What Can a Comic Artist Learn from Art History?

Often graphic designers, illustrators and comic artists don't see themselves as connected to art history. Here's how my thinking on that changed after hitting professional creative burnout, and an analysis of a classical painting that demonstrates how I glean ideas from works from the past even if my work seems nothing like it.
0:00 My Big Professional Burnout
1:36 A Wrong Way of Thinking
2:50 How Art History Changed Me
5:06 But How Do You Study?
8:00 Caravaggio
8:48 I Love Analysis
9:15 Calling of Matthew Analysis
20:50 What Can a Comic Artist Learn?
22:50 This Will Enrich Your Life
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Twitter: / jholtillus

[@caroljystudios]

Every time I watch your videos I feel inspired to try or learn something different. I appreciate the light you bring into my creative journey, great work you're putting out there!

[@jholtillus]

Thank you!

[@franciscobello1519]

On this topic, a rabbit holt here. First, appreciate the broad sentiment of engaging deep into history (doesn't have to be limited to art history, even for visual artists) in order to create more engaging, innovative work. And 100% agreed it's a message especially relevant to 'commercial' artists (quote not meant to be diminishing) who don't look outside their field or craft for inspiration (comic book people are especially guilty of this writ large, at least IMO). Now, here's the deep dive your video took me to. Years ago I was involved in making a short documentary about the artist and writer Mu Xin, called 'Dreaming Against the World' (not a plug, just info incase further review is of interest). Mu Xin had a singular way of engaging with the masters of the past. He didn't academically or intellectually mine books or monographs for ideas or inspiration, he saw himself in active dialogue with creators, from cultures and times far from his own. From Tolstoy to Shakespeare to the painter-poets of the Song dynasty, he felt he was directly connected to them, even saw them as friends to talk to. Thing is this not only impacted his work, it saved his life. When persecuted during the cultural revolution, his retreat into literal conversations with his artistic heroes kept him sane, alive, and led to a remarkable body of work. I can't say I could reach that deep level of engagement with people and work hundreds or thousands of years back, but it's something to aspire to for sure. Thanks for indulging the rabbit hole, ;)

[@jholtillus]

You can get a lot of similar themes from Viktor Frankl's book "Man's Search for Meaning" on how the rich inner life helped people survive in Auschwitz. It's a powerful thing. What makes us better artists is also what gives our life rich substance, and I'm grateful that working on one also works on the other.

[@anthonyw2931]

not really a hole, yet. I quite agree with your sentiment of the comic book world. Similar methodology is pursued in movies eg the cloning of theme and music type for all marvel movies after the first Guardians of the Galaxy. The above topic also rings a similar tune to African folktale, cultures and art. Reaching to the past as gateway to the spiritual realm for inspiration and way of life. Art serving as a conduit for both communication and transformation. Now I'm going into the real rabbit hole to watch your documentary.

[@mitchellsink2584]

You are growing to be my favorite KZbin channel. I love the content.

[@jholtillus]

I really appreciate that. Thank you

[@creative_fey]

An illustrator I would recommend you look into is Eric Pape. He was a painter and did a lot of book illustrations . He ran an art school around the same time as Howard Pyle. His work is gorgeous. I plan on doing a video about him when I launch my youtube channel, but I highly recommend him for analysis.

[@sydneypressley5023]

I put tens of thousands of dollars into my college education just for you guys to be taught by this man for FREE! Best teacher I've ever had.

[@jholtillus]

The tuition was for dinners with my family and fishing in my pond and you know it

[@SpiritusComics]

You can't be a good writer if you don't read books and know other writers. It is amazing how many young artists today are content to be in their tiny little art bubble sub-cultures, and think that is enough

[@jholtillus]

It frustrates me but I get it too. Culture is grouped by our preferences, and we tend to "find our community" based on what we like and what we don't. That doesn't leave much room for expansion into areas that are challenging or on the surface don't seem appealing. In the very least, that's one reason I'm compelled to try and tell my own experience of branching beyond what I thought was necessary

[@tylerjamesnewton1422]

I went through this as I got into photography a few years ago. I started looking for historical art references for my photo composition. I found English 19th century landscape artists - I found Picasso. Now I want to work my way back through each period and learn more. Now learning to draw and ink and make traditional prints. Love this channel - can’t believe it’s free.

[@doppelvishop2887]

Your interpratation of old masters work is great and inspiring, one of my fav section of your channel, i would encourage you to keep this active so we can know all the great master from history through your analysis and cool voice!

[@jholtillus]

Thank you very much!

[@BrianCeelyNew]

You've managed to become one of my favorite comic art youtubers, this is an awesome video! you touch on a connection that deserves far more than a single video, if you made this a series I'd devour every single video

[@robertstump7899]

Every time you have a new video I find myself coming back and watching or rather rewatching your older videos. This time around I was really struck by what you said about symbolism in art. "When symbolism is required to understand the work there is a misalignment of values...." Something like that. It has a flavor of the ideas of Aristotle and Aquinas of the order of Good. A work of art may be good or even great without the symbolism but with it the work can become a higher order of good, and I would guess, that a painting that was merely good could become great in that higher order. Jan Eyck's Mystery of the Lamb from the Ghent centerpiece comes to mind. A painting I would say that fails to reach the quality of any of Caravaggio's best work, but I come back and stare at it often because of its higher level qualities. I don't want to want to disparage any artwork that someone may have an affinity for so I won't give the examples that come to mind of the misaligned values. But I think analogously it would be like a man who knew that having children was a higher good and went about bedding as many women as possibly to have as many children as possible, through a misaligning of values a good becomes something rather nasty. Okay I've waxed too long. I really appreciate the work you are creating here. I almost wish I could be a young man again and be a student in your class. Thank you.

[@jholtillus]

I think you're spot on here. Aesthetics and morality are deeply bound together...which is why aesthetics and theology were always discussed together from the ancient world and medieval world. Art really challenges us to think about relationships towards higher goods. I need to go spend some more time with the Ghent altarpiece. It's been awhile and it deserves my attention. But yes, I think if we sat down and thought about some specific pieces of work that aren't quite...right, the value misalignment would come into clear view.

[@saronite5236]

You were asking for comments on what we like about your videos. First I love your delivery, it’s calm and soothing which goes really well with your deep exploration of subjects. Your niche seems to be towards art philosophy, thinking deeper about art, and internal struggles of being an artist.

[@krzysztofmathews738]

Excellent discussion! As a fellow illustrator, I was glad that my education at RISD put a very strong emphasis on Art History for all students, regardless of their chosen major. To this day, some of the classes I took in the arts of Egypt, the Aztec and Mayans, American First Nations native people, Africa and later in Japanese Art while at Wisconsin-Madison are a continuing inspiration in my own work.

[@aroset]

Yes more art history please 🙏🙏 My current teacher has been the Perspective channel/BBC. I love this MOAR

[@jholtillus]

Hoping to do more art history. Thank you for watching!

[@alejandrocaycedo5038]

hey man, im a graphic designer in my last semester at uni and im scared as hell dude 😬 so i do really like your content and find it usefull, please dont stop making it, i really like your videos and it shows all the work you put behind them.

[@jholtillus]

Thanks very much! I'll keep them coming.

[@christheophilus7154]

This is a very nice video. I recently started to consume a lot of various forms of art. It certainly does enrich your life. Things can feel quite monotonous, but going through the annals of art and finding a gem is a truly spectacular feeling.

[@shagdora2]

Really loving the art history! More like this please! Caravaggio getting some new attention these days from the new Ripley, Patricia Highsmith adaptation.

[@robertstump7899]

Another banger man. Love this painting and Caravaggio generally. I had never seen the connection between the hand of Christ and the Sistine ceiling. Fantastic. Would love to see more of this. Maybe some Jacques David or Ingres or Bouguereau?

[@jholtillus]

All great suggestions. Thank you!

[@anthonyw2931]

I got hooked by the first video I watched on your channel that had to do with classical art analysis. I share your thoughts on its importance, that along with poetry and certain literature adds to our quality of life. It's impossible to quantify but the effects from lacking these is obvious. Your passion for the subject is also quite evident and look forward to more videos like these.

[@Alyss15Nightingale]

I really enjoyed this analysis especially going into what the potential intentions of the artist. Speculation and research blended well. I would love to watch you analyse either/or both Ophelia by Millais or anything by Alphonse Mucha please 😊

[@jholtillus]

I'm glad you enjoyed it and I love both Millais and Mucha. Great suggestions

[@darneldegand]

That was great. Thanks 😊

[@jholtillus]

Thank you!

[@freakyfreak1994]

I love this!

[@jholtillus]

Thank you!

[@YigitCakar]

This was an excellent analysis and video. Thanks for this and all the other videos you have put online. It is really helpful for somebody who is trying to learn more about comics and pivoting towards that.

[@jholtillus]

Glad it was helpful and thank you!

[@TheBanditofvideos]

Awesome format, the analysis was engaging and fun to compare with my own observation of the piece. Maybe you could include something you've made that was inspired by an old work. Like a theme or mood you connected to, but put your own spin on.

[@rumblefoxxdesign]

Seems like this should be obvious but I guess it's not, great video Jordan. I really enjoyed this, even when knowing a lot about Carvaggio already it's always refreshing to get other angles and perspectives on these great artists. Observational analysis has such a profound effect on how you approach work I think.

[@Speaktruthstudio]

Beautifully said, thank you 🙌

[@jholtillus]

Thank you!

[@m.i.miller8008]

Loved this video... I'm hooked on your art history video... great job on this Caravaggio painting...

[@jholtillus]

Thank you! I hope I get to do a lot more on art history.

[@GustavoLequericaCalvo]

I been having a burnout for about three months, and feel somewhat defeated.

[@jholtillus]

Three months is a long one. I think that's about as long as I've experienced in one go before it slowly starts to ease up. Obviously, they can come from a lot of different places depending on what's going on in your life, but if you're in the thick of it, I hope you can find ways to take the pressure off. Burnout is usually a result of all pressure, no joy. Flipping that is way easier said than done, but I've taken solace before in the clarity of the goal. Wishing you well!

[@MrHyjac]

Personally subbed because of the critique of Danny Earl. (or more praise) That and this type of vid are good and what I like, current comic artists and the old realist renaissance masters. Also good length vid. Not too big of a commitment but not a 10 min tease. 30-40min prob limit.

[@j.s.ramirez4670]

Thank you for this video. 🙏

[@jholtillus]

Thank you!

[@typewritermark]

Arnolfini is stalking me!!!

[@jholtillus]

He just wants to help, you can trust the stylish hat

[@typewritermark]

@@jholtillus but does he do the virtual insanity dance?

[@typewritermark]

you might also like the video - "The Long Disputed Meaning Of Van Eyck's Painting (Waldemar Januszczak Documentary) | Perspective" . Its a fresh view on the painting.

[@jholtillus]

Probably so --people have been debating that painting with astonishing length and frequency. Something about it is oddly enrapturing

[@typewritermark]

@@jholtillus Same! Since High School that was a long time ago. I take a lot from photography and film for my work. Latest book references "The Northman" have you seen it?

[@luzbelle.studios]

Awesome video!

[@jholtillus]

Thank you!

[@BionicRambutan]

Mathew was a tax collector. Generally tax collectors were viewed as sinners, be it true that they were in fact abusing their power or not. That’s why I think in the painting Mathew is the man with coins looking down.