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Rob Schamberger on Satrapi and the Potential for Collaboration
posted April 24, 2005
 

Rob Schamberger
Via the Internet

It's a mixed bag, really, with no definitive answer. The thing that springs to mind immediately is the most common criticism heard at a convention, when an artist is showing off their work: "Stop inking yourself." Some people just can't bring that 'total package' that other artists can. This definitely comes up with creators who write and draw their work. They're more than likely going to be stronger in one area than another.

I haven't seen the work in question, but have read both volumes of Persepolis. I was definitely more a fan of the story than the art, but I did feel that the book would have fallen flat had anyone else done the art.

That reminds of of something I came across in my own work. There was a story that I was going to have another artist draw, but for various reasons that person couldn't commit. So, I decided to draw it myself. Right off the bat, the artist called me up and told me I was doing a better job than he could have. Not in any sort of draftsmanship manner, but that I had a feel for the story and characters that he just didn't get himself.

Bringing this back to the question at hand, I think that if a creator really has a passion and desire to do whatever steps of the way that they wish, they should, and if they feel that they should 'out-source' some of those steps, they should. Whatever makes the final product that is truest to the original idea is all that matters. Of course, the original idea might be total crap, too.