Comic Book Resources shows us some love

June 26, 2008

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I’m usually over at CBR several times a week reading Rich Johnston’s Lying In The Gutters and Steven Grant’s Permanent Damage Columns. It was pretty trippy seeing a quick interview with myself posted on there today.
You can read that by clicking here.

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Tim Bradstreet’s new art book Archetype

June 17, 2008

I remember picking up Tim Bradstreet’s Maximum Black 10 years ago back when I lived in Montreal. It was at a cool little book store called Nebula. I poured through that monograph so many times it wasn’t funny. I was just starting to experiment with realism and photo-realism with my own artwork. There was some powerful imagery in there.

A few years later I screwed up the courage to email Tim and ask him a couple of specific questions regarding his burnishing technique. Two days later I received a very detailed and helpful answer in my inbox. I wasn’t accustomed to artists being so helpful and forthcoming. He had me as a life-long fan then and there.

And earlier this year he provided us with a back cover blurb for our first release, Rex by Danijel Zezelj. We are both great admirers of Danijel’s work.

Finally a second monster volume, Archetype, chronicling his artwork is being released by Joe Pruett over at “Desperado Publishing”. It’s coming out in a standard hardcover edition as well as a special signed volume.

Tim says, “Archetype is a retrospective and covers my entire 22 year career working in RPGs, VGs, comics, trading cards, album covers, and movie posters. Almost everything is represented. Plus - Unpublished and personal art, sketches, thumbnails, and photos.

With quotes and insights from Guillermo del Toro, Mark Schultz, Mike Carey, Bernie Wrightson, Steve Niles, Thomas Jane, Gary Gianni, Paul Gulacy, Bruce Jones, Tim Truman, Lee Bermejo, Phil Hale, and Danijel Zezelj.”

Consider it pre-ordered.
-Jay

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Dan Mumford answers 12 Questions about art

June 16, 2008

12 Questions With Dan Mumford
By JasonThibault

As a lifelong fan of poster and t-shirt art, I’m always on the lookout for new illustrators who work primarily in the music industry. Their range of interests and influences usually span a much broader range than fine artists or even comic book creators. I was blown away by Dan Mumford’s work as soon as I was introduced to it last year. Dan’s work has a timeless quality to it. There’s clearly inspiration drawn from the 1920’s, 70’s and yet his work still feels cutting edge.
Check out his Myspace page and his website
Onto the goods.

First professional work (piece / year) and a quick story behind it.

I guess the actual first professional piece would be the covers I did for two bands I was in about 5 or 6 years ago, Incoherence and Neverthemore. However that was more for myself and not really a client, so the first client based piece of work would have been for the original Gallows ‘Orchestra of Wolves Cover’ back in 2006. I worked on that with Alex Curtis from Thr33 design, neither of us got paid for it, but after the album did so well we obviously both got a lot of work out of it, including me getting to redo the album when it was re-released on Warners.

Are you self-taught or formally educated? (or mixture of both, mentors etc…)

I would say in the style I now work I am self educated, I went to University in Brighton to study illustration, but they didn’t really teach us how to work, more the ideas and concepts behind things, not the style.

Tools of the trade: Taking a quick glance over at your pens, brushes etc…what tools have you mainly been using over the last few years?

Well I used to do everything by pen and pencil followed by scanning in and playing around in Photoshop. Nowadays I do a lot completely in Photoshop, its a lot quicker and easier when I make mistakes, and as long as I can create my work in the same style then I’m happy with that.

Favorite brand of ink:

Well, when it comes to creating work. I don’t have a favourite. But when it comes to screen-printing, Speedball ink!

Type of paper:

Again, no favourite. For screen-printing I use GF smith paper a lot though.

Which artists or creators do you return to for a quick boost of inspiration? Who are the masters of ink?

Ahhh, well I have always thought Alfonse Mucha was pretty much a master, I absolutely adore the way he depicts the female form and his soft yet bold look. Frank Miller definitely as well, his use of black line is amazing. I have always been inspired by comic books of any sort from a young age, so I have a huge collection of graphic novels and the like that give me ideas! Apart from that I draw a lot from music and Cinema, basically anything that moves me generally gives me ideas and inspiration.

Once a client has handed off an illustration job to you, how do you first tackle the job? Could you give us a quick overview of your process?

Generally we throw ideas backwards and forwards, I draw some sketches up and we decide on the route that the project should take, generally there’s at least a week or two of solidifying an idea. I don’t like to work on anything until the client knows what to expect, otherwise you can end up wasting a lot of time. Following the decision on where the project should go ill start drawing stuff up and keep the client updated throughout the process all the way to the finished product.

What’s currently sitting in your mp3 / CD player / turntable?

Hmm, well I purchase far too much music, I guess right now I’m listening to the new Opeth album, Century ‘Black Ocean’, Porcupine Tree ‘Nil Recurring’, Veil Of Maya ‘The Common Mans Collapse’…and lots lots more, basically anything with excellent guitar work, shredding, solos and the such.

What’s hanging on your walls and what is your favorite piece of art that you own (not created by you)?

I actually don’t hang a lot on my walls at home, I keep them pretty bare so that being at home can be a release from work, that and I just moved so I haven’t got too comfortable yet in my room..but I do have a nice print by Tara Mcpherson up right now, that’s probably my favourite piece, her work always features these amazing women, and its a great screen-print from a Melvins show. In my studio I have a few bits here and there from various CDs with covers I like, to pieces of my work that I feel are my better ones, so that I can see the sort of line work I used on them etc, for comparison while I’m working basically! I also have a huge pile of old comic books my girlfriend got me that I’m working my way through, Marvel ones from the 80’s, amazing to look through.

Last novel you read and last movie that you saw (that you’d recommend)

Last Novel was probably number9dream, and that was a year or so ago, me and books have an on/off relationship it would seem, in fact that wasn’t the last book I read, but its definitely the last one to leave an impression. Very surreal narrative that goes all over the place and switches perspective all the time, really mind-bending at times, that was by David Mitchell, all his books are great. Last film I saw I’d recommend, haha..probably Ironman, I really enjoyed that! Hopefully the start of a beautiful franchise, I’m a real sucker for comic book films, its like bringing my childhood to life, so the last 8 years or so of adaptations have been great, I even like the bad ones like fantastic four and the hulk. Not in the cinema the last film I saw on DVD id recommend would be ‘The Devils Backbone’ but Guillermo Del Toro, before he did Hellboy or Pans Labyrinth, its the spiritual predecessor to that so its very interesting to watch.

Current and upcoming projects.

Currently doing the artwork for the new Evil Nine album ‘They Live’, along with three singles and campaign artwork. That’s fun as they aren’t really my usual client, they’re more dance/electro than anything, so that’s fun to be working on. Aside from that a lot of apparel for bands and various bits of merch work, lots to keep me busy!

What would you tell an aspiring artist who is working his ass off but still needs and wants to break through to the next level?

Keep going, its not easy, and a lot of people give up..but even if you have to work in your spare time whilst working a crappy job somewhere else, keep doing it and take any opportunity to get your artwork out there, work for free if you have to, nearly all exposure is good exposure, and eventually if you work at it and you’re good at what you do then you will get recognition!

Dan Mumford

Previous Masters of Ink:
Ryan Jones
Rufus Dayglo
Kody Chamberlain

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Masters of Ink: 12 Questions With Ryan Jones (Humanburger)

June 9, 2008

Ryan Jones (Humanburger) is another myspace discovery. We actually live in the same province (British Columbia) in Canada and I’ve been corresponding with him by email for years, but I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never met him yet. I hope to change that this year.
I’ve never been much of a fan of sharpie markers and wasn’t convinced they could achieve much more than bathroom wall graffiti. Jones has proven me wrong many times over. His art is wild and violent and he will eventually be the rightful heir to Simon Bisley and Kyle Hotz. He’s been working on finishing up his comic, Wretched. Can’t wait.

First professional work (piece / year) and maybe a quick story behind it.

When I first started doing commissions around 2003 I think, I naturally started working for underground local bands around my area, I first did a pic for 3inches of blood but nothing ever came of it(don’t think they used it), then my good bro’s band Massgrave was started to record their first album. I’ve known most of them since high school so it kind of worked out hanging out with them talking about covers n all that. I started working on what was supposed to be their LP cover, it was a design that had ridiculous amounts of detail and took me over a month to do up, but it was definitely the picture that gave me the confidence to continue. The design got used on a shirt, and eventually I drew another design for their actual LP cover and the original came in the LP as a fold out poster, so it all worked out… It was for sure my first major piece I did for any band, Massgrave is known a bit better these days and have a few more LPs and splits… all good stuff, but at the time about a year or two later I got a t-shirt job for the pretty well known metal band Macabre, which got me started networking on the internet and getting more jobs than just local stuff… so after that was what really got me working with other bands and getting more gigs online… I did commissions up to late 2005 until I went to my first comic convention ’small press expo’ in Maryland, DC with counter culture comics after doing a 8page comic for them that was published in the collaboration comic, and after that, I focused all my efforts on a full issue horror comic called WRETCHED, and I’ve been working on it ever since…

Self-taught or formally educated? (or mixture of both, mentors etc…)

I just drew all through my school years to combat the extreme boredom I was up against. I have hordes of blue lined paper that are FILLED with tons of little scribblings… I owe a lot to that for sure. I didn’t skip school or anything; I just sat there and drew all day. I figure that will make a decent artist out of anyone, haha

Tools of the trade: Taking a quick glance over at your pens, brushes etc…what tools have you mainly been using over the last few years?

Mainly Micron pens and sharpie markers just because they’re easy to use and, in all honestly, I hate cleaning up ink messes, haha… I have a great brush set but I haven’t used it in years, I’m starting to think of starting to mess around with it again thou…

Favorite brand of ink:

sharpie markers…

Type of paper:

I started using Bristol board a good while ago and haven’t gone back since… I love it!!

Which artists or creators do you return to for a quick boost of inspiration? Who are the masters of ink?

My 4 main artists of inspiration are Simon Bisley (drawn Lobo, Slaine, Heavy Metal, Judge Dredd, Melting Pot, ect.), Douglas Tennaple (earthworm Jim, gear), Stevo (Impetigo), Luisma (Hemorrhage)… they are definitely my main source of inspiration, but that’s not it… old black and white Conan art, heavy metal mags, EC comics, 60’s-70’s horror movie poster art, punk/metal/grindcore/classic rock album covers its all MEGA inspiring and there’s always new stuff that I come across that just impresses me even more and it reminds me why I could never stop drawing…

Once a client has handed off an illustration job to you, how do you first tackle the job? A quick overview of your process.

I give everything I draw much thought, the white paper to finished pencil phase definitely takes me the longest to work out… making sure all the black and white will work out and there’s that fine line between detail and clarity. Then, (sometimes with uncertainty) I start chipping away at the inking phase and really after the outlines are done, the picture seems to finish itself almost… the penciling is definitely the most challenging for me, sometimes I just get way to frustrated with all that gawd damn white space staring at me, hahaha…

What’s currently sitting in your mp3 / CD player / turntable?

I listen to all sorts of stuff, anything with some heart and energy in it… I listen to mainly older metal stuff, Psychedelic n stoner Rock, n Frank Zappa Albums but again, anything that you can hear with using more than your ears… right now I got some Motorhead, At War, Birdflesh, Danzig and even some Eazy-E on the current play list… it was yesterdays actually and I’m currently too lazy to change it, haha…

What’s hanging on your walls and what is your favorite piece of art that you own (not created by you)?

I have a smaller room than I’d like at the moment, so I’m limited on wall space, haha, but a quick sweep… I have my 3 iron maiden flags which are usually the first things that go up, some original artwork by Adam Geyer, prints by artist Putrid and Splatterbeast, some Horror movie junk n my fish tanks take up the rest of the room… hard to pic a fav thou… the iron maiden art work always hits a heart note with me, but the og Adam Geyer art might be a pretty close second…

Last novel you read and last movie that you saw (that you’d recommend).

I saw that movie based on the underground comic ‘American Splendor” a few weeks back, I hadn’t read any of the comic book nor really heard much of it… but the movie spoke to me somehow, and not only was it just a well done movie, but I could relate to the story of starting my own comic and the troubles that come with the job… I should get the comic, haha
novels I don’t really read too often, or ever for that matter, someone gives me a book to read it just sits on my shelf for years and years… love comics thou…

Current and upcoming projects.

I’m working on my debut Full Issue heavy metal horror comic ‘WRETCHED’, in the vein of b-horror movies, EC comics, and thrash metal music it should be an over the top cheese ball old school gorebath. Or at least that’s what I’m hoping for, haha, it should be around the 48 page mark, all black and white and all done by myself (written, drawn, inked, lettered, published)… I’m bustin my balls on the damn thing to get it finished and its coming along nicely… I’m keeping everyone posted on its progress via my website and myspace…

What would you tell an aspiring artist who is working his ass off but still needs and wants to break through to the next level?

I would tell them the same thing I tell any body working their ass off for anything in life… Don’t ever stop following what you love doing, don’t let anyone discourage you including yourself, and involve yourself FULLY in it, like, give it everything you got, full boar… and when you have what your looking for in sight, charge like some wild beast from hell… oh yeah, and enjoy every step of the way, at least that’s what works for me…

thanks again for the great interview, been a slice for sure…
so take care and all the best
Jones

For more info visit:
www.humanburger.com
myspace.com/humanburger

Previous Masters of Ink:

Rufus Dayglo

Kody Chamberlain

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Masters of Ink: Optimum Wound talks with Rufus Dayglo

June 4, 2008

Over the next few months we’re going to be talking to an incredible line-up of comic creators, poster artists and illustrators. Here’s the second interview.

By Jason Thibault

I discovered the work of Rufus Dayglo through my friend and IDW colorist Christian Krank. Not only is Rufus an artist for 2000 AD in the UK and IDW in the US…he’s also an art dealer for many of the UK’s top comic artists. He basically lives eats and breathes comic art. Let’s learn a thing or two from him. For further info you can visit his blog or add him on myspace.

First professional work (piece / year) and maybe a quick story behind it.

Hmm..
I’ve been paid to draw since I was at school. First stuff was for advertising firms, then I went into Animation, and finally Comics.
I also did a lot of band flyers, gig posters and album covers for punk bands, usually for a few beers and fags. Glamorous, no?

Self-taught or formally educated? (or mixture of both, mentors etc…)

Self taught. I’ve drawn comic strips since I was a kiddie. I was obsessed with 2000ad (Judge Dredd), and WW2 comics. I learned from copying my heroes, Artists like Mick McMahon, Brendan McCarthy, Joe Kubert, Ramon Sola, Cam Kennedy, Victor De La Fuente, Gerry Talaoc, Herb Trimpe.
I then started doing my own fanzines, and working with friends, like the very talented Nzer Simon Morse, who should be world famous.
A big learning curve was seeing a piece of original art, a Dr Who page by Dave Gibbons in the old Forbidden Planet shop. I realized artists worked twice up to repro size, AND most importantly…I could see corrections! It was a revelation that even Comic Gods made mistakes.
I was very lucky in that I did some work for 2000ad, and Ashley Wood asked me to work with him. This not only forced me to produce a huge amount of work, but I got to see what he did with my layouts, and it was a massive learning curve. Ashley makes everything look very easy… Damn him!!

Tools of the trade: Taking a quick glance over at your pens, brushes etc…what tools have you mainly been using over the last few years?

My system I’ve settled on presently is this…
1 – Small sketch pad to do thumbnails with a 4B pencil and Biro
2 – Scan and enlarge to A3 sized (With US Paper size guidelines…)
3- Light box the rough through onto Paper, using a blunt 2B (I like loose pencils, tight pencils fuck up my inking, as I stress out about ruining a well penciled picture).
4 – Once penciled I rule in Borders, then straight into inking with a Tombo Black art pen and Zig Calligraphy Marker(You’ve got to be careful, these suckers aren’t waterproof), then I use a Uniball Eye Fine Line Rollerball Byro to add detail. Rub out the pencils, and fill in the blacks with a Pentel Brush pen.
It’s important to have an Art brush, to brush away rubber bits from the rubbed out pencils, don’t want to smear the inks.
A page takes me about 4-6 hours, and I do 2 a day.

Favorite brand of ink:

No particular favourite, I like pens. Pilot Lettering Pens, Kuretake ‘Zig- Memory System’ calligraphy Markers (They are great, highly recommended), Pentel Brush Pen, and Uniball roller Byros are superb.

Type of paper:

I use cheap spiral bound A3 pads from a local art shop (Atlantis Fine Arts, London), the paper is 135 GSM Cartridge paper, and is great. Light enough to see through on a light board, hardy enough to scalpel, and absorb my spilt coffee.

Which artists or creators do you return to for a quick boost of inspiration? Who are the masters of ink?

Mick McMahon, Guy Davis, Ashley Wood, Brendan McCarthy, Brett Ewins, Jordi Bernet, Alex Toth, Carmine Infantino, Joe “The Bestest’ Kubert, Sam Glanzman,Jamie Hewlett, Cam Kennedy, Jordi Penalva, Gino D’Antonio, Victor De la Fuente, Jock, Henry Flint, Trev Hairsine, Mark Stafford, Hugo Pratt, Alberto Breccia, Mike Mignola, Jose Garcia Lopez, Henri Matisse, Robert Raushenberg, Allesandro Biffignandi, ahhhh…There’s so many…
…and too much to learn!

Once a client has handed off an illustration job to you, how do you first tackle the job? Could you give us a quick overview of your process?

I get a script from the writer, read it 3 or 4 times, drink enough coffee to paralyze an Elephant, draw thumbnails, (If possible discuss the story over the phone with the writer… Alan martin is great for that, very accessible, and points out things he wants particular attention paid to.)

Eat lotsa chocolate… more coffee… Then Pencil and ink 2 pages a day til it’s done, FTPing them up to site for the colourist as I go.

I always send pages to the writer first, to let them check, I like it to be collaborative, and I’m happiest when I have a lot of communication.

What’s currently sitting in your mp3 / CD player / turntable?

Cds.. thousands.. but this week… A lot of Flaming Lips, Polyphonic Spree, Morrissey, the Ramones (Always the Ramones), The 3ds, Pavement, Wire, J&M Chain, Early Adam and the Ants, The Hitchers, anything by Ben deilly (ex LemonHeads…Genius!), Magnetic Fields, Mudhoney, Gun Club, Avengers, lotsa noise…

What’s hanging on your walls and what is your favourite piece of art that you own (not created by you)?

I’m lucky to own a lot of original art.

My personal favourites are a Mick McMahon Judge Dredd Painting, A Guy Davis illo he drew for me, a Gary Panter drawing, and a Brent Anderson Blade Runner cover, and a Ramon Sola Hookjaw page.

But I own a LOT of Art…. I’m very lucky.

Last novel you read and last movie that you saw (that you’d recommend)

I reread a lot of Kinky Friedman books, Tim Powers ‘Anubis Gates’, Bill Bryson and a lot of history books, mainly depressing war stuff, but also Peter Ackroyd, absolute genius (Get his ‘bio’ of London)

Films… Ummm..I never get out…sob.