Meet the Artist: Jérôme Comentale
Jérôme Comentale is a concept artist based in Nantes, France, and an entrant to our inaugural creative campaign, Heroic 100, which seeks out the world’s best fantasy and science fiction artists. We spoke to Jérôme about his journey to becoming a freelance artist, his top tips for aspiring creatives, and his recent work with Heroic Books.
Firstly, tell us how you got into illustration and concept art?
JC: I think my entry to the world of illustration is quite a classic one. I started drawing when I was a kid, but I never thought it was anything that serious. As the years went by, I continued drawing for pleasure and became inspired by video games and movies. But it wasn’t really until I was 16 years old that I realised art was that important to me or something that I could professionally pursue.
You entered our Heroic 100 campaign last year, but before then, had you ever had your work featured in similar campaigns?
JC: I’d never done work with a company like Heroic Books before. Usually, I don’t have that much free time to devote because my work keeps me busy. As a concept artist, I work a lot with studios and I also teach art on the side, so it doesn’t leave me with much free time.
But when I saw that Heroic 100 was a collaboration with fantasy and science fiction authors, I thought it would be really interesting to illustrate their vision off the page — and I had a lot of fun doing it.
I’m also really excited that this campaign turned into a paid commission for me, producing the cover for one of Heroic’s new books which is due to be released in spring 2022!
When did you make the jump to illustrating full-time and how was the experience for you?
JC: I went full-time around four years ago, and the experience was incredible. At the beginning, I had a lot of free time and it was fabulous for me because it allowed me a sense of freedom — to work for myself, to explore, to train.
A few months later, I started working with various studios on exciting projects, and it’s never stopped since. For me, it’s a dream come true!
What are your top tips for illustrators who are just starting out?
JC: To never give up, and to have fun with what you do, first and foremost. What I advise above all is to practice and to be curious. It’s always very interesting to look at what is going on around you, to discover new artists and new techniques. I think that’s the key to developing your craft.
Which illustrators do you most admire?
JC: My favourite artist is definitely Dylan Cole — he’s an artist I got to know relatively late, but when I discovered him, it was a revelation. He represented everything I loved to do but on a divine level. He’s definitely the artist I respect the most and I sincerely hope to meet him one day. I suggest everyone checks out his work, too!
If you’re a lover of fantasy and science fiction art, I also suggest checking out ArtStation. There are so many incredible artists on there and so much talent. It’s a great place to discover new creatives!
To find out more about our Heroic 100 campaign and to enter, head to www.heroicbooks.com/heroic100. And to learn more about Jérôme Comentale and discover his work, visit his ArtStation and his Instagram.
