Pete Tapang is one of my best friends. I am lucky to have known him for close to five years now. When I first met Pete, he was drawing merely as a hobby in his leisure time. He had no concept as to how great of an artist he really was, nor was he aware of his awesome potential to achieve unmeasured success in this fiercely competitive field.
His talent is even more impressive when you consider he hasn't had any formal training and even less support from his own parents. Playboy even shut the door in Pete's face after he submitted his artwork for their consideration to "grace the pages" of their popular magazine. I have seen him overcome these hurdles and others to become one of the greatest artists of the 21st century. His style and perspective is unrivaled in the industry and he conducts himself in a professional manner. As such, Pete has the respect of his peers, and the models he draws.
At first, I was surprised at the number of fans Pete has. I mean, come on! An actual fan club! Then I got to thinking... having seen how Pete conducts himself personally and professionally would naturally inspire anyone. In the coming years, Pete will come to be known as an inspiration to many who aspire to become better artists... and better people in general.
Steve Thomas