Meet Chad Blakely | Artist and illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chad Blakely and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chad, why did you pursue a creative career?
As a little kid in the late 70’s/early 80’s, I was bit by the Pop Culture bug! The visuals of Star Wars, Spider-man, and KISS just blew me away; eventually I took to drawing them and there was no stopping me. Since then, I have been drawing non stop, every and any chance I get. My notebooks in school were full of half-assed notes and hundreds of doodles; drawing the people in front of me or what ever comic book character struck my fancy. This non stop love of Art has lead me into my creative endeavors as an adult. Writing and illustrating comic books, creating artwork for clients, drawing fan art of my favorite fictional characters; these are all things that bring me joy. I have always been a storyteller, and creating artwork is an extension of my storytelling.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art wears its influences on its sleeve! Comic book artists like Mike Allred, Jack Kirby, Dave Stevens, and John Buscema have greatly influenced my art style and I feel like it shows. What sets me apart from them though is my own distinct style in the way I draw. I once read it’s the idiosyncratic mistakes we make that equal our style; so whatever those little mistakes are, they make me the artist I am. It has taken awhile to get to where I am professionally and I still have a long way to go until I can do Art full time! But it’s the journey to get there that I enjoy. Setting small milestones for me reach help me measure my success in a more attainable way. That’s my advice for struggling artists, set realistic goals for yourself; that way you have a target to shoot for and it’s achievable.
I want the world to look at my work and feel the love I have for the subject matter. Whether it’s a painting of the Beatles I did for fun or a logo design I do for a client, I hope the viewer can tell the dedication and love the craft that goes into every thing I make.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, that is tough. I live in Cheyenne, Wyoming, which is 90 miles North of Denver; I will plan a fun night out here for those who want to visit the Capital City of Wyoming! We would spend the afternoon in downtown Cheyenne, checking out the local art galleries, browsing the used LPs at Ernie Novembers, grabbing a cup of coffee at the Paramount, and playing some pinball at Flippers Arcade. That night, we would grab a steak at the Rib and Chop house, and then head over to Danielmark’s Brewery and Taproom for a nightcap and some laughs.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I will dedicate my shout out to two very important women in my life. First, my Mom! She was the first to teach me how to draw, and she has been my biggest cheerleader as an artist. Second shout out is to my wife, Alaina! In the past 12 years, she has pushed me and encouraged me to put my self out there and create artwork that people get to see. Without her, I wouldn’t have the success I have today as an artist.

Website: www.blakely737.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/blakely737

Twitter: www.twitter.com/blakely737

Facebook: www.facebook.com/blakely737

Image Credits
Chad Blakely