1. I prefer traditional. Believe me, I'm grateful for programs like CSP and Procreate and I do most of my artwork on my iPad or my Cintiq, but there's a sensation to using real art materials that just can't be beat. Even as the art business becomes increasingly more digitized, my heart won't.
2. I've been drawing since I was a wee lad. I was that kid who used to draw on the wall in crayon (much to the annoyance of my parents). I took an art class when I was 11 and the rest is history. In 7th grade my art teacher was like "you need to go to art school, you're way ahead of everyone else."
3. Well BEFORE college and BEFORE high school I took a few art classes but they were mainly focused on the basics. What I was really interested in was perspective drawing, which I learned from David Chelsea's excellent book on the subject. I'd say that book is indispensable for learning perspective.
4. There isn't one singular subject that I love to draw but I love drawing in different cartoon styles and learning how each one of them works. It helps me formulate my own style and allows me to experiment with certain aspects of it. I did draw A LOT of dinosaurs as a kid, however.
5. I use references all the time! Google really is your best friend when it comes to researching a specific style or topic. There is no better substitute to getting better at drawing then observation and using live models (go to the zoo)!
6. Everybody always says hands are the worst things to draw, but nah, feet are the fucking bane of my existence. Even if you get them slightly wrong a character will look like they’re floating, or off-balance. And drawing feet in perspective??? Fugghetaboudit.
7. Both? I wanted to become an artist because “doing what you love” seemed like a good plan when I was a kid. I’ve stuck with it and now I create art that I’m incredibly proud of, and people pay me to do it. Funny how that works!
8. Yes, but it took a looooooong time for me to get there! Confidence doesn’t come easy for me but after all the positive feedback I got online it’s hard to have imposter syndrome. I’m always trying to get better, but where I’m at right now feels like a pretty good place to be.
9. I love focusing on my passion projects, but there is something fun about following someone else’s instructions and rendering it in your art style. They’re totally different feelings. Obviously Manny and Bo takes up most of my time, but I have to take a break from it every now and then.