Interview by Jasmine Kim
Who would you say your favorite artist was, and how do they inspire your work?
Mike Mignola. He was the artist for Hellboy and has this amazing stark black-on-red style that makes everyone look like they were carved out of granite. Everything he does is supremely detailed and that’s something I admire from most of his work. He is also a master lighting expert because he has this way of making all of his pieces look super moody and dark. It also helps that he’s a great writer and keeps readers on their toes.
I’ve also learned a lot from Tessa Stone who has a webcomic. Even though she doesn’t exist that much and has fallen off of the face of the earth, I got to meet her one time and she taught me a lot of people skills and the basics of how to draw. Her webcomic was very Buffy-like, and she kind of inspired me to draw and write about pagan mythology and fairies.
So do you have a creative process for your artwork?
Usually when I start writing I already have a solid idea. What usually happens is I go to bed and think about it as I’m falling asleep, which isn’t a real creative process I guess, but it definitely works for me. I also listen to an eclectic mix of music that varies from punk and new wave like The Ramones and pop like Nicki Minaj. I also do a lot of pieces and fan art for tributes to other artists that helps my creative process, since I’m not worthy to make things like Batman.
What medium do you use the most in your work?
Photoshop is my main medium, but I also use pen and ink occasionally. Photoshop is so easy to manipulate as visual art, and it always helps because you can get exactly what you want since you can literally correct any mistake you make. The one downside is that you can’t actually hold it in your hand unless you print it and it’s really considered as real art, in some sense.
What do you consider unique about your work?
I think my work is unique because it’s so two-dimensional. Like most of my work looks super cute but then becomes violent and angry. This kind of reflects on how I was when I was little because I was angry a lot as a kid. Everyone in my comic is represented by an animal, which I consider to be a pretty cool concept. I also have a lot of teeth in my pieces as well.
Where do you plan on going with your talent?
Ultimately, I want to become a known writer in the comic industry, or at least a project helmer or director of some sorts. I just want to be able to direct my own projects, honestly. I don’t mind movie adaptations or showrunners, but I just want to have that freedom to control my own stuff that goes out there.
How is St. Edward’s helping you get where you want to be?
Well first off, a lot of the professors and staff at St. Edward’s have connections that help out a lot. Also going to college is just really useful and helpful in general. Someone that has really helped me grow as a comic book writer and artist that I want to make a shout out to is Tuan Phan. He’s kind of a creepy genius who will be completely level with you about your work, and that really helps me because I don’t like wishy-washy people. I got a lot of my designing and typography knowledge from him, and he taught me that graphic design is more about advertisement than actually physically drawing.
Do you have any advice to other aspiring artists like you?
Make sure you have the best technical skills you can possibly have, and you really have to love your work enough to kill yourself working at it. I am a big critic towards myself and I think it’s great. Honestly, if you don’t love it then don’t do it.
Samantha Wright is a graphic design major graduating in 2016. Working mostly in the student life department designing posters, she also has a webcomic and several websites where she publishes her artwork.
For more from Samantha:
Tumblr: sabrebash.tumblr.com
Twitter: @sabrebash
DeviantArt: sabrebash.deviantart.com
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