Everyone does blogmas a different way, and my way is so different. I showcase 12 creators that inspire, show their creativity, and simply show their love for their passion. So get ready to meet 12 amazing and I mean AMAZING creators.
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Welcome to 12 days of creators. Creating for me is an important thing and more important is the creators behind it. For these 12 days, I’m spotlighting a new creator each day. I want to give you an opportunity to view their creativity.
Welcome back to 12 days of creators! It’s day ten and we are meeting a creator that is always creating. Let’s go meet the creator for today.
Hi, I’m Jeff! I was twelve when I decided I wanted to make comics. At 16 I created what was going to become “Imaginative” and when I was 27, I self-published my first comic book: “Dr. Oblivion’s Guide to Teenage Dating.” Since then, I’ve created almost a dozen titles, as well as completed work for Valiant Comics, Big Dog Ink, Moonstone Publishing, and Hasbro Games.
How do you decide what content/style you are creating?
The tone of the story. What fits best for that story. I can’t afford to hire any artists, and honestly, I’m a bear to work for, so I will teach myself new tools or techniques to fit what I’m shooting for. I’ll postpone the whole series if I can’t find the right tone.
What got you interested in creating your content
I grew up with a lot of toys and 80s cartoon content! It was a great time to get involved in those because at the heart of a lot of those shows (Transformers, GI Joe, Robotech, etc) the writers knew that if they didn’t have us care about those characters, then that show wouldn’t be there next season. But as I got older, and began to read comics weekly, I found that comics could tell any length of the story (long, short, multi-arc) and not have to be limited by things such as actors, special effects, or reality. Time was their only factor.
Who is your favorite content creator?
That’s a hard one. Comics are cyclical. When I first started reading, Jim Lee, Scott Lobdell, Whilce Portacio…The Image guys, mostly. But the big ones that made me want to CREATE comics were Rob Schrab (Scud: The Disposable Assassin), Terry Moore (Strangers In Paradise), and Jeff Smith (Bone). Those three had huge influences. As I began to learn to write, Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan), Mark Waid (Kingdom Come), and Brian Micheal Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man) really influenced everything. At the current moment, I really like Jonathan Hickman (East of West), Al Ewing (We Only Find Them When They’re Dead), and Sean Murphy (Batman: White Knight). Of course, I still read comfort books like X-Men and Amazing Spider-Man, regardless of the creative teams.
What is your inspiration for your content?
What entertains me. What makes me laugh. If it’s not something I would read or pick up myself, I won’t make it. On the Art side, I like to make sure I bring something new to the table with every new series. Keeping them similar, yet unique is something I strive for.
What are some creative challenges you face?
Time and money, lol! I have two kids, 6 and 2, and teach at two college campuses, one that’s an hour away from our house. Between my wife’s schedule (Full-time job and also teaches two college classes), their schedule, and mine, I’m really lucky to get 20 hours a week to really lock in and draw. Money is the other. I have drawn artwork other than my comics to keep the coffers full, and to have other items on the tables at comic cons or my live art shows. Right now I usually release three graphic novels (roughly the equivalent of 225-300 pages) a year, and if I could work on JUST comics, I could kick that up to 350-450 easily. As it is right now, I have the next 12 graphic novels lined up, and may even get to release four graphic novels this next year.
Can you share your favorite piece and explain your process.
This piece is the cover to two issues, Bosco & Fleet #3 & #4 “A Time of War, Pts 1 & 2” and It’s all hand drawn, with a small tweak in Photoshop to kick up the green and sepia tones in it. But it’s all Brush Pen and Prismacolor Markers. I love this piece because this book really pushes me as an artist and writer, plus I got to integrate The War Of The Worlds, one of my favorite movies/books/albums of all time. I rarely sell original artwork from comics, but this is one piece that I’ll never sell. It just came out so much better than it looked in my head.
I’m so happy that I got to have Jeff be a part of 12 days of creators. I love seeing his work and progress. I will see you tomorrow for another creator, as we get closer to the end of blogmas.
Powders and Palettes 