Note: This is the first of an occasional series a guest blogs profiling the talented friends of New Creation Now. Look for Lisa's coloring work to appear in a future chapter of the "Ragged Capes" webcomic.
It's difficult to write a bio as a Christian comic artist without including God's prominent hand over my life. I always tell people I'm a very happy wife and mom of three teens/young adults, who teaches and happens to do art on the side. About the comic ministry, let me try to explain:
When I turned 21, I was saved and shortly afterwards, graduated with a BFA in graphic design. I began to do freelance work until the time I married and started raising a family. Over a short period of time, I found I couldn't work and stay home with the kids since they constantly needed my attention. I didn't want to send them to daycare. A job immediately fell into my lap, so I pursued a career in the public school system teaching and caring for elementary aged kids, and was able to bring my small kids with me. I considered this a gift from God! I enjoyed the students and being able to be with my children but I could only take freelance jobs on occasion and began to miss the art experience. Hard to believe, but nearly thirteen years went by. After a change in my employment and a few years of teaching preschool, I began to feel very restless. For the record, I was doing an excellent job but knew God had other plans for me. I began to pray earnestly that God would show me His direction since I knew it wasn't to be in the teaching profession.
When my oldest attended elementary school, anime fell upon America. I remember feeling heartbroken with what was being fed to our kids, and as I began to pray, I felt a sudden urge to begin comic art. This wasn't something I had planned; I hadn't read comics since the time I was 14 or so and knew nothing about manga. But after my oldest son started collecting manga, I had picked up a pencil to draw a cover and immediately knew in my heart that God was leading me into this field, literally knowing nothing about it. I was so overjoyed that I started to cry! I already knew how to draw and create layouts very well, so this line of work seemed to make sense.
In 2003, I spent all of my free time (which was very limited) learning about comic art, and manga in particular, frequently picking up graphic novels that I liked to study them. There were so few being distributed in America at this point, but I loved the body of work and quickly tried to teach myself. I poured every spare hour often staying up till 2 am learning, while still teaching in the classroom. I remember praying daily that God would use me as a manga-styled artist to help others. I began to develop my own style with a heavy Asian influence which I was told was very appealing to both manga and non-manga readers. And after showing my work to some friends and family, I decided to post a small website. I began to get immediate responses and interest from small to large-scale publishers, so I pursued this avenue more actively.
After a "go-ahead" from God and my husband, I was able to quit teaching to continue my first comic, "Shelter of Wings," a Christian-based graphic novel. To my astonishment, it was quickly picked up by Brethren Entertainment and published in 2006. I spent two years completing the project with their help, since raising a family was my first priority. During this time I also did freelance for other publishers and independent comic creators and writers. I became busier then I wanted to be, and felt I couldn't keep up with the demands of others, a growing forum, art responsibilities, various projects and ministering to people
(something I loved to do). It was difficult to maintain communication with the readers and to update anything. My family time was lacking, with illnesses and difficult issues beginning to surface. Things abnormally broke down in the house and with our vehicles all at once. We had three basement floods in a month. I quickly became exasperated and exhausted. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't maintain a simple comic work schedule.
Ironically (or maybe not), after a time of reconciliation with God and my family in 2007, another teaching job fell into my lap. I can't say I was overjoyed but knew it was from the Lord. As much as I struggled with the decision, I felt it best to go back to work, this time at a learning center for students K-12. It was a difficult transition to make since I knew my calling was not in the teaching field, but I believed this to be completely God's will. During this time of being "away" from comics for the most part, I felt torn, not understanding why He was leading me away from this path when I knew He had given me a gift and wanted me to use it. But it did provide much needed relief from deadline stress so I was thankful. I found rest here as I learned to listen to God's voice in the quiet. To become patient, humble, faithful, and being a great wife and mom mean more to me now than 100 novels on the shelf. I had told God at this point that I would rather be a nameless nobody and to promote His name only then to receive praises from man. I gave up my rights as a comic artist and put my future into His hands.
Over the next few months, I spent most of my time in the classroom and with my family, but found that God began to mercifully show me many things. As I tried to be content with teaching, He began to give me insight that I would be doing comic work again according to His timeframe. At this point, I'm trusting that I will continue comics part-time until God gives me the go-ahead to quit teaching again if it's His will. If not, I've learned to be content. For the record, I choose selectively the type of projects that I'm able to work on.
Ironically for me (and after a long hiatus), there has been great development in the Shelter book series as we now wait for distribution, although I'm not able to disclose info at this point. I've learned so much from the first volume; and the second has been underway for quite some time. To keep people from waiting so long, I felt the urge to begin a small Christmas webmanga that I still update, hopefully to complete by Christmas. Since God is good to me, there is also a collaborative project of another genre in the works!
My goal and prayer in life is to make a difference in people's lives across the world. I found out through a time of humbling, learning to be patient and leaning on God that He is seeking those who seek him first to just follow him; to be in his presence is worth just as much if not more than to do great works in His name. I believe that as long as we obey His lead with humility and faith can we expect to achieve His goals. The biggest blessings by far didn't come from people who told me how much they've changed through my work, or how much it has inspired them, but from God's pleasure in my obedience. I realize I'm still a work in progress as a wife, mom, and daughter of God, and that I have a long way to go as a comic artist, but I know He'll continue to guide and direct me according to his timing and grace.
If you'd like info for the Shelter of Wings project or to purchase a book, you can access info at the Brethren site:
http://www.brethren-et.com/BESite3/products_sow.html
or my personal site with a blog and other fun stuff here:
www.shelterofwings.com
And the Christmas webmanga can be accessed from my personal site here:
http://myangelsnow.tripod.com/stars/index.htm
God bless!
--Lisa
shelterofwings@gmail.com
Ragged Capes © 2009 & tm New Creatiion Now .All rights reserved.
A Shelter of Wings ChristmasBy Lisa Hutchinson © 2008 Bretheren Entertainment Media
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