I sometimes receive emails from this blog with legitimate questions. Not the ones offering to sell me something. Or asking that I wire money to some exotic locale. Why not make blog content of these questions!? It’s like Thanksgiving leftovers. In a good way. Plus I can correct the spelling that was in my original response.
Q: Do you draw on the computer?
A: Yes. Well, not ON the computer, but using the computer. I have been doing this since it wasn’t cool. Since art directors used to say, “We don’t want digital work.” Which wasn’t that long ago. But I do almost all my sketches using good old pencil and paper. Then scan them in and use Photoshop. I mix in lots of textures I’ve scanned and brushes I make in Photoshop.
Q: You don’t talk about illustration much. (On this illustration blog).
A: See above question! Actually I’ve been accused of this before. And you are right. I don’t mean this blog as a How To so much as it is, just about whatever I want it to be. I spend most of my working life developing stories; writing and illustrating them. So it ends up about that process and generally things I find interesting. I am mostly inspired by the story side of things. Drawing for me is directly connected to the narrative experience. Because of this and my stay-at-home-dadishness I do very little art that is not on deadline. When I have free time, I usually play video games…no. I usually write stories. Which I send to my agent and he patiently reads them and explains whey they won’t sell. Then I do it again. It’s a good relationship. He leaves me with hope and really, what more can you ask for!? Honestly having others read your work and offer honest appraisals about what you do best is very helpful. If you find people who will do that for you, treat them well. BTW my hobbies are hiking, swimming and the improper use of punctuation marks!
And the final one for today!
Q: Do you draw or write a story first?
A: This came from a student asking for a school paper or some such thing. It’s a good question. But as with most answers to art issues, what I do is just what I do. It’s not the ‘right way’ to do it. I almost always write first. I tend to think of a character or a situation and form a rough outline. I write this out. Sometimes the time between when I am thinking of the story and actually sitting down to write it is a long time. In that case I often start some drawings or doodles. These can greatly effect the story. So even if I write it out first, the drawings and doodles and roughs will help shape the story. Sometimes change it entirely.
Happy Monday!
