Steven Universe #9 - Behind the Script

Wow! I’m super flattered by all the positive responses to the latest Steven Universe comic issue! Since this one is a somewhat deeper and more personal one (and one of my favorites) I thought it might be fun to talk a bit about what went into it.

I’ll put most of this under a cut since it’ll be a bit long.

It’s funny because originally when I pitched this story, it was about Steven and the main Crystal Gems taking art lessons from Vidalia. At the time I wrote up the pitch, Lapis and Peridot hadn’t moved into the barn yet. But much later when the time came to flesh the story out, I thought it might be more fun to rework it with Lapis and Peridot instead. I also thought it would be more relevant since Lapis and Peridot have been shown to have an interest in art.

Around the time I was writing it, I wasn’t in the best of places. I was working freelance while still looking for my next full time job. I struggled to manage my own time and motivate myself toward artistic improvement. In that time, in between job searching and testing I was asking advice of peers and studying several books on art, anatomy, and figure drawing to work toward improving where I felt I was weak.

Much of Vidalia’s advice and enthusiastic art talk stems from the things I was learning at the time!

The critiques Lapis and Peridot received from Vidalia are based on some I’ve received on my own long and ongoing artistic journey. When I was younger I definitely had a tendency to be stubborn about only drawing what I wanted to and not learning basics, just like Peridot in the comic. I still do have a tendency to dig my heels in against critique and it’s something I try my best to improve upon.

Vidalia’s crit on Lapis’ work was partly based on my own struggle to do work outside of my more delicate, flowy line work (being so accustomed to brush pens and watercolor). And that part was combined with some more personal issues I imagined Lapis might be going through given what we know.



In Vidalia’s advice to Steven, I tried to write in the best advice I wanted to give to kids or anyone just getting into art (and advice I wish I had more of when I was a kid). When I was younger, I had a few art teachers who were more focused on the more technical side of art, almost making it mechanic and sometimes taking the fun out of it. So I wanted to write Vidalia as the more fun art teacher I imagine she’d be. She wants to inspire other artist to follow what drives them (as she does), but also give them insight to help them improve.

I’m so glad people are enjoying this issue and thank you again to @riibrego for providing the art for this issue’s story! If you love Steven and want a small sampling of art advice, I’d recommend picking it up!