12/03 Rebecca Yeaglins Art Opening @ Guapo Comics

Rebecca Yeaglins does "altered photography" where she hand stitchs images onto fabric and many other crazy things to change the image and make it more interesting.

Guapo Comics
6350 SE Foster Road
Portland, OR, 97206
Dec 03,   6:30 - 9:00

12/05 Studio Sale @ Cumbersome Multiple

Dan Duford and his wife Tracy Schlapp run the studio Cumbersome MultipleThey work with a variety of artists and writers to print limited print edition runs.   They will have homemade gifts, cards, notes and stationery.    They are having a studio sale Dec 5.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2010  ·  10am-5pm

3144 NE Seventh Avenue ·  2 blocks south of Fremont

Portland, Oregon

"WHAT IS A CUMBERSOME MULTIPLE?

To print is to mechanically reproduce a multiple: an idea, an image, a story. To make it cumbersome, one must handle the print — fold it, cut it, mark it, mail it — somehow alter it to make the print unique. Then, and only then, is it cumbersome."

12/04 Legend of Larsha 2 Release Party at Cosmic Monkey

Check out the signing for J. Kingman's sequel to his book, The Legend of Larsha, with art by Cat Farris. Cat Ferris will be signing.
Cosmic Monkey
5335 Northeast Sandy Boulevard
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 517-9050
Dec 4, 4-7 PM

12/1 - Borders/ Lifebeat comics Panel in Tigard

Lifebeat is a nonprofit that uses the power of music and the arts to educate young people about HIV/AIDS prevention. There are events accross the country on 12/1 for through Lifebeat and Borders partnership.   Please stop by.  Below is the press release from Borders.

Join several comic creators for a special panel discussion and signing on December 1st, 2010 at 7PM at Borders Tigard. Participating authors/artists include: Brian Michael Bendis, Colleen Coover, Steve Lieber, Jeff Parker and Paul Tobin.

Time: 7PM

Location:
Borders Tigard
7227 SW Bridgeport Road
Tigard, OR 97224

Don’t forget to print and bring your Lifebeat voucher: HERE. Can’t make it? Buy any of the artists or authors’ works and do all your online shopping at Borders.com on December 1st and use code LIFEBEAT (all caps) at check-out!

Using your Lifebeat voucher in the store or code LIFEBEAT on Borders.com means Borders donates up to 25% of your total purchase to Lifebeat!

Check out Batwoman Elegy

I love JH Williams art and Greg Rucka's storytelling.   This hardcover is beautifu.  l I have it on my shelf.     There is no surprise it is  showing up on the Amazon best of 2010 list.    It is a must have.

And check out The Last Run the latest Queen and Country novel by Greg Rucka.

Questions 16: Kelly Sue DeConnick

Kelly Sue DeConnick started translating Manga and has an extensive portfolio of translated works.   She is a columnist for Artbomb and has written for Sequential Tart.   She co-wrote 30 Days of Night: Eben & Stella with Steve Niles for IDW.   Her stories have appeared in several anthologies from Marvel's Girl Comics and Age of Heroes to Image’s 24Seven and The Comic Book Tattoo.    Currently her books are coming out fast and furious from Marvel, recently she released Rescue, Sif and now the new Osborn series.   Personally I would love to see her write a Modesty Blaise story.

Check out her blog for the latest updates and full list of work.

Doug Dorr:   What projects are you working on currently?
OSBORN and two unannounced projects. 

DD:   What is your writing Process?
I write from an outline.  I break the outline into scenes, write the dialogue first, then break the dialogue into panels and write panel descriptions. 

DD:   What Comic/ Trade would you recommend?
Casanova! 

DD:   What Comic/ Trade would you recommend to someone new to comics?
It would depend on their interests. 

DD:   Do you draw?  How involved are you in the illustration of your stories?
I do not draw, alas.  I will occasionally attempt a little sketch if I feel like I need to show the artist what I'm thinking, but it's very embarrassing. 

DD:   What skill would you like to learn?
Stand-up comedy, sushi-making, swing dancing, fencing, ice skating... I could go on and on.

DD:   Do you have a collection?   If so, what is one of the items you're most proud of?
I have a couple of vintage typewriters that I adore.  Does that count? 

I'm not sure I'm particularly proud of anything material.  I'm proud of my kids...?

DD:   What is your favorite genre of Comics?
Hm. Tough call.  Horror anthologies, maybe.

DD:   Do you have an Ipad?   If so what do use it for the most.
I do. 
The apps I use most are the Kindle app, Words with Friends and Comic Book Lover.

DD:   What is your favorite TV show/ movie?
Like, ever?   Maybe The Wire for TV.

DD:   What was your first comic convention?
San Diego!  What year was that... 2002?  2003?

DD:   What is your favorite part of comic conventions?
Seeing the friends I only get to see at comic conventions. 

DD:   What comics do your kids like?  What was/is your favorite character?
My son is into the Super Hero Squad.  He likes The Thing and the Silver Surfer. 

I was into Nocturna when I was a kid.  Go figure. 

DD:   If you weren’t doing comics what would you do?
Starve, I bet. 

DD:   Do you have a favorite restaurant that you would recommend?
Hm... We've only been in Portland for a year.  I have eaten some really good food since I've been here, but I don't know that any place stands out at my favorite just yet.  Maybe the Urban Farm?  The one in the Nines hotel. 

DD:   How long have you lived in Portland, what made you choose Portland?
We've only been here a year.  We chose it because of the comics community, the creative class and because it's astonishingly beautiful.

DD:   What is your favorite part of Portland?
The trees!

DD:   Where in Portland/ Oregon would you most like to visit?
We've been to the ocean, so I guess now I'd like to go to the mountains. 

DD:   Would you like to write for another media? or conversely, how would you feel about writing a comic of a character from a different media, for example, Dr. Who, James Bond?  What would you explore?
I started writing prose and I imagine I'll probably end up writing prose again one day.  

Portland Comic Book show!!

The boys and I went to the Portland Comic Book show.   This is the first time I have gone as an adult; I think my folks took me when I was in HS.   I focused this trip mainly for the boys since the are budding published young artists.  We went around and talked to whoever they wanted to.     Gannon wanted to especially talk to Ian Boothby, but it never worked out.    Thanks to all the great artists that took time to listen to these guys.   They really enjoyed watching the artists, it is amazing to watch them and learn from how the artist works.

My personal shame was forgetting the camera.   The Cloud City Garrison was there and Gannon loves taking pictures with Stormtroopers.    Although, he has a particularly nice Darth Vader/ Captain America photo which he arranged. 

We ran into Justin Zimmerman, Dylan Williams, Micah Baker, Dane Ault, Steve Dorris, the team from Corrosive comics, Anne Timmons, Chris Samnee, Brian Churilla that we had met before at different events.  Gannon completed his signed collection of Wonder Woman Day V prints.  He was missing the one from Steve Dorris.

I was really excited to meet Keith Tucker, Tom Orzechowski, Pia Guerra who I hadn't met before.   I had a good talk with Keith Tucker who just moved to Portland from Hawaii.   Tom Orzechowski  talked with Gannon for a long time about sound effects in comics.

I totally missed Kurt Busiek and Aaron Lopresti who I was hoping to talk to, although I did speak with about knitting with the lady at Kurt's booth (Bad on me for not getting a name)

After everything I think the highlight was running over to the windows in the emergency doors and looking for snow. 

WTF: Being Human (American Style)

My wife and I have really been enjoying the BBC Series Being Human, with Aidan Turner, Russell Tovey, and Lenora Crichlow.   It is about a Werewolf, ghost and a vampire living in the same house trying to live normal lives but things happen.   It is a fantastic character driven show constantly changing what it is to be human and a family.   This show is currently being shot and season 3 will air in 2011.


Syfy channel is remaking this show about set in Boston with Americans.   In their advertisement it said was a new Original Series.   My wife already told me she won't watch it.   That cannot be a good sign for its prospects.

Watch Being Human the British version.

Questions 15: Dylan Williams

From the last Rom Exhibit

Dylan Williams started out self-publishing comics and zines in the 1980s. He went on to found Sparkplug Comic Books an indie publishing house in Portland, Oregon. Dylan is very involved in the small press community events and even an instructor as part IPRC's New Certificate program.

Check out Dylan's blog and watch the great titles coming from Sparkplug.

Doug Dorr: What projects are you working on currently?

I'm always working on my series Reporter. Issue #7 is the current issue. I started it, got about 11 pages in and then decided to redraw those pages. I'm also working on a story about Jack Benny for a TV themed anthology by Pat Lewis. I just wrote a story on Fred Rutherford, from Leave it to Beaver, for that same anthology. David King will be drawing that Rutherford story. I've got a story in anthology called the Big Feminist But that is in the works. I've been doing a bunch of short stories for Stumptown Underground (www.stumptownunderground.com) which will most likely go in the next Reporter short story anthology someday. I'm trying to update a regular blog reporter56.blogspot.com. We'll see how that goes. I seem have a hard time with putting ideas on the internet.

DD: What is your artistic Process?

I'm pretty focused on not having a set process or one that is too complex. I work on scripts in my head for years. I write ideas on post-its, scraps of paper and in a series of note-books. I try to keep story writing to thumb-nail form. I don't like to write scripts. I pencil and ink, old timey-comics style. If I don't like the way a page turns out, I redraw it. I like using whiteout. I like the act of making comic book pages so I don't mind redrawing stuff, in some ways it makes the work better for me.

DD: When you are story illustrator, how involved are you in the writing?

It has been almost a decade since I drew a story somebody else wrote. I have a bunch of friends that write stuff but it is pretty hard for me to think about drawing somebody else's story. Comics come to me as a complete package in my head.

DD: What Comic/ Trade would you recommend?

Oh man, where can I begin. I'm such a comics nerd that this question makes my mind reel. I'd say that three of my favorite working cartoonists are Zak Sally (Recidivist), John Hanckiewicz (Athma), and Emon Espey (Wormdye). They've all had an intense influence on my comics in different ways. I can't stop reading Carrie McNinch (You Don't Get There From Here), Tessa Brunton (In the Tall Grass), Blaise Larmee (Young Lions), Nicole Georges (Invincible Summer), Maria Sputnik (Monster Treasure), Greig Means (Clutch), and the list goes on. I think we are living in a kind of golden age of amazing comix right now, so chances are there is something for everyone in a good comic store.

DD: What Comic/ Trade would you recommend to someone new to comics?

I'd say Clutch #19 (which is book size) by Greig Means or You Don't Get There From Here (a long series) by Carrie McNinch. But the truth is, I think the secret to getting people who haven't read comics to like comics is getting them to read good solid personal/expressive comics. Some people like adventure or action but what I've seen work better than anything is introducing people to the sheer variety of comics and not just focus on a good Vertigo graphic novel that reads like a movie or a "thoughtful" action comics. Those are great for people who watch a lot of sci-fi or enjoy zombie-culture but we need to work at getting other people into comics.

DD: What skill would you like to learn?

I'm most interested in reading/understanding Spanish. I don't know if I'll ever have time in my life for it but Spanish is the language in which the most art I enjoy is done. It would be the most personally rewarding language to learn. I wish I was a better accountant also. Seriously.

DD: What's the most important thing you've learned?

As far as art goes, I'd say my favorite thing I've learned is an Alex Toth thing that he got from Noel Sickles "Think More, Draw Less". Like most sayings this is kind of vague but for me it has come to mean, that thinking art is more important than doing physical art. If I spend a year working on a comic, I spend four years thinking about it. I try to solve problems in my head before I get to the paper.

DD: Do you have a collection? If so, what is one of the items you're most proud of?

I do have a collection (sometimes too much of one). I don't know what I'd say my favorite thing in it but I'm most proud of my publishing company Sparkplug. I love publishing other peoples work. A friend of mine, Tim, describes comics publishing as like a book so much you want to have thousands of copies of it. One of my favorite comics of all time in my old comics collection is Legion of Charlies by Tom Veitch and Greg Irons.

DD: What is your favorite genre of Comics?

I'm not much of a specific genre person. I'd say I prefer personal, self-published or underground comics to those published by Time/Warner or Disney for money. I collect every single genre of comics from modern arty comics to comics from the 1800s and everything in between. I'm even a regular buyer of anything Guy Davis or Paul Grist does. Those guys are geniuses.

DD: Do you have an Ipad? If so what do use it for the most.

I love old fashioned lap tops. No Ipad yet. I've drawn on computers for years but it is nothing like drawing in the real world.

DD: What is your favorite TV show/ movie?

Oh man, again, such a nerd that this question is dangerous. Off hand, my favorite TV show is Danger Man/Secret Agent and my favorite movie is Out of the Past by Jacques Tourneur. My current favorite directors are Luis Bunuel, Ken Loach, David Croenenberg, Mario Bava, Chantalle Ackerman, Jacques Tourneur, Kenji Mizoguchi, Robert Bresson, Michellangelo Antonioni, Shane Meadows, Carl Dreyer, Jane Campion, Kinji Fukusaku and so on.

DD: How does the Portland comics culture shapes your work

I contribute as regularly as I can to Stumptown Underground and love the IPRC but as a rule, I'm sort of lost in my own head. I love the Northwest, and it totally affects my art but mostly the weather, architecture, people and geography. Sort of intangible broader aspects of the region. Trees make me make better art for sure.

DD: What was your first comic convention?

It was in Hayward, California in what must have been 1979. I wish I could remember the name of it. It influenced me for the rest of my life. I think that sort of obsessive old school comics culture made me who I am today. I grew up in the epicenter of the direct market.

DD: What is your favorite part of comic conventions?

Finding new comics by people who are new to comics. I love seeing what people come up with who aren't schooled in the regimented rules of making comics. I'm also a big fan of good workshops/panels and meeting people who read comics. I love people who love comics.

DD: If you weren’t doing comics what would you do?

I was on my way to being a religious psychologist till an art teacher helped me see that doing comics would be possible. It was in senior year of high school and I actually changed what schools I was applying to. I would go back to that if I ever stopped being a cartoonist. I love research, religion and psychology so much. They actually all go into every page of Reporter.

DD: Do you have a favorite restaurant that you would recommend?

It is always different but right now I'd say Bete-Lukas (www.bete-lukas.com) on 50th and Division. I also love Papa G's deli.

DD: How long have you lived in Portland, what made you choose Portland?

I've lived here about 12 years. I'd always wanted to live in Portland, from back in high-school. I love trees, I love rain. I think it has a sort of mythic idea creating power.

DD: What is your favorite part of Portland?

Geographically it'd be Mt. Tabor. I'm a big fan of the variety of vegan food here too. And the Independent Publishing Resource Center (www.iprc.org) would have to be my favorite space in town. Floating World is a close second.

DD: Where in Portland/ Oregon would you most like to visit?

Crater Lake. I've never been there and always wanted to. In Portland it would be the Grotto. I've been meaning to go but never have.

DD: Would you like to write/Illustrate for another media? or conversely, how would you feel about writing a comic of a character from a different media, for example, Dr. Who, James Bond? What would you explore?

I love doing art in other media. I'm a pastel artist. I doodle constantly. I think about making a film. I can't think of a character besides Jack Benny that I'd be into doing a comic about at the moment. Most of the good ones like Emma Goldman already have comics about them. I started a comic about Hank Williams about 16 years ago but I realized that I'd rather read other people writing about him than do it myself. I read a lot of history and biography but I'm learning that the comics I want to make are fiction.

12/02 – SPACENITE 2 – A Tribute to Bill Mantlo

I love ROM the Space Knight.  Everytime I am at Stumptown I love looking at the book of Rom.   
     
There will be a ROM Space Knight Art Show at Floating World.  I am sorry I missed the one last year.

WHO: Mike Allred, Jeffrey Brown, Michael DeForge, Tan Eng Huat, Ben Marra,  Luke Ramsey, Jon Schnepp, Matt Timson, and dozens more.
WHAT: ROM Spaceknight benefit art show for Bill Mantlo
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 2nd, 6-10pm
WHERE: Floating World Comics
20 NW 5th Ave #101
Portland, OR 97209
(503)241-0227
Artwork on display until Jan. 2^nd.

Questions 14: Jonathan Case

Jonathan Case is an illustrator in Portland Oregon. He is a member of Periscope Studios. Check out his book Dear Creature about an 1963 Atomic sea mutant. He also has been creating some great paintings for the brew pub, McMenamins.  He is a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design.

Doug Dorr:   What projects are you working on currently?

Earlier in 2010 I finished a graphic novel called Dear Creature (formerly Sea Freak) which is now waiting in the wings with a publisher. It's a 1960s story about an atomic sea mutant whose poet soul is at odds with his compulsion to eat people. One part Hitchock, one part Fellini- a little romance, a little comedy and horror. This year I'm doing the art for a true crime/detective story GN for Dark Horse and developing my next original work, which will be a kid-friendly, full color sort of thing.

DD:   What is your artistic Process?

I spend a lot of time doing research and conceptualization, writing and rewriting before I commit to drawing comics pages. With Dear Creature, I had a complete script and thumbnails for the book before I set in on the final pages. I add in rough dialogue to the thumbnails so I can be sure the story works. Once I'm happy, I draw the final pages in large batches- a batch of rough pencils, a batch of tightened pencils, a batch of inks. Working that way keeps me efficient and happier with my results.

DD:   When you are story illustrator, how involved are you in the writing?

When I'm working from someone else's script, my role is firmly in visual storytelling. I may suggest changing up some panels to better express the writer's intention. If editorial likes it, we go with it. I'm picky/fortunate with the stories I commit to though, so I haven't felt obliged to suggest a lot of rewrites.

DD:   What Comic/ Trade would you recommend?

If I had to shout out just one, I'd say Gipi's work (Garage Band)- his visuals and storytelling are great.

DD:   What Comic/ Trade would you recommend to someone new to comics?

I think Gene Yang (American Born Chinese) and Derek Kirk Kim (Same Difference) both do work that's really appealing to a lot of people, including me. Great visuals and stories.

DD:   What skill would you like to learn?

Consistency.

DD:   What's the most important thing you've learned?

To not work in a vacuum. Being able to ask for help, get feedback and assist others in the common cause of storytelling makes you better/happier.

DD:   Do you have a collection? If so, what is one of the items you're most proud of?

I don't really collect, but I love the Calvin and Hobbes books I grew up with.

DD:   What is your favorite genre of Comics?

I don't have a favorite genre. I like things that have a sense of humor or whimsy, even if the subject matter is serious overall.

DD:   Do you have an Ipad? If so what do use it for the most.

Nope!

DD:   What is your favorite TV show/ movie?

Some movies I've seen about fifty times, like Ghostbusters, but the one I've only seen once and would call my favorite is 'Army of Shadows' (not to be confused with Army of Darkness... I'm talking underground French resistance in WW2, not chainsaw vs. the undead, though that has its place).

DD:   How does the Portland comics culture shapes your work

I work five days a week in the middle of Portland comics culture at Periscope Studio, so it mostly influences my desire to keep working in comics because the people are great and the creative energy is exciting. It's also nice to have other pros looking over your shoulder to let you know when your work looks great, or not so great.

DD:   What was your first comic convention?

I think it might have been Stumptown Comics Fest, here in Portland.

DD:   What is your favorite part of comic conventions?

Meeting likeminded folks and grabbing dinner with friends. At San Diego, it's escaping the horde to catch some theater at the Old Globe. I've started taking other comics people now- it's like an oasis in the pop media overload.

DD:   If you weren’t doing comics what would you do?

I'd probably be on stage at the Old Globe. It's my experience that most comics artists are actors/performers, but they choose to act on paper.

DD:   Do you have a favorite restaurant that you would recommend?

There's a breakfast cart called The Big Egg here in Portland on Mississippi and Skidmore that does great breakfast. The Arbor Lodge sandwich is killer.

DD:   How long have you lived in Portland, what made you choose Portland?

I've been here about 5 years, and I moved here for the comics community.

DD:   What is your favorite part of Portland?

Lunch carts.

Where in Portland/ Oregon would you most like to visit?

I've never been to Southeast Oregon, and I hear the desert is beautiful out there. Very few people, beautiful vistas... The occasional drug-laden plane landing in the desert... but hey. Adventure!

DD:   Would you like to write/Illustrate for another media? or conversely, how would you feel about writing a comic of a character from a different media, for example, Dr. Who, James Bond? What would you explore?

I wouldn't mind writing for stage/film, but I would want to be able to perform at some level, since the character work is what I really like. Film, comics, whatever, I think I enter in at the same place for all of them. I have thought about radio/voice work. Get my poor-man's Orson Welles on... That would be fun!

Summer Death Star

Walking Dead: Around Comics is Back??

There is a special around comics episode Nov 2010.   Worth the wait.   Lets hope those crazy kids get back together.    Now go buy Tim Seeley's Ant-man and Wasp.

Questions 13: Anne Timmons

Anne Timmons has been drawing her entire life.   She has a BFA from Oregon State University and went on to study under Aaron Lopresti at Pacific Northwest College of Art.      She went on to be a member Portland-based studio, Studiosaurus, and worked with the other members on the comic C.H.I.X.   She has had a long time working relationship with Trina Roberts, with whom she worked on GoGirl! .    She also worked on the Eisner nominated 'Dignifying Science' and  'Graphic Classics: Jack London.'     Recently she was at the Wonder Woman Day V signing.

Check out her blog and site

Doug Dorr:   What projects are you working on currently?

Currently, I am sending art samples to prospective publishers.

DD:   What is your artistic Process?

I think I can best answer this by explain how I draw a page. First I do a rough layout of the page, based on the script.
Then I pencil the page. After that is approved by the editor, I will ink the page, scan the inks  and send the final art to the publisher.
After the inks are approved, I send the scanned art to the publishers FTP site.
(Recently, I have tried out Manga Studio, inking software. I really like it.)

DD:   When you are the story illustrator, how involved are you in the writing?

I am not involved in writing. Just illustrating I usually work directly with writers who have requested me. There has been several occasions where I illustrated a book and had no contact with the writer.

DD:   What Comic/ Trade would you recommend?

All publications from Graphic Classics. Publisher, Tom Pomplun does a lot of research on each literary author and includes  famous stories as well as lesser known works.

DD:   What Comic/ Trade would you recommend to someone new to comics?

I was just given a copy of The Wizard of Oz published by Marvel. Most people are familiar with the movie but this goes back to the original book and offers a bright, colorful adaptation that is truly a treat to read!

DD:   What skill would you like to learn?

I would like to get more comfortable with Photoshop and Illustrator.

DD:   What is your favorite genre of Comics?

I am very fond of older comics. I loved the newspaper comic strips from the golden age, Judge Parker MD, Apartment 3G and Peanuts. Always liked classic Archie, Disney, and I always enjoyed the Animated style of Batman, Superman and Supergirl

DD:   Do you have an Ipad?   If so what do use it for the most.

I use it for everything. Email, research online, music, movies, books. I have also been working with the illustrating apps Brushes, Adobe Ideas, and Sketchbook Pro.

DD:   What is your favorite TV show/ movie?

Mad Men. It's my absolute favorite show of all time! I can't wait until Season 5!

DD:   How does the Portland comics culture shapes your work

The Portland area has such a fantastic variety of creators. I wish I had more of a chance to connect with them on a daily basis but I guess that's what shows and conventions are for. They are the one place I am certain to see some one I know.

DD:   What was your first comic convention?

Portland Comic Book Show

DD:   What is your favorite part of comic conventions?

Talking with young artists.

DD:   If you weren’t doing comics what would you do?

I would love to be drawing for animation.

DD:   Do you have a favorite restaurant that you would recommend?

No Fish Go Fish on Hawthorne and the Weatherford restaurant  in Oregon City.

DD:   How long have you lived in Portland, what made you choose Portland?

I was born in Portland. Native to the region. Lived in Seattle for a few years but eventually returned. Love the climate, family and friends.

DD:   What is your favorite part of Portland?

I really like the Hawthorne/Laurelhurst and Woodstock neighborhoods. Trees! Love the trees!

DD:   Where in Portland/ Oregon would you most like to visit?

Oregon Zoo and Japanese Gardens

DD:   Would you like to write/Illustrate for another media? or conversely, how would you feel about writing a comic of a character from a different media, for example, Dr. Who, James Bond?  What would you explore?

I would love to work in animation as a storyboard artist. I enjoy drawing quickly and getting the action down on paper. There's a lot of interesting things happening in the illustration field, too. Books are changing. Lots of potential for an artist. I recently downloaded an app from iTunes. It was the entire story of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Very well done with interactive music, animation and art.

Zanadu Comics - Seattle

I was in Seattle for the last week, so I stopped by the local comic store  Zanadu Comics.   It was right downtown.   Fantastic selection, good help.   They had some great music playing a shopping a nice experience.

If you are in Seattle I would recommend stopping by.

Questions 12: Ron Randall

Ron Randall has as an illustrator and storyteller  for over 20 years.   He has worked for most major publishers Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Dark Horse, Virgin, and Image Comics, and many others.    He trained under Joe Kubert and has a classical style to storytelling, pacing, and a clean line.   He did Gamekeeper for Virgin, with Jeff Parker and Ron Chan.   He also worked as an illustrator for commercial clients such as Disney, Nike, SeaWorld and PlayStation.  He is a member of Periscope Studios.   You need to check out his creator owned work, 'Trekker'.  Ron’s webpage is at ronrandall.com.

Doug Dorr:   What projects are you working on currently?

Ron Randall:   I am co-penciling Doom Patrol for DC, finishing the pencil art on Anne Steelyard, book 3 a historical adventure graphic novel for Pennyfarthing Press, and preparing to start drawing a comic book mini-series about the life of John Adams for a commercial client. And if all goes well, I hope to have a western comic on the horizon as well. So, a pretty diverse workload.

DD:   What is your artistic Process?

At the beginning of a new project, I like to start with sketching the characters I will be working on. Usually, that means a few sketches of the main characters to get something of a feel for their design and "personality". Once that's done, I turn to the script that I have been sent, usually by the editor of the project. I read  through the script and start working by doing quick, small "thumbnails" of a few pages at a time. These are very simple "doodles' where I work out the design of a page in rough form-- composing shots, choosing "camera angles" and so on. Then I move the rough designs up to 11"X17" bristol board for the actual drawing. Then my process varies some depending on the nature of the particular job. Some projects require a lot of reference- historical settings or specific locales for instance. For some projects, I use a lot of photo reference for people and figures. Whatever the pages seem to require, I gather the best reference that I can. Then I break out the nice pencil and eraser and get to work.

Once the penciling is done, the pages are inked. If I'm lucky, I have the time in the book's schedule to do that inking myself. Inking is an incredibly subtle and important step in the process. A sensitive ink job can bring pencil work to life, and a crude or rushed ink job can drain all the grace and life out of the pencil art. Different artists use various tools for inking-- brushes, pens, markers. I'm pretty old school: I prefer a high-quality brush for about 90% of what I ink, and flexible nib pens for the rest.

DD:   When are story illustrator, how involved are you in the writing?

As I say, the script usually comes to me in a finished form. I occasionally make comments,minor suggestions fr staging or pacing a scene but generally my process is one of interpreting the story I have been giving, doing my best to bring it to life on a comic page.

DD:   What Comic/ Trade would you recommend?

I am way behind in my reading, so this will be dated information. But I have only recently been digging into the Powers series by Bendis and Oeming. It's a great pairing of word and picture, smart, bold and strong throughout.

DD:   What Comic/ Trade would you recommend to someone new to comics?

I believe in starting with the classics. Foster's Prince Valient, Raymond's  Flash Gordon, Eisner's Spirit and Caniff's Terry and the Pirates. If something there doesn't fire your imagination and take you to wonderful places, this is not the medium for you.

DD:   What skill would you like to learn?

How about three? I'd like to be a better writer. I'd like to be a decent colorist. And I'd like to keep increasing my skills on the computer. It's just clear that computers are becoming a more essential part of the business all the time, and I always feel behind the technological  curve. I am blessed to share a studio with a bunch of smart and skilled artists who very patiently keep dragging me along into the 21st century.....

DD:   What's the most important thing you've learned?

It's no good trying to be someone that you are not. It's the same on the page you are drawing as it is in life. 

DD:   Do you have a collection?   If so, what is one of the items you're most proud of?

I have a meager collection. My dearest possession is the short set of Flash Gordon comics that Al Williamson did for Gold Key back in the mid-sixties. I bought 'em off the rack back in the day, and the grace, beauty and Romanticism of those books was something I have been compelled to strive for ever since.

DD:   What is your favorite genre of Comics?

That rare genre of well-written comics. Give me a story that has a reason to exist and characters that work, and I will enjoy drawing it.  Seriously, beyond that I really don't care if it's a super hero story or a science-fiction book or a western. If I can get into the story and characters, I am ready to draw.

DD:   Do you have an Ipad?   If so what do use it for the most.

No Ipad, I do have a spankin' new MacBook Pro and a Cintiq touch-sensitive drawing screen.

DD:   What is your favorite TV show/ movie?

I could try to sound hip and cool but I will be honest and say Casablanca.

DD:   How does the Portland comics culture shapes your work?

I am not as active as I could be in getting around to a lot of things going on in this restless little town, so for me "Portland comics culture" means Periscope Studio, where I am one of about twenty active cartoonists. Being exposed to the variety of approaches and experiences of so many diverse artists is constantly supportive and inspiring.

DD:   What was your first comic convention?

Back in the mid-seventies I went to a show at the Masonic Temple that has Jim Starlin and Al Weis as guests. I was too shy to show either of them my work which is just as well since I was, of course, atrocious at the time.

DD:   What is your favorite part of comic conventions?

Doing sketches for the fans of a well-liked character.

DD:   If you weren’t doing comics what would you do?

I have no Earthly clue.

DD:   Do you have a favorite restaurant that you would recommend?

Always Old Town Pizza on SW Davis between 2nd and 3rd. Also Chai Thai on 140th and Stark in southeast. An unassuming neighborhood restaurant run by a sweet Thai couple that makes great food.

DD:   How long have you lived in Portland, what made you choose Portland?

I was born and raised here. I lived in New Jersey for about eight years as my only comparison. But some of the reasons I still love Portland are the size of downtown-- big enough to feel city-like but small enough to be user-friendly , the artist-friendly temperment of the town, the Aladdin and Roseway Theaters, Music Millennium, Powells Bookstore and the bike-friendly streets.

DD:   What is your favorite part of Portland?

Think I probably covered enough of that above.

DD:   Where in Portland/ Oregon would you most like to visit?

I love the coast in any weather.

DD:   Would you like to write/Illustrate for another media? or conversely, how would you feel about writing a comic of a character from a different media, for example, Dr. Who, James Bond?  What would you explore?

Really, comics is my medium of choice. Storyboarding is a similar process and would be my second choice.

Artists at the opera. Hansel and Gretel.

Matt Grigsby

There was a new show at the opera and Portland artists were invited to the dress rehearsal.  Check out the amazing illustrations here.  The original art will be displayed during the opening.

You can watch on twitter on Hashtag pdxoperacomics

11/30 Signing and Screening for Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale

There will be a screening and signing on Nov 30.     Things From Another World and Dark Horse Comics are hosting this event.

The signing with writer Zack Whedon (Terminator 1984) and artist Chris Samne (Thor: The Mighty Avenger) starts at 8:30 pm.  In celebration of there new book Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale.

At 6:30 pm there will be a showing of  classic Firefly episode “Objects in Space” on the big screen at the Hollywood theater.   Followed by Question and Answer with Zack Whedon and Chris Samnee.   Admission is a canned or nonperishable food item for the Oregon Food Bank.  
 Thanks go out to: 
Bridge City
Excalibur
Hollywood Theatre and Film Action Oregon
PDX Browncoats

11/4 Heavy Hand Signing with Chris Cilla at FWC

This Thursday at Floating World Comics in Portland, OR they'll be having a Heavy Hand release freak out.  There will be a signing with Chris Cilla and his new book Heavy hand, from Spark Plug Comics.

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 4th, 6-10pm
WHERE: Floating World Comics
20 NW 5th Ave #101
Portland, OR 97209
(503)241-0227

Check out Emi Lenox on Comic Geek Speak

The Indie Rack features Emi talking about EmiTown and Dragonball.

Walking Dead Premier in Portland

On Oct 31 they had the premier of Walking Dead on AMC at the Bagdad.   There were plenty of zombies, marvel zombies and pirates.   Fun people, good beer and zombie action.   Olivia came in her zombie finest, walking dead style.     I thought it was great.    Joe Keatinge wrote a fantastic article of why it worked so well on Neon Monster.    I thought they created a general sense of foreboding, that made the zombie incursions more shocking.     We had a great time.   The Bagdad will be having Walking Dead showings for all 6 episodes.

11/04 Signing with Barry Deutsch @ Powells

At 7:30 on 11/4
Powell's Books on Hawthorne
3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd. (800) 878-7323

Hereville Signed Edition

"The first-ever wisecracking, troll-fighting, Orthodox Jewish heroine, Mirka is a spunky, strong-willed 11-year-old girl who wants to go out and fight dragons. Hereville is Barry Deutsch's charming graphic novel that crosses Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Isaac Bashevis Singer."