Pulse of the art: Gerard Way
Most well known for his contribution to the punk scene in the 2000’s, Gerard Way began his career journey as an artist.
Studying art at the School of Visual Arts in New York, young Way’s career ambition was to become a comic book artist.
After completing his Bachelor in 1999, Way took a job with cartoon network where he would be drawing art for cartoons. During his time at Cartoon Network, Way would
also secure an internship at Detective Comics, also known as DC.
It was at Cartoon Network that Gerard would spend two years before witnessing the twin towers falling, and deciding that he felt his art was not making enough of an impact to make him feel fulfilled. Thus, Way would form My Chemical Romance.
While this may seem like where Way’s art career came to an end, it was merely the beginning of the development of his personal style.
‘Space Monkey’ drawn by Way in his time at Cartoon Network.
Source: Psychotic-gerard, 2023.
Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge cover.
Source: Apple Music, 2004. He would first display his artwork on the cover of Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge, where millions would see and identify with the cover. The image depicted him and his recently deceased grandmother, looking into
each other’s eyes once more, covered in blood. This image would become an iconic part of the emo scene. He would also go on to create more art for the album - such as the artwork behind the cd, art for interviews with magazines like Kerrang!, and more.
When My Chemical Romance released The Black Parade, Way’s visions would have the support to be more fleshed out than ever. In the Welcome To The Black Parade music video, Way would act as a creative director. Way, in this era of the band, would design the backdrops,
outfits, storyline and it’s characters and cover art for the concept albumtaking on more creative become Danger Days, then, following the band’s hiatus, The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys comics. In the time since, Way has posted many pieces of artwork to his Instagram and Twitter accounts, including pieces with his wife and daughter. Notably, since the hiatus of the band, Way would go on to aid in the creation of Umbrella Academy.
References
Apple Music (2004) Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge, Apple Music website, accessed 25 May 2024. https://music.apple.com/au/album/three-cheersfor-sweet-revenge/1156311431
AZ Quotes (n.d.) Gerard Way Quotes, AZ Quotes website, acessed 12 May 2024. https://www.azquotes. com/author/15374-Gerard Way/tag/art Psychotic-gerard (2023) Gerard Way’s Art, Tumblr website, accessed 25 May 2024. https://www.tumblr.com/ psychotic-gerard/709601801096331264/gerard-ways-art-amasterpost?source=share
“Make your life your art. It doesn’t have to be that you’re an artist. I know I talk about art a lot, but I mean a very broad thing with that. You could be a veterinarian, that’s your art. Find your art; find your thing you love.” - Gerard Way