Adrian Tomine Quotes, born May 31, 1974, in Sacramento, California, is an American cartoonist, illustrator, and author renowned for his comic book series Optic Nerve, begun at age 16, and his evocative covers for The New Yorker. His graphic novels, including Shortcomings (2007) and Killing and Dying (2015), explore human relationships and identity with stark realism, earning him a place in Best American Comics and a New York Times Notable Book nod. A regular contributor to McSweeney’s and The Paris Review, Tomine lives in Brooklyn with his family. These 15 quotes—sourced from interviews, his works, and web content—reflect his thoughts on comics, creativity, and authenticity, capturing his introspective wit and dedication to storytelling.
15 Adrian Tomine Quotes
- “The best comics are always going to be made by eccentric outsiders—people who feel that their work is absolutely necessary to them.” (Quotes on Comics, n.d.)
- “I’m not the best person to analyze any kind of evolution in my work, but I do feel like it’s been an ongoing struggle to teach myself how to tell the kinds of stories that interest me in comics form.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “Any kind of art that seems to be just about normal people, it’s judged less by how good of a work of art it is, and more by how much the critic thinks that that is true to life.” (Goodreads, n.d.)
- “Drawing has always served a sort of therapeutic purpose in my life. There’s something about translating the messy chaos of real life into a clean, simple drawing that’s comforting.” (QuotePub, n.d.)
- “I get the impression from some people that unless they get direct access to characters’ thoughts and realizations, then those thoughts never existed.” (Goodreads, n.d.)
- “There’s never been a moment where I sat down at my drawing board and thought, ‘I’m a pro!’” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “The comics work is very slow, and it basically involves working for sometimes years in isolation and not knowing how the work is going to be received.” (QuotePub, n.d.)
- “I think it’s nice if someone respects whatever their endeavor is, whether it’s dance or art or stand-up comedy, to not assume that they’re gonna be an overnight sensation.” (Goodreads, n.d.)
- “When I’m sitting at my drafting table in my studio, I could really be anywhere.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “I don’t pick up my work at all. If it’s something that’s still in progress and I have the chance to make some edits, I’ll keep those stories at hand.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “Especially for people of our generation, who really celebrated certain attitudes—the outsider, the loner—it can have a real impact on the art when they realize, I have friends, I’m married, or I have kids.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “My responsibility is to present things in a way that is realistic and true to the multifaceted world I’ve known.” (QuotePub, n.d.)
- “I think the response I get to one New Yorker cover outweighs five books that I publish.” (QuotePub, n.d.)
- “When I first started drawing the earliest incarnation of Optic Nerve, I hadn’t even been on a date; I was almost writing science fiction.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “I would honestly be elated if I could wave a magic wand and eradicate my back catalog and then have a fresh crack at some of those ideas.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
Adrian Tomine’s quotes are a thoughtful blend of self-awareness, creative struggle, and artistic integrity, inspiring readers to embrace the slow, authentic craft of storytelling. Which one’s got you ready to pick up a pen and create? Drop it in the comments and keep Tomine’s legacy of comics artistry alive!
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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