One of the things I really enjoy about facebook is that it allows people to catch up with people they’ve lost track of over the years. This week I got to thank comic book artist, animator and designer Rick Hoberg. (www.rickhoberg.com)
While I was in college, I had hopes of being a comic book artist or animator. I met Rick at several Chicago Comicons. He was generous enough to review my art over the years and told me to look him up when I got to California. This was back in the 80s when he sported a Don Johnson look (pink blazer rolled up at the sleeves). Before graduating, I arranged for some interviews at animation studios and headed out to California. Rick was the first person I met with. He reviewed my giant, unruly stack of drawings and helped prep me for the interviews, including teaching me how to put together a proper portfolio to present my artwork in. Since I only took two art classes for non-majors in college, I had never heard of a portfolio. Most of my art training came from working at school newspapers. I bought a portfolio that evening and put it together in my motel room for interviews the following days.
Never did complete the Filmation test or pursue a job in animation. At the time it would have most-likely involved doing seasonal work and waiting tables in between. Instead, that portfolio landed me my first job as a newspaper artist (as well as my next few jobs). So it was nice to find Rick after all these years and thank him for his advice and encouragement when I was younger.
Hope you’ve had the chance to use facebook that way, too!