 |
login in below or sign up to start tweeterviewing now |
| You can view Tweeterviews without being a member | |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
This tweeterview was between:
|
The tweeterview as recorded:
| Q1: | "Today I am tweeterviewing Rhys McDonald, who tweets as @theplasticage." |
|
More on Q1...
Rhys is a freelance illiustrator and the creator of the comic Riverside, which lives here - http://www.the-plastic..
|
|
More on Q1...
..-age.com
|
|
More on Q1...
Thanks for joining me Rhys.
|
Hi Scott, great to be in sunny Cancun! Thanks for having me
|
More on Q1...
I would like to begin by asking if you think of yourself more as an illustrator or as a comic artist?
|
I really don't know actually! I float around both circles pretty heavily so I think probably both
I do a lot of freelance AS an illustrator, and I do my comics AS a comic artist, so I guess both
| Q2: | "Can identify a point in your life when you just knew that drawing was what you wanted to do as a career?" |
I think I was like 18 or 19, when it clicked that I should probably invest in this more heavily. took me awhile to get started tho
|
More on Q2...
Do you have formal art qualifications?
|
I went to TAFE for one year, studied fine arts before dropping out the following year, thats the only 'formal' training i got
but it was good training, fundamental skills and what not
But I wanted to pursue digital art so I just decided I better teach myself or I wouldn't learn
|
More on Q2...
Do you feel these learned techniques have helped, or did you "learn on the job"?
|
| Q3: | "Briefly, what is your creative process, from sketch to final art?" |
for my personal work, its different than for client work. client work is reading the brief, creating concepts to show them...
and revising those concepts, before finalizing the art. Its usually a painfree situation because my clients know what I do...
personal work is a lot easier, I can just sketch away and let my imagination wander away
I work 100% digitally so that helps speed up the process too
| Q4: | "Your webcomic Riverside has a unique blue colour pallette." |
|
More on Q4...
Have you chosen to do this for a particular reason?
|
I do LOVE black and white art, but my art is just lines, no spotted blacks so I had to offset that with something
and the blue was naturally evolving from my older comics - so I just experimented with it, and found I REALLY liked the results
it's a challenge sometimes, but it's quite liberating working with one colour
I think theres like 5 or 6 different shades only
| Q5: | "Do you work mainly in Illustrator or Photoshop?" |
I can't do much of anything in illustrator - all photoshop all the time here
illustrator has that weird pen tool...that's scary man!
|
More on Q5...
So, how do you produce your linework in Photoshop?
|
I use a cintiq, and I sketch with just a basic round brush, with the opac on about 20% - and I ink with a custom chisel shape
most of the inking is done at 200% and the sketch layer is done mostly at 66%
| Q6: | "You have tweeted recently that you are focusing more on the storyline of Riverside this year." |
|
More on Q6...
Are there any exciting sneak peeks that you can share with the readers at present?
|
Yeah I took a look at what I'd mapped out and decided to invest more time in telling the story, better, y'know
well, I know exactly how it ends...but you probably don't wanna know that right now right
| Q7: | "So, are you talking about the end of the story arc, or the strip?" |
Oh the end of the whole she-bang. It's a pretty cool ending, I think anyway haha.
I'm playing it all close to the chest though, I like to just release it in bits and pieces
|
More on Q7...
Will there be another Strip after Riverside ends? And how long before we see the last strip?
|
I have another strip in mind, I've been chipping away very slowly on, as the end of RiverSide I don't think it'll be going...
anywhere for awhile, there's a lot to explore and I'm getting to know the characters more as I write it, so I hope not soon!
|
More on Q7...
Will the new strip also include Hobo urine references, and strange black sperm things?
|
....yes. I can't stress enough how much things are improved by hobo urine, seriously!
| Q8: | "Ok! Focussing on the freelance illustration for a moment, " |
|
More on Q8...
can you tell us how do you go about finding work?
|
I email a lot of places, and send a lot follow up emails. Meeting nothing but silence sometimes BUT, when you get going with one
place, or company they tend to have you back again if you show them you're a professional. I just do the work, on time...
and karma has been very kind to me. I just hassle people, and sometimes call people. and the rest comes to me
being devilishly handsome, doesn't hurt either of course.
|
More on Q8...
Of course, that would help a lot! LOL
|
theres really no magic to it, just get out there and get under peoples noses
| Q9: | "Is finding work your biggest challenge in freelancing, or do other things take that title?" |
time management is the biggest thing for me right now. I did a job last week, and had to skip an update of the comic because of it
word of mouth will eventually get around, and you'll suddenly get spammed by tons of people as well
I'm certainly not a masterful illustrator, and I get some good, and bad job offers. Its all how you manage your time
| Q10: | "Do you feel your own personal sketching to keeps you sane while producing "proper" works?" |
Definitely. It's a balancing thing. If I've drawn all day for a client, the last thing I want to do is MORE drawing for them
I can offset any stress or frustration by doing something just for myself
| Q11: | "What is your dream illustration job?" |
If I could draw my comic, and earn money from it - that'd be the dream job. Surviving solely on my work, that'd be nice
| Q12: | "In your opinion, what is the most valuable tool you use, for freelancing work?" |
hmm...good question. Personally I think it's being timely, and a professional. People know you're serious if you're those things
Certainly have fun with it, but don't stuff people around. No one likes that.
|
More on Q12...
How about an actual tool as well, like a program, piece of equipment, etc?
|
that depends on the job specifics. I turn all my work in digitally - irrespective of the output so...
I think have SOME kind of graphics tablet, and learn to use the adobe suite for sure
| Q13: | "You have recently been doing some exciting stuff with TKL + Artsprojekt." |
|
More on Q13...
http://www.the-plastic-age.com/?p=1314 Can you explain this a little bit?
|
Yeah sure, I got emailed by Andy, and he wanted me create some designs for this project collab of his. I think I did about 3...
different designs all up. The girly one was what they went with. Bit overwhelmed to be amongst some of those names though!
But I'd been hanging out to collab with an Artsprojekt project for a long time, so it was rad to be able to finally
|
More on Q13...
What are the designs appearing on?
|
They'll be appearing on an artist range of electric guitar cases by TKL. They produce a LOT of cases and this will be their newest
range. I don't have the rest of the details on me right now, but I'll be blogging more as I have the info
|
More on Q13...
Very cool! Congratulations.
|
mucho thanks - it was one of those random emails out of the blue that turned out to be something very cool
| Q14: | "Ok - time for the final three really really tough questions......" |
oh boy....im sweatin' here
| Q15: | "Which cartoonist (alive or dead) would you choose to have lunch with?" |
oh shit...
Stephen Silver.
|
More on Q15...
Cool! I am a fan of his work in Kim Possible & Danny Phantom
|
oh yeah, his work is unbelievable - such a brilliant man
| Q16: | "No 2: If you had to mutate into a Japanese movie monster - who would it be?" |
I don't the name of it....but godzilla fought a giant turtle one time. It had fireworks shooting out of its back. I'd be that t..
..hing.
|
More on Q16...
That would be GAMERA!!
|
Gamera! Oh yes...bring that shit on!
| Q17: | "Lastly - If you got sucked into the TV, which Doctor Who Ccompanion would you choose to be?" |
which companion would I choose to be? Okay if I'm turning into a Dr Who lady, then Rose. 'cause, hello!
that's probably the most awesome question anyones ever asked me by the way!
|
More on Q17...
I would pick Leela - a hot prehistoric warrior chick who kicks major arse. Unbeatable.
|
ha! This has been a very telling question indeed!
| Q18: | "Thanks for your time Rhys. I really appreciate you taking the time to discuss things with me." |
Thanks for having me man! It's much appreciated
|
More on Q18...
For everyone out there Twitter - you can follow him at @theplasticage
|
|
More on Q18...
Also, be sure to check out Rhys' sites - http://www.the-plastic-age.com and http://rhysmcdonald.tumblr.com/
|
Back to you in the studio Todd!