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