Behind the scenes: Enter the Comic World, Volume 3

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Hello hello hello!!! Right onto round three!


:bulletred::star:American Comics!:star::bulletred:

Featuring the best of the business as always:

:iconrantz: Randy Kintz - In 2006, Randy "Rantz" Kintz was known to work on projects as diverse as Legend of Isis, Wrath of the Titans, and Jason and the Argonauts, where he provided pencils and inks on both interiors as well as covers. Prior to Bluewater, Randy self-published Inkslingers Presents and Repercussion Comics, where he mastered his "Animerca" style that blends modern cartoon styles with Anime.--taken from bio @ spacegoatproductions.com :D


Patrick McEvoy - is a professional artist working in the fields of comics and Fantasy/SF illustration. He's been at it full time for about 3 years, and before that he was an Art Director, game designer and computer animator for about 10 years. Currently He's on contract with Marvel Characters, the marketing/licensing division of Marvel Comics. Also, he's the artist on the comic book "Starkweather: Immortal" from Archaia.


And...!
SNAKEBITE - .. :lol: Just... GO THERE >> www.artbysnakebite.com/bio.htm… can anyone say MTV? :excited:




So before we start, please know that this isn't just for people into American comics, despite the fact that it applies to them a lot. This is for anyone who loves art, because no matter what they draw, in the end they are artists just like everyone here. :heart:





:star:Here are the questions::star:


1. What and/or who inspired you to become part of the creative industry (this includes comic art, animation or anything artistic that you do for a living)?

2. Has this career turned out what you expected it to be before you entered it? How and why is it different?

3. What programs or materials would you recommend for a beginner to practice coloring on? (this includes tablet brands, editions and computers as well if you can recommend)

4. If there was any other job you could employ in replacement of what you do right now, would you exchange? And for what type of job?

5. Any words of encouragement for newbies dreaming of entering the industry?
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:star:And here are the answers!:star:


1. What and/or who inspired you to become part of the creative industry (this includes comic art, animation or anything artistic that you do for a living)?

Randy: That is a rather tough question actually. I admire a lot of different people, and different styles, so it's rather difficult to nail it down to one particular area, or person. I enjoy Animation Movies, especially the ones done by Pixar. I will say that a decade or so ago, when I really got back into comics, it was the guys from Image that really inspired me. I really enjoyed the Top COw style of artwork, and then slowly migrated to the animerican style (MAD! Ramos Bachalo to name a couple) - and that is where it's seemed to have stayed.


Patrick: When I was about 12 or so I discovered two great illustrators - Steranko and Frazetta. Each made me not only interested in their art, but made me inspired to do my own. It was this interest that somehow made it click in my head that people actually do this stuff for a living, and I could too. So I guess I'd blame those two.

SNAKEBITE:  GIJoe back in the 80s was my first exposure to comic books that was also animation.They had animated commercials for the comic that would end with a cliff hanger and narration that would say "want to find out what happens, pick up the latest issue"...that shit was dope!
I was also watching Starblazers, Vultron, Robotech, Thundercats and collecting eventually Xmen and the like. Lynn Varley and Linda Medley were the two colorists/painters that got me interesting in buying markers and coloring peoples works. First my own, then others.



2. Has this career turned out what you expected it to be before you entered it? How and why is it different?

Randy: My "career" has just recently begun to take off, but that is because I have chosen to persue this as a career, and intend on making it work. It's going to be a long uphill battle, but an attainable victory.

Patrick:
While I was initially interested in illustration, I took a long detour into Art Direction. While the money was good, and I enjoyed the work for a few years, I really shouldn't have taken my eye off of my real goal. However it was nice, once I decide to re-dedicate myself to drawing and painting, to have good art-related job bringing in the income while I struggled to get a toe-hold in the talent side of things.

One big difference from what I expected and what I'm doing is that I never thought when I started that the majority of my illustrations would be done digitally. I love painting and worked on it a lot in the early days, but digital is so much faster and so easy to change and update to client specs, that there's almost no time to do things traditionally any more. Though I do whenever I get the chance - just that isn't too often.

Also, I never dreamed I'd be on contract with Marvel! I also never even knew they had a division devoted to licensing/marketing projects (which is where I work). So that's actually a good lesson: you can never really plan where you'll end up as an artist, because there are so many unexpected jobs you never even knew existed!

SNAKEBITE: The first part of that question has a yes and no answer to it. Theres this stigma that you shouldn't talk about the bad shit. Think positive, don't be negative. But I think if I step in pile of shit I can say "Hey, that fucked up my shoes and now I have to clean them, that sucks" without being negative. In other words, shit is shit no matter how you step in it. lol.

Lets put perspective on my answer first. Rates are the same that they were 15 years ago. Sometimes, less. Comics are the most popular and known in the mainstream
than ever before. Every other movie out there is a comic book based property...yet, artists are still struggling to live.

Once you get into the business the romance tends to fade. You start to learn about the politics, the ass kissing thats needed to get work and keep it and that good work doesn't always mean your working. I use to think that executives were the ones that fucked with artists the most, but once you know the nature of the executive you learn to forgive them. They just do what they do and its better to know it. But artists are artists worst enemies. Ego problems galore.

I want to back up and say I met and have worked with some of the coolest artists. I have had the pleasure of walking with people I respect...but the flip side is I have also worked with the biggest cock suckers on the planet. smile to your face, act like your friend, use your talents, make promises and then stab you in the back...am I being negative?? lol. it is what it is

But I still do what I do because I love what I do. But talk about a buzz kill. lol But again, as a digital color artist/painter, I 've been able to work with names like Liam Sharp, Simon Bisley, Martin Edmund, David Lloyd, Jose Ladronn, Eric Canete, Byron Penaranda, Dan Fraga, Alberto Ruiz,Todd Nauck, Brian Denham, Gabe Pena, Stephen Platt, Christian Gossett...just to name a few, and thats just the people I have worked with in Comic Books. I have also worked in animation and fashion design, so I have been associated with some amazing talent through out my 16 years doing this, 12 of which I have been a freelance and independent artist.

But there's a lot of ups and downs in this business. Once you're in, it doesn't mean you're in for life. I'm not complaining because anything worth it is hard, but I wish
I had some perspective when I first started...but alas, youth is wasted on the young.lol

3. What programs or materials would you recommend for a beginner to practice coloring/inking on? (this includes tablet brands, editions and computers as well if you can recommend)

Randy: Well, since I am still one of those old school guys that like to use traditional tools, I will stick with the good ole pencil and paper. I would suggest for pencil sketching, using a slightly harder lead - such as an F or HB, cuts down on the smearing. Paper is a personal choice, and what ever works best for you. I personally use just plain ole bond (or printer) paper for warm up, and speed sketches....for more finished pieces, I use vellum Bristol. And for pages, I've recently switched to using Canson Pages - which seem to be holding up fairly well.

Patrick:   Definitely Photoshop and a Wacom tablet at the least. I'd also highly suggest Corel Painter and Adobe Illustrator. Beyond that, basically the more programs you learn (like Flash, ImageReady, InDesign, Quark, whatever) the more chances you will have to jump on any freelance job that comes your way. And can be VERY important when the rent is due.

Also, I'd strongly suggest getting a good foundation in traditional media, like pencil/ink, Oil, Watercolor, etc. This will train your eye of course, but it will also give you an appreciation of what the digital media is trying to emulate. That first-had experience will be invaluable when a client says "give this picture an Oil paint look". If you've never actually used Oils, then you'll be making a copy of a copy, and that's never good.


SNAKEBITE: Photoshop is the universal program to use. But you don't need the latest edition to do something cool. Besides, the latest edition is always the most expensive
and you need to save your flow if you want to survive. Wacom tablets are great, but again, you don't need the biggest to make something happen. Mac is my preferred platform, but again its personal preference. Lots of pros out there working on PCs. so whatever you can afford. Just don't get into too much debt, that shit makes one make desperate decisions.


4. If there was any other job you could employ in replacement of what you do right now, would you exchange? And for what type of job?

Randy: I think the only other "job" I would want, would either be a professional motocross racer, or hockey player....only one of those would replace my current "dream" job. And since I am WAY too old for either of those, I'll stick with the one I have ;P

Patrick: I'd never leave the art world if I could help it. I'd go back to Art Directing - not as fun as illustration and comics but I liked it well enough. Possibly writing, though I'd need to put in a whole lot of hard hours working on my dialog skills.


SNAKEBITE: Art is what I do,I don't do anything else, but if I was to do something else it would probably be some other form of art, like music. I'm a huge music fan, everything I do is inspired by music and when the planets align I occasionally play with some amazing musicians that are my friends from way back...I also studied theatre and acting in college but my ego doesn't need to do that anymore.


5. Any words of encouragement for newbies dreaming of entering the industry?

Randy: Three simple words: PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. I literally doodle every day, on something. An envelope, a reciept, napkin, printer paper - whatever is close....practice....and when you get tired of practicing.....practice some more. Wayne Gretzky didn't pick up a hockey stick and start putting pucks in the net.....Michael Jordan didn't just grab a basketball, and start hitting 3's from everywhere.....they practiced....and you should too ;P .....and lastly - follow your dreams. You get one shot at life - make the most of it.

Patrick: Yes. First: it's both easier and harder than it looks to break in to professional art in comics or illustration. Easier because when you finally get good enough, people will pay attention to you and you will be listened to and sought after. Harder because it's very difficult to know when you are "good enough". So be very critical of your own work - not destructively critical ("I suck and I'm quitting") but constructively ("I liked that face when I drew it, but now I see that the eyes aren't aligned right").


And finally (a plug for me but appropriate!) listen to the Ninja Mountain Podcast ( ninjamountain.blogspot.com ), where a group of professional illustrators talk each week about stuff just like this, from portfolios to getting clients to networking, it's all there.

SNAKEBITE: Keep the faith and work hard. even if you're not employed, work on something for yourself or for someone you believe in. Participation is key, you can't stand on the sidelines and say "I want to do that" and not do anything to achieve your goal. Draw all the time, or color, or ink, letter, design, whatever floats your boat. Just do it, own it! Claim it! Show people, don't horde your work in fear of being ripped off, but copyright your works so you won't be. Believe in yourself and don't let people and what they think or say discourage you in anyway. Be true to yourself and keep your word, follow through with what you say. Study history and Learn your legal rights, learn about contracts and the fine print, learn how to market yourself and think like an entrepreneur. The internet is the new playing field to promote yourself and get the word out about what you're doing. You don't have to work for the major studios to do major work.





And that's it for this edition, I hope someone got inspired, I know I did! look out for more, coming soon! :)

If you've missed any, they are here:

:bulletblack:Behind the scenes: Enter the Comic World, Volume 1
:bulletblack:Behind the scenes: Enter the Comic World, Volume 2
© 2009 - 2024 OneFreeInternet
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Nedra19's avatar
Great interviews! A lot of good insight