At six years old, Shane Clester realized that most people aren’t happy with their jobs. Even as he drew robots just to see if he could, he decided at that young age that he would turn his artistic play into work. As Shane grew older and studied the nuances of art, his initial excitement evolved into fascination. He was compelled by the replication of life through seemingly limited tools, and embarked on a quest to learn technical proficiency. In the early 2000s, Shane studied briefly under Jim Garrison, well-known for his art anatomy and technical skills. Shane then relocated from Arizona to California, where he learned a powerful lesson: You have to study to be an artist, and then you have to learn the business of being an artist.
Shane discovered that he needed to sell himself before he could sell a product. Over the course of the next several years, he broadened his portfolio to include youth-oriented art and comic books, and sourced clients by attending conferences and book fairs. Some of his clients have included leading comic book publisher IDW, Hasbro, Scholastic, Macmillan, and Times of London. Of his many projects, Shane is particularly proud of Skate Farm: Volume 2, a graphic novel he produced, and Mi Barrio, a comic book adaptation of Robert Renteria’s From the Barrio to the Board Room.
Shane began freelancing with RTC in September 2009. His experience, adaptable style, and professionalism soon made him an obvious choice for the company’s Art Director.
“[Shane Clester] takes us step by step through The Long Tail in a friendly fashion, making each step easily understandable. Thomas Carlyle once famously derided economics as being “the dismal science” but this graphic novel is a surprising amount of fun.”
–ICv2 Review by Steve Bennett: Writer and retail services consultant.
