How did you get into drawing sketch cards?
I had already been working in publishing for a long time. Mostly editorial illustrations but a few bits of comic work too. I’d been active for years in the fanzine and small press scene in the UK working on titles along with many of today’s established artists both in the UK and the US. Most of my contemporaries have gone on to work for the major US publishers.
Having a fair bit of regular commission work one of my regulars pointed me in the direction of sketch cards. I didn’t know anything about the market or what was around or even how to break into it. A few people “in the know” pointed me in the direction of a few art directors and I sent in samples. A few months down the line and I started getting work.
Anyway, I’ve only worked for a few companies mainly due to the amount of time each card takes. With the current high standards expected by the card companies all the contributing artists are expected to produce something a lot more finished than a “sketch”. Not that I’m complaining….I love doing them.
What is your favorite subject to draw?
Anything to do with superheroes and that genre. It’s what I grew up with and most of my influences are from the comic field. I’ve been lucky enough to meet (and sometimes have a chat and a pint) with some of the UK’s top comic’s creators. I was even lucky enough to have the late great Archie Goodwin appraise and advise on my work and portfolio at the time.
I love doing comic strip work but enjoy the discipline of having to produce these small cards. My approach is to try and not just do headshots or three quarter shots but to try and produce action and fight scenes. Something with movement and drama in it.
What is your favorite character to draw?
I don’t really have a favourite character I like drawing. Although my favourite comic character is probably Jenny Sparks from The Authority.
In general terms I quite like drawing characters with complex costumes. Making that work on a 3 x 5 card is always interesting and challenging!
I tend to find the obsession with scantily clad female characters a bit unchallenging. I know it’s popular and I genuinely love what many of the other artists are doing. But I’ve kind of seen everything you can do with “glamour” style pieces…lol
Do you prefer black & white sketches or color sketches?
If I were a collector I’d say colour…you’re getting more bang for your buck. However as an artists I prefer black and white. I find some of the subtlety and detail is often lost once I colour a piece of work. Unfortunately most card companies now stipulate full colour cards only. I’ve sent a few b&w pieces which might get seen space permitting.
What kind of materials do you prefer to work with?
Edding pens and indian ink for the black and white stages, watercolour, markers and acrylic for colouring. I did experiment with water based oils for a few cards for Breygent. I loved the end result but it just took too long.
I’m hoping to use Copic Ciao markers soon, hopefully this will speed up my production and produce something in the same class as Jack Redd. Well, that’s my hope!
Who is your favorite sketch card artist?
Difficult to choose just one…lol. Lui Antonio is superb and Butch Mapa does some of the best figure work around. Charles Hall too. I like some sketch artists for differing reasons. Some are great at figure work others are brilliant at painting and others excell at colouring. And Jack Redd…as previously mentioned.
What are you currently working on?
The next project for Rittenhouse which I can’t really say anything about. Vampirella and Project Superpowers for Breygent and a ton of commission work I need to catch up on.
Has your career as an artist benefited from doing sketch card work?
The low financial returns from the “set” cards are more than made up for by after market items like artists returns, artists proofs and PSC’s. I also have a fairly steady amount of non sketch card commission work. It would be good to do some work for some of the other card companies though. I missed out on the recent Thor and Captain America sets as I didn’t know about these and I’m sure there’s dozens of others too. Star Wars cards would be a pleasure to work on too. Any Art Directors reading this just get in touch…lol
Do you collect trading cards for yourself?
No, my collecting has tailed off in recent years. But I have always collected comic books. My preferences are more determined by who’s writing or drawing it though. I’ll always get anything Brian Bolland, Alan Davis, David Lloyd, Dave Gibbons, John Byrne (he IS british…lol) and Michael Golden. Writers I always keep an eye out for are Mark Waid, Warren Ellis, Mark Miller, Kurt Busiek and the mighty Alan Moore.
I’m also a film buff and have a huge number of DVD’s and quite a few books as well. An avid reader from a young age I couldn’t be without a few books on the go at once.
Do you have a website / blog / online presence where readers can find more information about you?
Nope, sorry to say I don’t have a website. And I’ve a total aversion to social network sites. I just don’t see the point of telling the world I’ve just eaten breakfast, ironed a shirt or invaded Argentina…lol
I do have a deviantart page though. My user id is robomonkey147. I can be contacted through that site and pretty much all of my sketch card work makes it’s way onto there.
Also happy for anyone to contact me through my email address though or through nonsportscard forum or scoundrel art community or even comicartfans.
