Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashanti Fortson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story started out like many artists’ stories do: a colored pencil in the hand of a small child, always drawing. I was also a complete bookworm! My respective loves for drawing and reading found their meeting point in my local library’s “teen” section – where the manga was. I think I read every volume on that shelf.
Despite that, I didn’t start drawing my own comics until I was in college. But once I did, I never went back. It was like something just clicked. I immediately knew that comics were the perfect format for the art I wanted to make and the stories I wanted to tell. The way I think, process information, and visualize ideas is extremely similar to comics storytelling, so it was a natural fit.
While studying illustration here in Baltimore, I made many, many comics. I started making a free-to-read online comic (a “webcomic”), which helped me gain an audience for my work. Making that webcomic also helped me hone my skills, and I started pitching short comics to small publications. I was very fortunate to get a lot of professional experience early on, and even more fortunate to receive advice, mentoring, and support from other professionals in the independent comics field. I was freelancing part-time in my last two years of college, then freelancing full-time once I finished school. I’ve been freelancing full-time in comics and illustration since then.
I also began teaching as an adjunct professor at my alma mater upon graduating. I had never thought that teaching could be a viable path for me, prior to the last year or two of school, but I’ve developed a deep love and appreciation for it. Teaching and mentoring are very important to me – both because I love the theory and minutia of teaching, and because I want to pass forward the mentorship that others have shared with me. I wouldn’t have a career without kindness and support from other artists; I’m happy to take on a similar role of support for the next generation of emerging cartoonists.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Pursuing a full-time career in the arts is never easy, and neither is freelancing…but it’s especially unforgiving to anyone living with disabilities. I am disabled in multiple ways – I’m autistic and chronically ill – and my chronic illnesses in particular make it quite the challenge to sustain full-time freelance. It’s been a very bumpy road, full of health problems, severe stress, and extreme burnout. I can’t pretend that it’s been easy at any point, especially when unhealthy industry expectations of productivity and output overlap with the realities of how cartoonists (disabled or not) need to take care of ourselves and our health…and then still pay the bills! (For those who don’t know: making comics does not pay well. Often it doesn’t pay at all!)
Being marginalized in different ways adds to that stress, as well. It’s never easy to navigate the world as a Black woman*, and I have felt that significantly while working in comics/publishing. With all issues of identity or lived experience, I’ve found that the best support through it all has been my community. Other queer Black artists, queer artists of color, disabled artists of color…I’m grateful to have a strong support system, both online and in Baltimore.
*I’m non-binary, not a woman, but I group myself with women because I am perceived as and treated as a woman. It’s complicated!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I wear a lot of hats, but I primarily make comics. I write them, I draw them, I paint them, etc. I also edit other people’s comics and do color design for other artists’ graphic novels. I also do freelance illustration. I also teach illustration and comics. I also embroider. Lots of hats!
Indie comics isn’t a widely-known field, so I should mention that I don’t make superhero comics. Comics is a whole format with many genres, but there is sometimes a misconception that “I make comics” means “I draw superheroes.” Superheroes can be cool, but that’s not what I’m personally interested in.
I love telling stories that explore difficult emotions, quiet moments, and the rifts and connections between human beings. I really enjoy conceptual work, visual metaphor, and subtle, evocative storytelling. Genre-wise, I make a lot of comics in fantasy and sci-fi settings. More than anything, I love color! Emotional color that tells a complex story…that’s the most important thing for me, in any field, format, or genre.
My most recent published comic is LEAF LACE, which follows Ananke, an immortal goddess who spins the life threads of mortals, as she grapples with the looming death of her mortal wife. It won the 2021 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Comic and received nominations for Outstanding Artist and Outstanding Online Comic, which was quite an honor. It’s a very personal comic, and probably the best current example of the work that I make. It’s available to purchase from the publisher here: https://hivemill.com/products/leaf-lace
Currently, I’m working on CRESS & PETRA, my debut graphic novel with HarperCollins. It’s about an autistic teenager and an autonomous android, together navigating questions of others’ expectations, the tolls of capitalism, queer friendship, and what it means to be a person. Keep an eye out for it in the future!
How do you define success?
It means the world to me when my work resonates with other people because art is how I communicate with the world. It’s how I communicate my life and my truth. To be able to share that with others is an enormous privilege that I am very thankful for.
In saying that, I mean that my ideal of success is to build connections with other human beings in a kind, healthy, challenging, enlightening way. Success is shared; success is passed along; success must uplift everyone.
I want to be healthy, happy, and surrounded by vibrant communities of people who care for each other. Anything else is a sprinkle on top of the sundae.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ashantifortson.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashantifortson/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ashantifortson/
Image Credits
Ashanti Fortson
