Meet Andrew Edwards | Social Media Manager | Storyboarder

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

Hi Andrew, how do you think about risk?
I think I have a calculated carefree quality to my life. My big-picture ideals and goals are admittedly lofty, I think any artist trying to make a living off their art can agree. I live in a time where seeking a career in animation is a big risk in and of itself. The dream of working for a single studio for decades feels outdated now, usurped by a model where most will move from project to project, regularly refining samples and portfolios. But I picked this path knowing it would be risky, and have pursued it all my life in earnest thanks to my family.

Parents can be your first cheerleader or your first bully. I thankfully had the luxury of a family who believed in me enough as an artist to let me fail early and often. We may have lived in rural Texas but my mom strategically applied for work in a suburban school district with hefty bonds dedicated to academics and arts. This meant I had rigorous classes and art-focused after-school resources that served as a crucible. I was eager to take risks because in that environment failures were lessons that constantly refined my art. Then came college: No cheerleaders, no safeguards, and a make-or-break scholarship where every grade risked my ability to pay for the next semester. I became extremely risk-averse! I poured over syllabi and grading systems, making sure my GPA stayed high and costs stayed low. Digital media quickly pushed out physical media due to material costs. My efforts were still laser-focused on my animation dream, but I was extremely restrictive in how I navigated my education at Carnegie Mellon.

In adulthood, that restrictive mindset became catastrophizing. There have been plenty of risks I’ve passed on, opportunities that I pre-disqualified myself for. I felt underqualified and inexperienced. To escape that mental tar pit I had to spin my inhibitions into confidence. For example: If I’m too inexperienced for that entry role, surely I’m also too inexperienced for the hiring manager role. So why attempt to do their job and reject myself early? It’s an ongoing practice; I must regularly choose to be my own cheerleader instead of my own bully.

In my art career, I try to emulate the same level of confidence and vulnerability I had in public school and my strategic precision and resourcefulness during undergrad. When I get stuck, I remind myself I’ve had my fair share of exceptional moments and each one of them came with risk-taking. Art-making must be a continual cycle: attempt, reflect, adjust, and press forward!

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I’m proudest when others compliment my approachability and ability to make people feel heard. I think those compliments mean the most to me at this point in my career because I put a lot of effort into being earnest. Don’t get me wrong, as an artist being told that a story beat made someone cry, or praise for an elegant branding solution makes the hard work worthwhile. But in Los Angeles, in a sea of artistic talent, hearing that my character sets me apart makes me feel seen on a human level.

Animation activist, Sam Goff, recently led a Black N Animated workshop noting the importance of “Lowercase ‘n’ networking” and that phrase helped clarify my unique strengths: I consistently offer others my honest best, honor their needs, and find a way to cross that finish line together. My years of knowledge, resilience, adaptability, and organizational skills are made fully available to realize a goal. Looking back, my favorite animations and marketing campaigns I’ve produced also align with community-focused ideals of cooperation, selflessness, and authenticity. It’s served to teach me that carrying myself this way creates a positive feedback loop, strengthening my connections with like-minded peers and giving me more opportunities to do similar work.

I’m especially excited to explore these ideals in a semi-auto bio comic. This year I’ve launched a Webtoon comic called “Part-Time Angel.” It’s a slice-of-life story that follows Angel Evans, an expert catastrophizer, through an onslaught of social hurdles, romantic woes, and professional misadventures that come with the trials of adulthood. I’ve just released my 10th episode and it’s been exciting to see such personal stories resonating with others. It’s been incredibly empowering to strengthen my artistic voice, experiment, and dip my toes into the LA comic scene.

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.
One of my best friends is visiting from New York next month so I’ve got the perfect trip planned for someone interested in food, art, and getting your steps in.

Day 1: Start the day with a slow browse of the Museum of Contemporary Art, taking advantage of a great free art experience. Visit Grand Central Market for a bustling buffet of good eats no matter your cravings. Then take an easy walk to Last Bookstore for a quiet reprieve.
End the day at Fixins Soul Kitchen for an all-too-rare LA soul food experience.

Day 2: Wake up early to browse the shops at Japanese Village Plaza in Little Tokyo before working up a sweat rock climbing at LA Boulder. Splurge on Girl & the Goat nearby for elevated, adventurous takes on local flavors. After dinner mingle with talented, down-to-earth artists at a 9B collective mixer at Boomtown Brewery.

Day 3: Savor a late, light brunch at Glowing Plant-Based Eatery in Echo Park. Stroll around Echo Park Lake and find a nice spot to settle and paint. Make sure to stop at Hey Hey Boba afterward for my favorite boba in all of LA. Enjoy an intimate art evening at Heavy Manners Library doing a figure drawing or attending Comics ‘O Clock comic reading.

Huntington Gardens, the LA Zoo, La Brea Tarpits & Museum host great events that can fill up an entire day all on their own and are my favorite spots to take LA visitors to!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe some pivotal successes to artist and friend Amanda Jolley! She pushed me to go past my own expectations at the very start of my career. When I decided to pursue storyboarding specifically, Amanda introduced me to friends who were integral to establishing the community I have now! Her organizational skills and compassion are second to none. When working alongside her, our ability to solve problems while being jovial, professional, analytical, and honest with each other really set the bar for workplace chemistry. Also, her screenprints are some of my favorite pieces I have hanging in my home!

Website: www.artwithandrew.com

Instagram: instagram.com/artwithandrew

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/andrew3edwards

Other: “Part-Time Angel” Webcomic on Webtoon: https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/part-time-angel/list?title_no=926604

Image Credits
“VideoCapture_EXCERPT-IAmSoilBreakingOff-EnglishCC.jpg” “I Am Soil Breaking Off” Poem and Translation by Paloma Sierra, Animated by Andrew Edwards