Long Story Short ★ BILL REINHOLD

How strong Influences can shape a Creative to become Undeniable

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Chicago native BILL REINHOLD has made a solid 40+ year comics career that has weathered the storm of the industry. Much of it can be attributed to hard work and strong foundation skills. But there may be even more to the story.

BTP: I just read that the American Academy of Art College after 101 years just closed its doors in July of this year. You were a student there at one point. Do you feel that experience shaped much of who you were as a professional artist or were their other inputs from mentors elsewhere? How’d you feel about the closure?

REINHOLD: Well of course it's sad to see one of the oldest art schools in the U.S., who's main emphasis is illustration, close. Many famous illustrators are alumni of the school. For me personally, The American Academy of Art changed my life. It wasn't a college when I graduated from AAA in 1982. At that time most graduated with two-year associate's degree. The magic of the school was its attention to Life Drawing. Your first year as a student at the AAA, you attended a Life Drawing class for three hours a day.  I attended the school for three years. Continuing that teaching along with Watercolor class and Illustration class.

BTP: When did it become apparent that you would take that tradecraft to pursue comics and not illustration per se? I seem to remember illustration was still a much-respected career with luminaries like Mark English, Bob Peak, Bernie Fuchs, etc. Did you get any direction or support in pursuing comics?