Cortlan souders

I do not exactly remember when I met Cortlan, but one day here at the Advocate office there was a dude with really long and big hair who said he was interested in doing some illustrations for the paper.

Photograph by Prisma Flores

And my goodness, he truly does some amazing drawings with his hands. 

Cortlan says he has been drawing since he could hold writing instruments in his hands but growing up, he never really thought it could be anything serious or a thing he could do for livelihood. He always loved drawing and in 2020 during his freshman year of high school is when he really locked in for real, homie. One-hundred. While in school he spent all the free time he had learning how to grow as an artist and develop his skill. He would watch YouTube videos on how to draw the human body, posing, portraits, etc.

Cortlan started following artists that inspired him and had styles that he wanted to model and achieve. Ever since 2020, Cortlan says he has practically been drawing almost every day and loves every minute of it.

He went on to tell me about some of his favorite YouTubers. He has been following the creator “Subjectively” who Cortlan literally has been watching since the beginning of the channel. Seeing an illustrator really grow and develop their style over time really inspired him to follow along and also to develop his own style.

One of the creative lubricants Cortlan often utilizes is music. He notes rap and heavy metal is his “safe space” and loves to jam out to artists or groups such as Slipknot, Alice in Chains, Denzel Curry, or OutKast. It brings so much joy and innovation to him.

CORTLAN’S MESSAGE 

“Do whatever you want to do in life that makes you happy. It doesn’t matter if it’ll make you money or not. Do what you know will satisfy your needs of bringing joy and elation to life. We don’t have too much time in this world, and I’m not going to waste that time stuck in a corporate office job, where I’m unable to love the work I do.

“Chase after your wildest and dumbest dreams; you’ll find success if you push hard enough for it.”

Cortlan’s Instagram: @cortlansouders