Bakersfield College student Kenneth Williams is an aspiring comic book illustrator and participant in Bakersfield’s Via Arte.
Williams, 20, began participating in Via Arte three years ago while he was still a student at Stockdale High School.
Currently in his third semester at BC, Williams also works at Kohl’s department store.
The digital art major was invited by his high school art teacher, Art Sheryn, to participate in Via Arte for a third time this year. He accepted the offer and worked on an original piece titled “Flame Guardian” during the event.
While Williams drew on asphalt at Via Arte, his ideal form of work would be in the comic book industry. “I like comics. It’s what I want to do,” said Williams.
Williams is currently working on a supernaturally themed graphic novel titled “Masquerade of the Gods.” He hopes to publish it as soon as he completes it.
“To me, it’s not all about the money, but I would like to make this a career. So I would like to make money,” said Williams.
“I’d rather work for myself, but I know that it’s impossible. Well, not impossible but it’s really, really hard to publish your own comic and get it out. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve enjoyed Todd McFarlane, Spawn, stuff like that – the really detailed comics.”
Williams hasn’t always been interested purely in working as a comic book artist. At one point in time, Williams had an interest in tattoos, even going so far as to tattoo his leg and arm with a needle and India ink.
“I didn’t know what I was thinking, I was 12 years old,” said Williams. “I regret doing it now, not on the leg, though, because I actually got something out of it.”
The tattoo on his leg has been covered by a professionally done tattoo that he got by winning a worst tattoo contest through KRAB radio.
While his family disproved of his improvised tattoo work, Williams said they are supportive of his endeavors. “My mom and dad don’t do anything artistic, but my sister is a musician,” he said. “They’re supportive of her, too. They’re glad we’re doing stuff like this.”
Drawing is not Williams’ only means of expression. He also plays drums in his spare time. “I do listen to music whenever I draw,” he said. “Depending on the rhythm, I might move my hand differently. If it’s a fast song I may move faster and it may add to my drawing.”
While a fan of comic book artists, their influence is something Williams attempts to not show in his work “I try not to incorporate the people that I look up to,” he said. “I just try to develop my own ideas. I’ve taken classes to do that. Even if I don’t like a certain idea I’ll go through and sketch it out and possibly it may turn into something I didn’t expect.”
His passion for comic books also affected his choice of study. While a fan of traditional pen and ink, the cost efficiency of digital art drew him toward his major.
“Comics are going digital, and it’s more efficient,” he said. “You can Photoshop something, and get it done really quick. You have to buy pens, inks. Some of those Prisma color markers are like two or three dollars a piece and sometimes you need hundreds of them. You can pretty much go broke just doing art.”
While the threat of going broke is on Williams’ mind, he has nothing else he would rather do professionally. “If you’re doing art you can always express yourself, you can always make your own ideas happen, you can always get better at something,” said Williams.