| Stephanie O'Donnell |
[14 May 2008|01:30pm] |
 ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) xblankstarex
Official Site (Comic)
Myspace
Comic Space
Deviant Art
Livejournal (For the comic)
1) What drives you to create? Also, what inspires you and your work?
In general, anything and everything. Usually dumb stuff on TV. Old and new commercials. Fads. Funny conversations I have with friends and family.
Growing up, I read a lot of "Calvin and Hobbes" (proudly own the complete book set!) and "Peanuts". That along with various cartoons got me really into doing stuff of my own. At the moment I'm also inspired by the comic strips "Mutts", "Krazy Kat", and "Pearls Before Swine".
2) Were you formally trained in art or self taught? Do you think it has helped you or hindered you?
A bit of both. My dad was an artist, so I learned a lot of things from him while honing my own style. I think it's helped a lot. Never hurts to have some talent genes in your DNA.
3) Do you have a ritual, quirk or superstition that influences you and the way you create? (example: I must where the green underwear when I paint hair or it will look horrid, etc.)
I guess so. I have favorite pens and pencils I like to work with. I buy tons of pencils, but maybe use like 1 or 2 the most. The chew marks on the ends of them tell a tale!
4) What mediums do you work in the most? Do you have a particular brand that you love working with? Why do you use them?
Pencil, pen, and ink. I dabble in colored inks and watercolors. Usually, I'll outline stuff in with a 4H pencil, then I use Sakura Pigma Micron pens when doing comic strips, or basically any other drawing. They work well, have a nice flow to them and don't bleed on the paper too much. I like to have relatively clean lines.
5) As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? And now?
As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a veterinarian. Now, not so much. It is a noble profession, but I personally can't stand seeing animals being hurt or in any kind of pain. I sometimes watch that show "Animal Cops" on the Animal Planet channel, and I get so mad thinking about the people who let them get in such awful conditions like that.
I don't think it was until I was about 9 or 10 that I really decided to get into cartoon and comic art and pursue it as a future endeavor.
6) If there was one style of art that you could take up, what would it be?
Either vintage-style art, or something resembling Polish movie posters. (Polish Poster.com) I just love the look and feel to them, and especially their interpretations on American films. It makes it look more intriguing and avant garde, and less glossy.
7) Do you think the internet, technology, media, etcetera are helping or destroying the art world?
I think it helps to spread the word a bit better, and to make connections. For me, it's been really good. If not for sites like Comicspace and the like, I probably wouldn't be able to find the work that I've found. Less than 2 months after signing up there, I got an offer to do artwork for the comic "Jesus Hates Zombies". (Alterna Comics) Soon after that, I got involved with Free Lunch Comics, who put out my Nutty Funsters book recently, and it kind of pleasantly snowballed from there.
8) How do you deal with creator's (or writer's) block?
I just work it out as best as I can by practicing. Drawing and writing anything that comes to mind, even if it is the most random thing ever. Sometimes you gotta do that in order to unclog the pipes, as it were. Or just sleep on it! Go with how you're feeling at that moment.
9) How do you prepare for art shows where your work will be shown?
With a lot of note taking, and a dash of nervous fear.
10) At what point did you realize that creating was going to be a large part of your life?
Probably when I was about 8 or 9, whenever it was that my sister handed me the Calvin and Hobbes collection "Revenge Of The Baby-Sat". That was my introduction to Bill Watterson's work, and I couldn't put it down. It pretty much set everything in motion for me.
11) What was your worst experience with art?
So far, it hasn't been too bad thankfully. Just dealing with difficult or cranky people. The more I do this, the more I realize I can't please everyone. And unfortunately, some people will be jerks on principle just because they feel they have the right to.
That said, I try my best to maintain a professional attitude about it, no matter how much I wanna yell at somebody. You are your own best PR.
12) What was your best experience with art?
At the moment, probably during New York Comic Con 2 weeks ago. I got to sell my book, and a few people bought some copies in front of me. Seeing complete strangers thumb through your work and decide to purchase it is a very good feeling. I hope it continues!
13) How would you define your style? Is it an extension of yourself, or something else entirely?
It's definitely cartoony. I try to blend old and new, realistic and exaggerated.
14) What does your workspace look like? (Pictures or a description work for this one)
That's the "base of operations". If the space on there is full, I'll use a lap desk.
15) Aside from art what do you do with your time? Is there anything else that drives you or that you're passionate about?
I like to watch comedy shows and horror movies. A winning combination! I'm a bit of a horror writer also, and like to bone up on it any way I can. I also like to learn different languages. I used to be pretty good at Italian, but it's been years since I took it in school, so I'm very rusty. So far, I know a little basic stuff in a few languages. I can say "I'm a pretty tree" in Korean, but I'm not sure how useful that would be.
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sliiightly out of it.
sleepy
amused
