrand
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-degrand/
