Influence: Where Does it Come From?

We don’t get to choose everything that influences us.

In many artist interviews, it is very common for there to be a section that discusses the creative works that impacted their journey: books/comics, television shows, movies, and the artists who worked on them. They create a familiar point of connection for the audience. It is a helpful reminder that we are all inspired by others; no one is an island.

But the ideas of influence and inspiration are not restricted solely to what we think as creative work; they can come from many places. A unique influence in my own life was my father’s profession.

My dad worked for over 30 years as a mechanic and ran an auto shop in the city where we lived.

My father is sitting in the hood of a truck in his shop in Marion, IN. 2003. This is one of my favorite photos of him.

My mother worked behind the scenes; she did all the books, taxes, and financials. Together, they were an amazing team.

Going to the shop was a really special experience. It was this place where you knew something important happened every day; this was where work got done.

It smelled of oily rags and gasoline, and I loved it. I had the opportunity to work with my father for a few years while in college. I was just a grunt employee, but I learned a lot. While I never wanted to pursue this career path, and I wouldn't say I’m a great tech, I treasure the time I worked there.

For students, they need to see that there are things outside of their creative interest that directly influence their creative work. Their culture, extended family influences, time and place they grew up, etc. They could be things of the past or new experiences that are yet to come. All of these things feed into a larger story that will inspire work in an authentic way.

In The Fuel Factory specifically, as the scenes began to develop, comparisons were made between the body systems and various types of work. The esophagus is imagined as a mining elevator, which naturally needed miners. The escaping gas (i.e., farts 🙂) in the lower intestines required plumbers to navigate the various narrative challenges.

Spending time in a shop means you are around tools, equipment, and engines. You can't help but be inspired by how they look. These kinds of visual notes are all over The Fuel Factory.

All of the scenes within the body are meant to give the feeling that you are in a vast factory with pipes, cranes, and heavy equipment.

A challenge for me became a kind of “how many different kinds of jobs and uniforms can I show?” The teaching packet accompanying the children's book highlights many of these roles and jobs and hopefully elevates the work of so many trade laborers like my father

What has influenced you, and how can that fuel your creative engine today?