Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Fackler.
Hi Jonathan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I have been fascinated with the world of cartoons since the age of three. One of my favorite cartoons growing up was SpongeBob SquarePants. I wanted watch that show all the time, and if I wasn’t watching it, I was drawing the characters to fuel my SpongeBob addiction. One day my mother and grandma noticed me drawing and were amazed at the detail and accuracy for a three-year-old. After seeing my drawings, my mother knew I was going to be an artist. My father also knew that I would probably become an artist when I wouldn’t stop drawing on his walls. My Grandmother, who is also an artist, was a huge supporter of mine growing up. She always made sure that I had all the materials or supplies I needed to succeed. Over the years, I continued to draw as a hobby until my freshman year of high school. In high school, I was involved in many activities, such as powerlifting and Football, but my love was always art and comics. I was fortunate to be chosen to be an ART intern at my high school in my senior year, where I was able to help teach Art Foundations I and II. During that year, I looked at colleges that would suit my drawing abilities and passions and was accepted to my first choice, Savannah College of Art and Design’s Sequential Arts Department. I am currently enjoying my junior year here at SCAD and have been able to grow my artistic portfolio as well and make great connections. I look forward to graduation in 2024 and continuing my love of Art with a professional career. I can currently be found creating comics, illustrating, or doing storyboards, and couldn’t be more happier.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Throughout life, we all have our fair share of struggles, obstacles, or challenges that we have to figure our how to get through or overcome. These are usually moments that we look back on as defining moments or times in our lives. My defining moment was in a hospital room in SavannahGeorgia the start of my sophomore year at SCAD. I am a Resident Assistant at the college and was on my way to training the morning this all happened. My colleague and I were crossing the crosswalk as she screamed my name, I turned toward her, and all I saw was a vehicle heading towards me. Then BAM, I went up and over the vehicle and landed on the asphalt next to the car. I was transported to the hospital where they poked, prodded, and scanned everything. While lying on the hospital bed awaiting my results, I kept thinking that I could have died. The thought was like fireworks exploding in my mind over and over again. In that moment, I reflected on the fact that I could have died. I would not of left any legacy of art or anything that I would be remembered for. I realized life could be very short, and I was very lucky that I was able to walk away from that accident. There would no more wasted time or wasted opportunities for me, but instead, I would be taking advantage of the precious time and opportunities that may come. That day, I promised myself that I would embrace all obstacles as road bumps and lessons and to live each day to the fullest because you never know when it might be your last
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Well, I am currently a Sequential Art major with a minor in Storyboarding. Sequential Arts is the study of Storytelling, Comic Design, etc., and Storyboarding is the planning and sketching of scenes for animation, film, and television. Since being here in Savannah, I helped illustrate a children’s book called “50 Jokes by Ava” that can be found at major book retailers and have done many storyboards for thesis films and commercials. I am currently illustrating a second children’s book coming later this year and working on a personal webtoons comic called “Simple Doodles Presents: The Legend of the Funny Bone” and doing freelance storyboard work on the side.
My artwork can be summed up to be very wacky, unique, and upright strange. I love drawing out their designs and environments in my comics and art pieces. I also love to be very simple with my works; that’s why I created the Simple Doodles series to show my simple, wacky, and unique style with a little dash of my humor.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Everyone takes risk every day, some big and some small. I have taken small risk throughout the years to get me to where I am today. Some examples of my early risk range from my decision to go to art school to moving away from home. I love taking risk by reaching out to other artist to collaborate or make new connections. Those connections and collaborations have proven to be a learning experience and helped me improve personally and professionally. When someone takes a risk, there are only two outcomes, and believe it or not, they are both good. The First is that you succeed, improve yourself and gain knowledge. The second outcome is that you don’t succeed, you’re sad and disappointed, but because you took the risk, you gained knowledge on how to improve yourself or your craft. I will continue to take risk because it is fundamental to my success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jonacefackler.wixsite.com/portfolio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedrawingman_art/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-fackler-a4a59b220/
