Monday, June 30, 2008

Cream City Conversations with Troy Little

Hello all!

Back... again... with another e-interview. This time up is someone I've never actually met (in-person) but whom I was a studio mate with a while back. The studio was simply a blogpsot put together by Wesley Green (Greenyfly Productions) called Independent Propaganda. The blogpsot was cool and the members were... are... even cooler. Every member had or has something really unique of their own going and this next victim of CCCs is no exception. So...

1) For the uninitiated, your name and location?

I would be Troy Little and I currently reside in Prince Edward Island, Canada.

*Note: Another [technically] international interview. WooHoo! -AR

2) What have you been up to lately? What projects have you been attached to in the first 6 months of 2008?

I'm working on the final few pages of my second graphic novel "Angora Napkin". It's about a pop music trio of girls who are unbelievably peppy yet find themselves mired in horrific situations. It's pretty twisted and funny.

3) When and where can people pick up and/or see these works?

The book has been picked up by IDW and will be released world wide in comic shops and book stores as a deluxe hard cover book in January, 2009. IDW will also be releasing the TBP edition of my first book "Chiaroscuro" in October 2008. Pick up a free 48 page preview of both books at the IDW booth at Comic Con San Diego!

*Note: Well aware of "Chiaroscuro", and I'm glad it's gonna have a sans dustcover release. Those things drive me crazy. The hardcover edition of the book is cool, though. I was really happy to see it collected. -AR

4) What projects and events are on the horizon? Do you have release dates in-mind at present? If so, indulge us.

"Angora Napkin" has also been picked up by Teletoon for an animated pilot. Air date will be in March 2009.

*Note: Very happy for... and jealous of... you at the same time. -AR

5) Have you been working in any new mediums or experimenting with your known style and tools, at all?

Well, the cartoon is a bit of a switch. I work in animation as my day job and do the comic work when I can find the time. It'll be interesting to bring these characters to life in this format. I've spent the last 2 years doing the graphic novel so up until this point they've been static and B&W characters. Originally "Angora Napkin" was designed for animation but I never expected it would really happen!

*Note: I guess this pretty much proves the long wait of the DIY graphic novel has proven its worth, then. -AR

6) If you've been trying new things, share a bit of your thoughts on that process.

It's a big switch, working with colour, movement and fully painted backgrounds. Then finding actors that can add a voice to this show adds another dimension. Then there's the ability to add the music to the group, something that doesn't translate very well in the silent comic medium.

7) Do you keep a sketchbook? If so, what do you get out of this process? Do you think it's a good thing, in general, for an artist to do?

I think it's a great thing for artist to keep a sketchbook. Personally I don't really keep one, mostly because I'm too busy to sketch and doodle much (I have a day job, infant twins and a comic/animated show in the works, cut me some slack!). When I find time to draw it usually has to be practical. I'm sure keeping a sketchbook would improve my drawing ability a lot, I hope to pick up the habit in the future.

8) Do you ever use these sketchbook drawings for your printed works? If so, please explain how the sketchbook art informs your finished work.

Nope, see #7.

9) With convention season in full swing, where can the comic book reading public expect to see you and purchase your merchadise [personally]?

I'll be at SPX for the first time ever this October! I've been planning this for years, this year I'll be there. I'm also the Artist in Residence at the Arts Guild in PEI July 12-21. It will be open to the public to get a sneak peek at the comic and cartoon.

10) The big convention this year has got to be Fallcon 2008. If you plan to be there, will you have anything special for that particular show?

Alas, I can not be there.

*Note: You'll be missed. Well, I haven't really met you yet but your work will definitely be missed. -AR

11) Now we're caught up on what you're doing and where we can see this year.. What are you reading and watching these days? Is there any particular book or film you'd like to make sure people are looking for?

I'm reading "Lolita" by Nabokov. I don't watch much TV, with the exceptions of "Lost" and "Battlestar Galactica" which sadly are on hiatus at the moment. I liked the new "Indy" movie, but then again I'm an old school junkie for that stuff.

12) Anything already in the works for 2009?

Once the "Angora Napkin" graphic novel and cartoon are out of the way it's back to work on "Chiaroscuro Book II". I'll also be publishing a fiction lit novel called "Hide Your Life Away" by author Carol Little this Fall.

13) Do have any other thoughts you'd like to share?

I'm to tired to think.

*Note: And we can see why. Make sure to check out Troy's blog in the 'Artistes' section of the CCC links.

Thanks, Troy!

There you go. Another 'conversation' in the bin. I hope it proves entertaining and enlightening. If you'd like to get involved with CCC by including your answers to these questions, simply copy'n'paste these questions to an e-mail [answers included] and send them my way. Have a great week!

Peace

-AR

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Cream City Conversations with Matt Chicorel

Hello again!

Wow... two posts in one week, I'm on a roll (if you've been keeping up with how little I've been keeping up lately).

I'm stoked about this update/conversation because I've been hoping to include this Cream City-based artist to the line-up of talent interviewed here. Why this artist? He was the number conspirator present when the idea for Muscles & Fights first came into being. He also graced us with his art in one of the 3 volumes.

So... without further ado...

1) For the uninitiated, your name and location?

Matt Chicorel - Milwaukee [WI].

2) What have you been up to lately? What projects have you been attached to in the first 6 months of 2008?

Regular comics in the LOVE IN THE TIME OF SCABIES zine, various album and poster art, and the first printed NLC book in a long time--BUZZPOP #1

*Note: (And Matt has very kindly offered to send me a copy... COOL!).

3) When and where can people pick up and/or see these works?

nightlightcomics.com, or from me if i'm around.

4) What projects and events are on the horizon? Do you have release dates in-mind at present? If so, indulge us.

Milwaukee Zine Fest for now. [I'll] probably start doing cons again next year when I've got some more printed material and/or money.

5) Have you been working in any new mediums or experimenting with your known style and tools, at all?

I did a poster on legal sized paper instead of 11x17 the other day...fucked me up.

*Note: Are you implying you got the stuffing kicked outta you by a sheet of paper, Matt? -AR

6) If you've been trying new things, share a bit of your thoughts on that process.

It's been a long time since I had mushrooms, but I got some the other day and it was grrrrrrrrreat.

*Note: Not quite the info I was after but I'm sure they were for medicinal purposes so that'll work -AR

7) Do you keep a sketchbook? If so, what do you get out of this process? Do you think it's a good thing, in general, for an artist to do?

Yeah, but I haven't been drawing in it as much as I probably should. It's important to have around though, that's for sure.

8) Do you ever use these sketchbook drawings for your printed works? If so, please explain how the sketchbook art informs your finished work.

Not unless it fucking rules.

9) With convention season in full swing, where can the comic book reading public expect to see you and purchase your merchadise [personally]?

...cons are still too expensive right now

10) The big convention this year has got to be Fallcon 2008. If you plan to be there, will you have anything special for that particular show?

Probably won't be able to make this one. Fuck. Next year?

*Note: Hopefully, with some work that "fucking rules". Right, Matt? -AR

11) Now we're caught up on what you're doing and where we can see this year. What are you reading and watching these days? Is there any particular book or film you'd like to make sure people are looking for?

My roomate just rented Kung Fu Hustle, and then I bought it cause it's super awesome! The only tv show I watch is Lost. Love it. I wOrk at the comic store, so I read too much... Monster Zoo (Doug TenNapel's new book) just came out-- that was good. Madman. Amazing Spidey. Detective. 100 Bullets. Futurama. Hickee. Atomic Robo!! Mouseguard.

12) Anything already in the works for 2009?

I've got some plans, but I'll have to wait and see what gets done. All in good time, though.

13) Do have any other thoughts you'd like to share?

Wish I didn't have to be up this early.

And, hey, I still gotta get me a copy of HEAVEE UNDERGROUND. Drop by the store one day, or should I just order it from lulu or whatever?

NIGHT LIGHT COMICS
est. 2004
Milwaukee, WI
www.nightlightcomics.com
www.myspace.com/nightlightcomics


*Note: No, Matt... I'll eventually make it back to the store and deliver the copy of Heavee Underground. I'm looking forward to seeing Buzzpop too! -AR

Thanks, Matt!


There you have it, folks. I'm back in the saddle again. There are more on the way. Until next time... keep the faith.

Peace

-AR

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Cream City Conversations: Update

Hello all,

For those interested parties... I am happy to inform you the new batch of questions has been sent and [I hope] we'll see some new names involved. Of course, some of the participants from the last round will make a return too. We've gotta stay 'in the know'.

So, check back soon. I hope to have some new stuff up later this week or early next.

Peace

-AR

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

All Apologies

I can't believe it's been so long since I logged on here.

Well, I was in Spain for two weeks and I've been job hunting as well as wrapping up my time with those 7th and 8th grade kids I wrote about before.

Let me say, the work with the kids ended up working out all right. I'm not saying it was all we set out to produce (not as many kids did the work as we'd hoped), but we produced the page count we wanted. Actually, those little buggers exceeded what we'd reported we'd have for the final project.

For the final product, we put together a book from the comic book pages the kids produced. Unfortunately, time was not on our side so we went with a different packaging than I'd originally hoped for. In the end, it's about the kids' not my wants and desires.

I hope we planted a few seeds of what one can do when one puts his/her mind to it and follows through on paper.

Much respect and thanks is due the great Zeph Farmby for his efforts while I was in Spain. He's an amazing talent... more than that... he's a cool cat with as much soul as he's got skills.

The interviews will make their return soon... seriously.

Peace

-AR