Bored Panda reached out to Stephen to learn more about his creative process and personal journey. His comics often feel intimate, exploring themes of fatherhood, family, and everyday life. We were curious to know what inspires him to transform these moments into stories.
"I always write down funny things that happen to me, but becoming a father kicked it into overdrive," the artist shared. "It's a fun exercise to boil down a moment into a few central images and feelings. The comics are something my son enjoys too--they let us commemorate these odd, slice-of-life moments. Once I share the work online, people usually tell me the comics are relatable, which is always surprising, because they feel so personal to me."
Since Stephen has worked in both animation and comics, we were wondering how the two compare. "I've been very lucky to work in animation as a director, writer, and producer. Usually though, I'm a storyboard artist for shows and movies. The deadlines are constant, but it's fun to draw for a living--as a kid, I never thought I'd be able to.
For a while, I worked at Cartoon Network, and everyone there drew indie comics. So I started making comics to learn more about them. Drawing storyboards feels like working in a restaurant kitchen--fast-paced with lots of cooks and chaos. Making a comic feels like baking a little cake for myself at home in my pajamas. Animation pays the bills, but comics are just for me!"
The creative process isn’t solely driven by constant inspiration—artists also face creative blocks. Stephen shared that he usually works on multiple projects at once and switches to another when he feels stuck. "I'm also a big fan of walks, runs, and staring off into space. Sometimes, when you're stuck, it helps to put on a different pair of shoes or a weird hat. Or to call a friend and scribble on a post-it note for 20 minutes. Or rewatch a favorite movie."
Parenthood seems to play a big role in Stephen's comics. We asked how fatherhood has influenced his storytelling. For him, the loss of personal time as a parent makes his free time more valuable, and he believes it has made him more disciplined in his storytelling. "Stuff needs to make sense and have structure! Even if it only makes sense to me. It's fun to see the world through the eyes of a child. It's hilarious, a little heartbreaking, and you're always exhausted. Maybe that's life in a nutshell."
If you aspire to become a comic artist, Stephen has some valuable advice for you! "Write down stuff that happens to you! Anything can be a comic. Be curious about people and the stories they tell you. It helped me to start using a pencil I like--it erases really well, so I don't feel pressured to 'ink' everything permanently all the time. Comics can be more like sketches or paintings. As for the writing, all you need is a beginning, middle, and end. "
