How long have you been drawing?Almost all my life. I've always enjoyed it so I've always done it. I've only been doing EQ sig-work for about a year (started around March of last year).
What tools do you use?I use a variety of different tools for each stage of my drawing.
- Paper: 11x17 Bristol Board, or my Blueline Sketchbooks
- Penciling: Lead Holder with 2H and HB lead. A Technical Pencil with HB lead. Plastic Eraser, Magic Rub, Kneaded Putty Eraser, Dry Erase Bag, Automatic Eraser (for erasing tiny areas)
- Inking: Higgins India Ink, Pelikan India Ink, Pelikan Opaque White Drawing Ink, Rapidographs, Crow Quill pens with various nibs (Deleter G-nib, Saji, Maru and Hunt 102)
- Coloring: Adobe Photoshop 7.01, Wacom Intuos2 6x8, my PC (P4 2.4ghz, 1gb PC2700 RAM, 200gb storage, Radeon 9700 Pro)
Where do you get your ideas?As dull as it may sound, I just make them up. Granted, things like the EQ related work stem from EQ but the layouts and general poses are things I think of off the top of my head. Photo-referencing is good to do when you're doing something you're unfamiliar with but I try not to become too dependent on it.
Where did you learn to draw?Well, I pretty much learned by doing. I've been drawing and doodling since I was 5 and although I went to school for art, I did learn a lot of the stuff when I was younger through books and observation really. A strong desire to improve has and always will drive me.
How can I learn to draw?Practice really. There's really no easy route. Some people mat need less practice than others. There's nothing that I can really type here that when you read will cause something in your brain to click and will magnify your skill 100 fold. Hell, I'm still learning as I go along too.
I want to draw like you!First of all, that's not really a question. Second of all... no you don't. You don't ever really want to draw like someone else because you're denying yourself. Draw like yourself... that's the best thing you can do.
Where did you learn to color?I've read a LOT of books on Adobe Photoshop. I'm still learning and there are TONS of people who are much MUCH better than me at it.
Don't you think Photoshop coloring is getting old?Nope. Here's why I think that. Adobe Photoshop is not a gimmick as some people may like to think of it. It's a tool... much like a pencil, pen or real paints. Therefore, it can't REALLY get old. Otherwise, real paintings, sketches and photographs would get old too. It's a tool people. It's not going away. Granted, it may not suit your tastes, but to not acknowledge it as an actual medium would be a disservice.
Why comics? Why not other stuff?Well, the simplest thing is really because I like it. That's what I enjoy doing. Granted, illustration work is something that I'd like doing as well but comics will be my ultimate goal. After that... I can die happy.
Ever think about getting a real job?Yup, like I said I was a manager at a retail store and it SUCKED. There's a lot of corporate stuff to deal with but that's not really the bad part. It's actually the customers that drove me crazy. Yeah yeah yeah, I know "customers are what keeps you in business" but... the problem is when customers walk in like everyone owes them something. That I don't like. Still, I had some great customers that made my job truly enjoyable there. The bad part? For every one of them, there's 20 other ones that made my life aliving hell. Oh... and I can't stress this enough. Video game stores are not baby-sitting facilities for you to drop off your kids while you go shopping. You know who you are. Boy... sure rambled on this one.
Why don't you do "real art" instead?I know what you're saying but the plain truth is that kind of stuff doesn't really appeal to me. Much respect for people who do it though. I enjoy some of it, but others I just don't get at all. I just don't enjoying doing that stuff. Personal preference is all.
You do know that comic art / illustration isn't really art right?Hey, you're entitled to your beliefs on this matter. I'm not going to bother trying to change your mind about that but if you really think that way... why are you here on my page? Seriously though, I dealt with a lot of this in college from instructors and fellow students and it always got to me. I personally prefer not to have such an elitist attitude about another person's form of expression but that's me. You can keep holding your head up high and looking down your nose at me... just makes it easier for me to sucker punch you. THWACK!
Is your work influenced by anime?The funny thing is that this is actually debated by some of my visitors. Some people say my work is in the "anime-style" and others refer to it as more of a "80's marvel style". The actual fact is that my work is influenced by anime and manga as well as the other forms of comic art. Some people think that if there's big eyes and speedlines then it's automatically anime-style. Those are actually the more superficial aspects that people tend to think about when they see anime. There's quite a bit more to it than that but I can't explain it well enough. So yeah, I am influenced by anime, I'm also influnced by a lot of other stuff. I like to dabble a bit.
So who are your influences?I really have far too many to name. I'm pretty much at the point where if I see something, I'll end up getting influenced by it in some way. Soooo... it's pretty much anything and everything really. I will say though that Jim Lee's work was sparked my interest in comics when I was in 8th grade.
You're pretty good, Why aren't you working in comics already?Thanks, but the reality of it is I'm actually no good enough ... yet. I'm not conceited enough to think that the world is trying to keep me down. Fact of the matter is I still need to get better before I can completely break in. I'm working on it though and one day... I'll be good enough :)
Can I use your artwork as my sig?Nope, afraid not. Ya see, the thing about it is that all my EQ drawings are custom made for people whether they have been comissioned or favors for friends. I try to make each sig suited to the personality of the person. So when you use the image for your own sig, then you're swiping their personality in a way.
Can I send you my own work to look at?Hell yes! I love seeing other people's work... nothing inspires me more than seeing some of the great pieces of art that people produce.
How many licks does it take to get to the tootsie roll center of the toosie pop?According to the owl, 3. Though I know for a fact he's been running that same scam for years and eating up all the tootsie pops. I really have no idea why all the kids keep falling for it.
So what hobbies do you have aside from drawing?I play video games when I have time, collect comics, collect certain toys too.
That's geekyI know.
It really is.Thanks. Get the hell out.
|
