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This tweeterview was between:
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The tweeterview as recorded:
| Q1: | "Today I am tweeterviewing @elephanteater, who is known in real life as Ryan Claytor.
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He is a comics artist, self publisher and university teacher. Thanks for joining me Ryan.
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My pleasure. Thanks for offering. It's my first "tweeterview" so go easy on me. :)
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I will try to be gentle.
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| Q2: | "I would like to begin by asking if you think of yourself more as a teacher, a storyteller or as a comic artist?" |
Hm. I'd probably classify myself as BOTH a comic artist and a teacher. I think I focused on either one, I would get bored.
That probably didn't really answer your question, did it? :)
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Yes, I think it answered the question very well.
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| Q3: | "Can identify a point in your life when you just knew that drawing was what you wanted to do as a career?" |
Hm. I remember drawing as early as 5-years-old. I used to be into Care Bears, BIG-TIME, and I remember drawing Lionheart at 5yo.
...and I read comics when I was 8-12 years old or so...
...but, honestly, it wasn't until after undergrad when I really started to take comics seriously and think about making my own.
| Q4: | "You hold a Master of Fine Arts degree. Do you feel this helps to give you a greater understanding of comic art?" |
I think it helps me to talk about my art. ...and think about my art.
But I certainly don't think you need a Masters Degree to create good art. There examples of that! :)
Correction: There are plenty examples of that!
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That is very true. Do you feel, for comics, that knowledge of "traditional" technique, etc, is something worth le..
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..arning?
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Great to hear. I personally feel it is always good to experience all you can.
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And I also believe in the principle of "you do not know where you are going, if you don't know where you have been..
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| Q5: | "Can you briefly share your creative process, from sketch to final art?" |
I'm actually working on a website update for this. I'd like to take people through my process VISUALLY, but I'll try it VERBALLY.
As I mentioned before, I've worked in various desktop publishing applications, so I'm kinda wed to the computer for my process.
Once I script my comic in Microsoft Word, then I layout all the panel borders and speech balloons in Adobe Illustrator.
So, basically you just have a bunch of empty panel borders and some speech balloons. I convert those layouts to light blue...
...and print them out on bristol. I just approximate the same color as a non-reproductive blue pencil.
Then I pencil in non-repro blue, and after that I ink everything (panels, speech balloons, characters and environments) by hand.
Because my work is about a human experience, I want everything to have a slightly wobbly/organic look,
to reference someone behind the page making all this.
I want something to draw your attention back to the subject, which in autobiography is the creator.
Anyhow, back to your question. (Pardon my tangent.) Once the page is inked, then I scan, touch-up, and resize in photoshop.
| Q6: | "Have you chosen to keep colour out of your comics (specifically the "and then one day" series) for a particular re.." |
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..ason?
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Actually, all of my books are printed in two-colors. :) But, yes, it is for $$$ reasons.
Mo' color, mo' money!
| Q7: | "How do you manage to fit in the comic around your teaching commitments?" |
It's difficult. ...and slow. I'm constantly trying to come up with new ways to increase my productivity. Scheduling is key.
I recently came across a hand-made productivity chart made by another comic creator, Alec Longstreth. (Look him up!)
Anyhow, I modified this chart and created my own in Microsoft Excel. Basically the X axis is # of weeks and the Y axis is # of pg
Now that I created it in Excel, I can update the line graph in real time, make additional mods, and see my progress.
I really get bummed if there is a plateau in the line graph (a week of no progress).
That usually whips me into shape for the following week. :)
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Readers - to save you searching, Alec Longstreth's site is http://www.alec-longstreth.com/
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| Q8: | "Your choice to create the autobiographical comic book series "And Then One Day" is a departure from" |
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the expected path that comic artists take. And your willingness to experiment with the form,
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via the journal style, is interesting as well. What prompted you to follow that path?
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| Q9: | "You self-publish your ATOD comic series via Elephant Eater Comics. http://www.elephanteater.com" |
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What do you find is the biggest challenge with self publishing?
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Hmmm...
This is gonna sound weird, but I'd probably say drawing.
In grad school we talked a lot about the artist and their interests, like enjoying the process, etc.
I am NOT a process person. I am all about the end product. I want a book in my hands that I can point to and say, "I did that!"
I've often said, "If I could will comics into existence, I would."
I know it's not a very romantic way to look at it, but I'm a pretty practical guy...
...and comics take an impractical amount of time to create. :)
With that said, comics really are a passion of mine, and I see them as a way to keep me grounded and patient. ...hopefully. :)
| Q10: | "How do you work around not having an editor available to provide feedback on your work before publishing?" |
I solicit the help of trusted creators, reviewers, friends, and family. I put my work in front of a lot of eyes before publishing.
| Q11: | "What is the one piece of sage advice that you give to all your students?" |
| Q12: | "Ok - time for the final five really really tough questions..." |
*does some jumping-jacks* HOO! Okay, I'm ready.
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The first 2 have been kindly sent through by @WebDonuts :
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What is your favorite Breakfast cereal?
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Easy! Cracklin' Oat Bran! MMmmmm...so delicious, yet so needlessly expensive and fatty. I have it only on rare occasions.
I'm sort of a cereal-hound. But that's the best of the best, in my opinion. Thanks, @WebDonuts! :)
| Q13: | "Which cartoonist (alive or dead) would you choose to have lunch with?" |
Mmm...that is tough. I'd probably put Sergio Aragones at the top of the list. He's my stand-out fave since I was a kid...
...and still today. But I'd have a laundry list of first runner ups!
See my influences list for a start: http://www.elephanteater.com/links#influences
| Q14: | "If you could wake up tomorrow as any comic character - who would it be?" |
Hm. I'm really comfortable in my own skin. I'm odd and not as RIPPED as I'd like to be... *LOL*
...but, honestly, I really don't want to be anyone else. If I had to choose I'd probably cop-out and say my autobio character.
Sorry. <:)
| Q15: | "Do you think you can you do a full 12 page comic comic faster than 24 hours?" |
I suppose if I was put into a timed situation, like 24 Hour Comic Day, sure. ...but I am notoriously slow.
| Q16: | "And lastly......" |
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Who can eat an elephant faster - you or your dad?
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My dad totally schools me at elephant eating! I hope one day to be half the elephant eater as him. :) Love you, Dad! See you soon.
| Q17: | "Thanks for your time Ryan. I really appreciate you taking the time to discuss things with me today." |
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For everyone out there Twitter - you can follow him at @elephanteater
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No problem! I had a great time. Thanks for the twitterview. :)
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Also, be sure to check out Ryan's site - http://www.elephanteater.com
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The "And Then One Day" series, and other works, can be found here : http://bit.ly/7DZRXb
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Thanks, @agent_x !