Hello again!

Today we continue with the awesome interviews!


American Comics!

Featuring these awesome people:

Milen Parvanov - Comic book colorist, illustrator, graphic designer and web designer, Milen has been coloring comic books for roughly three years now. He got his start doing work for Scott Licina and Fangoria Comics, coloring the titles The Fourth Horseman and Strangeland Seven Sins. After that he colored the book Bump/Hack Slash which was published through Devil's Due Publishing. He then worked on an indie book titled Doubloon. Currently he is coloring for Wildstorm Comics working on the new Resident Evil book along with various other titles.


Laura Martin - an award-winning colorist who has produced work for several of the major comics companies, including DC Comics, Marvel Comics and CrossGen. She has been in the industry for almost fifteen years.


And lastly but certainly not in the least,
Joe Vriens - illustration, comic, game concept artist and more, whose client list includes Udon Entertainment, Microsoft, BLIZZARD, CAPCOM, SEGA, DC Comics, Wildstorm, Leapfrog, Tokyo Pop, Sony, Silicon Knights and Marvel Entertainment!



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.

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Here are the questions:

<sub>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?</sub>

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And here are the answers!


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)?

Milen: As a kid I was really influenced by the image and topcow books, Spawn was always my favorite, Michael Turner was my favorite artist, and Steve Firchow was my favorite colorist. I think by the age of 7 I KNEW I was going to work in comics.


Laura: When I was in high school and early college, when we're all still figuring out what we want to do, I did four things well: draw, write, play music, and listen to people. My parents flatly refused to send me to Full Sail for their sound engineering program, so that was out; and I didn't enjoy being an English or Psychology major. So I eventually settled on a path where I knew I could get a good job after school: graphic arts. I thought I would end up in an advertising firm or on the design/marketing staff at one of the theme parks (I was going to school in Orlando at the time), but my undergraduate path took a hard left when I figured out that people get paid to draw, write, and color comic books.


Joe: I'm one of those guys that's been drawing ever since he can remember. I grew up drawing with my brother though which isn't as common but super uber awesome! Most people grew up drawing alone apparently? wtf? I actually have a large group of friends that I met in college that still draw! They're scattered all over the world now and in different industries working for different companies. I love it because there's always some news coming in from one or the other which is inspiring and uplifting


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

Milen: I did a good amount of research before I got really serious about it, both from reading THIS website, and other sources. When people talk about coloring entire books in a day or two, and not sleeping, they aren't lying. I honestly don't mind it, I just see it as part of the game that is coloring comics.

Laura: It's pretty much what I expected, although when I started, I didn't think I would still be coloring by now; I thought that coloring was a stepping-stone to penciling. When I saw the contribution that colors make to the final product, I developed a healthy respect for it as its own art form. As I improved my craft and carved a niche for myself in the industry, I became protective of the role of coloring in comics. It's glamorous and grueling; it's fun and horrible; it's lonely, it's unforgiving, and it's immensely rewarding right when you think you just can't do it anymore.

Joe: The way I pictured everything when I was growing up was so friggin' distorted and based on pure imagination that it would be impossible to live up to hype hahaha. I imagined being a retired millionaire by 30 and that's just not the case. I also wanted to be a Trex when I grew up so...ya you can see where things could develop a little differently then most of my expectations. Although oddly enough I never pictured owning my own car or my own home, and I've managed to do both I guess I didn't fully visualize the millionaire thing hahahaa...what did I think? I'd just have this giant bag of $ and what? it would be my home and my method of transportation? a sort of mobile home bag...guess it would be a magical bag of money...actually I'm gonna start visualizing this again cuz it's just awesome sauce!...what was the question? ....


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)

Milen: Like everyone else before me, photoshop and a tablet. Also, it helps to know how to draw and define form. I've done lots of life drawings in my spare time, mainly with graphite. However, I disagree with learning traditional media first. Really my only experience with painting has been in art class, I always enjoyed it, especially ink washes. However, I've learned a lot just by coloring, you can make mistakes and change them quickly, seeing what you did wrong and seeing how it's fixed without starting over, though starting over is sometimes better when you're first learning.

Laura: If you're just starting out, and you're not sure if this is the path you wish to take later on, the best things I can recommend are to invest your money into Photoshop, RAM, and a small Wacom tablet like the Bamboo. Hopefully you've already got a decent working computer with a lot of scratch disk space (available storage memory), and you have, or can install, over 1 Gig of RAM. The big important thing is Photoshop. You will want the full version, not the Elements version. I know people who colored with PS version 5.5 until just recently, but seriously, if you're going to spend the money on a recent-but-not-new version, get version CS (8) at the very least.

If you're considering coloring as a full-time gig or something where you intend to make a few bucks off it, you'll probably want to upgrade a lot of the items I was just recommending. Faster machine; more RAM; more scratch disk space; a fast processor; a good video card; a high-end IPS LCD monitor (do the research; trust me, a good monitor will be your best friend) and a Wacom Intuos3 tablet. Or, if you wish to draw straight on the monitor, invest in a Cintiq. Whatever you do, don't fart around with any drawing tablet other than the Wacom brand. Seriously. Wacom is the best. And don't skimp on the monitor, if you choose that over the Cintiq. Look for a high-end, IPS LCD monitor. Do the research and invest the money; it's worth it. The last and possibly the most important part of your computer setup should be a calibrator, like the Spyder3. It'll keep your monitor zeroed in on the right settings for your print output, and will help immensely in matching your monitor to your printed page. I recommend it for anyone whose work depends on color calibration.

Joe: I recommend ball point pen on either envelopes or that old school perforated computer paper with the holes punched down both sides and green stripes on the back-that stuff rules. It's cheap and a stack of it lasts forever. You can also draw these big landscapes spanning across several pages since they're attached-which you can then draw little armies of whatever you want and THEN dynamically draw out the battles vs your brothers army that HE drew on the other side...much fun other than that I recommend paint and random surfaces...pencils/scrap paper...I dunno, if you're starting out I would start there-if you love art and drawing enough you don't need to blame your crappy photoshop brushes or find the 'trick' to being an awesome artist-you'll just draw and draw and draw and realize you haven't eaten since Wednesday...if you have THAT kind of passion I think you'll have the drive necessary to push yourself over and over and over again until one day someone actually wants to PAY you for your work


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?

Milen: I've always wanted to work in movies, mainly on the creative side, I love writing stories and creating characters. Also a lot of what I learned for coloring has been taken from cinematography. But I'm just getting my start in comic book coloring, so really, I wouldn't trade it for anything right now.

Laura: As much as I love coloring, I've been doing it for 13 years, so yes, The Next Thing has crossed my mind a few times. Whatever it is, it would still be in the art realm. I'd love to branch out into illustration, maybe even non-comics-related stuff. I'd love to work in an animation studio; doing what, I don't know specifically. Scene painting/background painting for movies sounds awesome. I enjoy portraiture and have considered how I could parlay that into a regular job. Forensic arts, medical illustration -- anything that requires accurate realism is something I'd enjoy. Not that I do a lot of drawing now; therein lies the problem. It sounds good, but actually doing it is a whole different story.

Joe: In addition to being a Trex I also wanted to be an astronaut! no joke I dunno I guess I like the outdoors don't get much chance to do that anymore at all. I grew up in my parents backyard pool-inground pool!-it's the only way imo...cuz then you can run up to it and dive in...er..no running by the pool kids! or jumping off the nearby garage roof into it...you can easily overshoot and smack the opposite wall milliseconds after hitting the water...ask me how I know since it's probably too late to become an astronaut I considered applying for 'the best job in the world' Google it


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

Milen: Here's what I've learned, and it's something Todd McFarlane personally told me. If you're reliable, you'll get work, turn stuff in on time, and editors will love you, you don't even have to be THAT good. But I've also learned, if you're really good, people will notice and will want to work with you. Make everything you do your BEST work possible, no matter how much they pay you or don't pay you. Just keep your ego in check, you're never as good as you can be, there's always someone out there better than you, and caffeine is your friend...

Laura: Don't do it! Just kidding. But be aware that it's a difficult path, and there's absolutely NO guarantee of even moderate success. Understand art first -- draw, paint, take photos. Study color theory. Study cinematography. Understand lighting and anatomy. Do NOT learn these things only from comics! Learn them from art school, from life. These things will be your in your toolbox forever, and you will use them every single day that you color.

Be professional, even in your personal pursuits online; everyone knows everyone's business these days, and word-of-mouth is how 99% of this industry is run.

If you get an opportunity to work in a coloring house or in the same office with another colorist, take it. That's the best way to learn how to do this job.

-- Laura

Joe: Dream the dream and live the dream! What the mind can conceive the mind can achieve! watch 'the secret' or read the book or just go on youtube and watch motivational videos. Creative types seem to have the curse of moodiness or sadness or brushes with insanity-that usual means you're slackin' on your gift-so get motivated then draw or paint or sculpt or animate or just go for a walk! hahaaha is that inspirational?

hope I haven't bored you with my ramblings
was a good way to start the day...yes it's 4:42pm but I went to bed less than 8hours ago..do the math

ps freelance is TOUGH biz ...just an FYI kiddies...tough...but once you get going it's well worth it imo

thanks!
Joe

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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:

Behind the scenes: Enter the Comic World, Volume 1