What age were you when you started making comics?
I started creating comics at 15 when my art teacher handed me a Daredevil comic issue. I love hand drawing my art and wanted to originally become an animator. However, it seemed animated movies were moving more toward computers and further away from traditional pencil and paints. That’s when I was drawn toward comics where a lot of the penciling and inking is done by hand.
What draws you to storytelling with mythical creatures?
Creature designing and fantasy stories have always interested me. I felt combining the two would bring me more joy and excitement when tackling my projects.
Which happens first when starting a new comic, the character or the story?
This happens both ways for me as a storyteller and artist. Creative ideas can either take a quick moment or years of processing for me to decide on starting a new comic. I feel character(s) tend to come first in those quick moments verses stories that come from situations I’m exposed to for a certain amount of time. I’ve learned both the character and story go hand-in-hand.
What is your editing process like? For example, do you ever reach a point in a story and realize the character needs to be drawn in a different way?
A great example of this is would be from my original comic book Prodelle! My main character Macurey lives on the fictional planet called Prodelle. I created her all the way back in elementary school and, throughout my life, kept rebuilding upon her design and character. As for designing a character/creature that lives on Prodelle, I think of the different areas and who might be best suitable for living there. For example, I felt dragons and reptilian like-characters would best thrive in a hotter environment like the Fire Homeland.
What illustrators have been most inspiring to you?
Walt Disney, Chuck Jones, Ken Sugimori, David Peterson, and Patrick Spaziante.
What other influences are important to your craft?
Being outdoors, exploring, and living life is an important factor in my craft. I feel it provides me with the energy and spirit I need to create my artworks. A lot of my colors are inspired by plants and natural landscapes. My colors can range from soft purples of lavender to strong reds of desert mountains.
What are your favorite mediums to work with? Why?
My favorite mediums are pencils, inks, and acrylic paints. I feel penciling is where it all starts first and inking in black-and-white gives a strong and finished look. For acrylic paint, I feel the color captures both the mood and energy of my artworks.
When making a portrait of a pet or person, do you imagine stories about them while working?
Yes! My goal is to capture the essence of the animal or person that I’m creating a portrait of. As a storyteller, I try to imagine scenarios to bring out their inner qualities and characteristics that makes them individuals. My main focus is getting the eyes of the animal or person just right. I’m a believer that eyes are the reflection of an individual’s spirit.
What is the best advice you have received so far in your career?
Keep focusing on reaching your goals and remember to always create art for yourself firstly. There will be critics and subjective opinions at times toward artists’ works. However, I believe every artist has an idea or message they’re trying to tell the world visually through their pieces. I feel being open-minded to new ideas and suggestions is important for every artist, but I feel they should still retain their envisions. Also, both experience and time are important when learning of the art field. I try to meet many different artists and to get involved with the art community. These are the things I’ve learned so far as an artist.
If you could only look at one piece of art for the rest of your life, which one would it be?
To be honest, that would be impossible for me to answer! If I were to decide a single style of painting and artist, it would be Impressionistic paintings by Claude Monet. I love the idea of painting on the spot and capturing nature and life in their current moments. I do art field studies at times whether on hikes, at the beach, or sitting in the park. I’m drawn to Monet’s experimental brushstrokes and colors as they give off a sense of adventure and exploration.