A few months back the author of the blog 360 Beyond wanted to interview me along with a number of other unknown creators. I’m not sure if it was posted and so I’ve elected to publish the interview on my own blog. You can check out his work at http://cedpharaoh.com/360BEYOND/
April 21, 2014:
ARTISTIC/DEVELOPMENT
360 BEYOND: As it relates to your earliest
memory as an artist, did Art choose you or did you choose Art? The Art of
writing that is, explain.
RYAN SCALES: I’VE ALWAYS
BEEN COMFORTABLE WITH A PENCIL IN MY HAND.
I WAS EIGHT WHEN FOUND GIFT. I
DID A FREEHAND DRAWING OF THE COVER OF SUPER MARIO BROS. 3 AND MY MOM CALLED MY
DAD IN AND THE BOTH MARVELED AT IT. IT
WAS ONE OF THOSE RARE OCCASIONS WHERE MY PARENTS WEREN’T YELLING AT ME AND WERE
ACTUALLY APPLAUDING ME. THEY KEPT
SAYING, “WOW THAT’S PRETTY AWESOME”
SO I JUST KEPT DOING IT.
WRITING IS A TOTALLY
DIFFERENT ANIMAL. I DON’T DO IT MUCH AND
DON’T REALLY SEE MYSELF IN THAT LIGHT, ALTHOUGH HAVE WHAT I WOULD CALL ADEQUATE
SKILL. I CAN GENERATE A STORY IDEA, OR
MAYBE SOME DIALOGUE, BUT THE BULK OF MY STORYTELLING ABILITY LIES ON THE VISUAL
SIDE OF THE COIN.
Who or What were your earliest inspirations and present influences that
that inspire your art/comics/writing?
I STARTED LOOKING AT THIS AS A CAREER IN THE
SIXTH GRADE SO MY INFLUENCES GO WAAAAAY BACK.
DAN JURGENS WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST TO TRULY CATCH MY EYE. I SAW HIS WORK ON SUPERMAN #75 (THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN) AND I WAS HOOKED. HE WAS ALSO THE FIRST ARTIST I SAW THAT DID
THE WRITING CHORES ALONGSIDE THE ART, SO I GUESS THAT SEED GOT PLANTED AS
WELL. JOHN ROMITA, JR. WAS ANOTHER HEAVY
INFLUENCE. HIS RUN ON UNCANNY X-MEN IN
THE NINTIES REALLY SHAPED MY STYLE. SAME
GOES FOR ERIK LARSEN. THOSE WERE MY MAIN
THREE GUYS ALL THROUGH JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
AS FAR AS THE
WRITING, IF FRANK MILLER DOESN’T MAKE YOUR LIST OF INFLUENCES THERE IS
SOMETHING WRONG. TERRIBLY WRONG J LARRY HAMA WAS
GREAT SCRIBE. IF NOT FOR HIM WOLVERINE
WOULDN’T BE THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION BAD ASS HE IS TODAY! HE GAVE LOGAN HIS VOICE. TODD MCFARLANE’S EARLY WORK ON SPAWN HAD AN
IMPACT. HE HAD A NARRATIVE FLARE THAT I
ALWAYS LOVED.
How important is it to study your art and how do you approach keeping
your skills sharp?
TO STUDY IN THE
ACADEMIC SENSE? I CAN’T OFFER AN OPINION THERE (SOME MIXED FEELINGS AS FAR THE
EDUCATION SYSTEM), BUT IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO TRAIN YOUR EYE. FIND STYLE YOU LIKE, A WRITER YOU LIKE. STUDY THEM, USE THEM AS YOUR FOUNDATION. AS TIME GOES ON, YOU’LL NATURALLY BREAK OUT
AND START TO FIND YOUR OWN VOICE.
IT’S VERY
IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR ABILITIES HONED.
WRITE NOTES, PLAY WITH WORDS, DOODLE, WHATEVER. I HEAR SO MANY FOLKS SAYING “I USED TO BE
ABLE TO DRAW LIKE THAT” OR “I USED TO WRITE LIKE THAT”. IF YOU HAVE A SINCERE ENTHUSIASM FOR WHAT
YOU DO, THOSE WORDS WILL NEVER PASS YOUR LIPS WHEN REFERRING TO IT. TO ME
THAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SKILL AND A PASSION. ONE IS PRACTICAL, A MEANS TO AN END. IT ‘PAYS THE BILLS’. THE OTHER IS A NATURAL DESIRE. YOU CAN’T STOP IT ANYMORE THAN YOU CAN STOP
BREATHING.
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| EON KID |
What are some books that are on your personal shelf?
I’M SAD TO SAY I
HAVEN’T HAD MUCH READING TIME AS OF LATE.
I’LL JUST RATTLE OFF A FEW I’VE ENJOYED OVER THE YEARS:
- CYCLE OF THE
WEREWOLF BY STEPHEN KING
(NOT THE BEST WRITTEN STORY, BUT I LOVE BERNIE WRIGHTSON’S ILLUSTRATIONS).
- THE SAVAGE
DRAGON
- HOW TO DRAW
COMICS THE MARVEL WAY. NO COMIC ARTIST’S LIBRARY SHOULD BE
WITHOUT IT.
- GOD IS NOT GREAT BY CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS,
- THE DARK KNIGHT
RETURNS,
- EVERYBODY’S
GOTTA EAT BY KEVIN WINCHESTER.
- ROBOPOCALYPSE BY DANIEL H. WILSON
I LOVED R.L. STINE’S FEAR STREET SERIES IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
Are there any titles that you are currently reading?
SERIES-WISE, NO. NOT A
LOT OF COMIC SHOPS AROUND MY WAY.
THANKFULLY THE LOCAL LIBRARY IS VERY WELL STOCKED. I’VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED PAUL CHADWICK’S CONCRETE,
VAGABOND, THE GAME OF THRONES
GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES (WONDERFULLY AND FAITHFULLY RENDERED I MIGHT ADD), AND
VERTIGO’S THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER.
WORK/STYLE
Give us a description of your Creative Lab or Studio where you work and
how is the environment a co-creator or partner in ultimately what you create?
MY PLACE IS PRETTY
SMALL SO MY BEDROOM DOUBLES AS MY
STUDIO. I SLEEP ON MY FLOOR OR AIR
MATTRESS, OR THE COUCH IN THE LIVING ROOM DEPENDING ON THE DAY. (WHEN I MOVED
IN IT WAS A CHOICE BETWEEN A BED AND MY DRAWING TABLE. A REAL NO-BRAINER FOR ME).
MY DRAWING TOOLS ARE
ALL CLOSE BY AND I HAVE A CRATE FULL OF COMICS AND FICTION NOVELS I LIKE TO
THUMB THROUGH ON MY DOWN TIME. I MESS
AROUND ON THE INTERNET AND READ FANFIC TOO (MOSTLY ZOMBIE STORIES). ONCE I’VE HAD MY FILL, I START DOING WARM-UP
SKETCHES.
If Art can save the world, then that makes the Artist a Superhero; and
every Hero needs theme music. Name the song or songs that you listen to
for inspiration as you create?
MY TRACK LISTING IS
REAL HODGEPODGE. ANIME SOUNDTRACKS ARE A
BIG HELP (THE OLD DRAGON BALL AND NARUTO THEMES, STUFF LIKE THAT). I HAVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF LINKIN PARK’S
ALBUMS AND I DON’T SKIP A SINGLE TRACK.
IF MY ARTWORK IS A MATCH THEIR MUSIC IS GASOLINE. I’M ALSO A FAN OF GREYDON SQUARE.
What techniques & tools do you employ to bring ideas to life?
I’M A PENCILER AT MY
CORE. I LIKE PRODUCING SEQUENTIAL ART
AND TELLING STORIES. I USUALLY START
WITH THUMBNAILS WHERE I FIDDLE AROUND WITH THE STORIE’S BEATS. I MIGHT ADD A PANEL OR PAGE, OR TAKE SOMETHING
AWAY. IT’S A REALLY FUN PROCESS. I DO MY WORK WITH BLUE LEAD (FOR THE BASE
WORK OF COURSE) AND USUALLY FINISH IT WITH AN HB OR 2B LEAD PENCIL. IF I’M
INKING I USE BRUSH PENS. I LOVE THE
LINES THEY MAKE. I DON’T DO A LOT OF
COLOR UNLESS IT’S A B & W THAT I WANT TO MAKE POP SOMEHOW.
How would you describe your writing style or artistic technique?
THAT’S A HARD
ONE. ALL THE WRITERS I’VE MET WOULD SAY
THEY CAN’T DESCRIBE HOW THEY WRITE, IT’S JUST SOMETHING THEY DO. BUT IF I HAD TO GIVE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER, I
BELIEVE IT STARTS WITH VOICE. WHEN I
THINK OF A CHARACTER I HAVE TO HEAR ‘THEM’ TALK. A CHARACTER’S SPEECH CAN TELL YOU JUST ABOUT
ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE WILLING TO RUN WITH IT. THINK ABOUT A CHARACTER (YOUR OWN OR AN
ESTABLISH ONE FROM ANOTHER PIECE OF FICTION) AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH
THEM. IT’S FUN!
ARTISTIC TECHNIQUE IS
A LITTLE EASIER TO DESCRIBE. I LIKE A
LOT OF ACTION, OR AT LEAST THE HINT OF IT.
IF THE CHARACTER IS JUST SITTING THERE DROOLING, I STILL WANT THERE TO
BE SOME LIFE. EVEN IN THE SLOW
CINEMATIC, SUPER-DRAMATIC SEQUENCES, YOU WANT TO KEEP THE STORY MOVING.
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"I like a lot of action...keep the story moving." --Ryan Scales
|
SOUL/ART
In terms of personal projects, what is the Flagship creative project for
your company and how did you come up with the idea for the concept?
MY PERSONAL PROJECT
IS ON HIATUS. IT’S A WEB COMIC I CALL FIGHT LIFE.
IT’S BEEN INFLUENCED BY ANIME LIKE TENJOU TENGE AND HAJIME NO IPPO
AND MARTIAL ARTS MOVIES I USED TO WATCH WHEN I WAS LITTLE.
What are some of the most immediate/follow-up projects?
RIGHT NOW I’M WORKING
WITH INDY WRITER RAY ZEPEDA ON ANTI-HERO
113, DUE OUT SOME TIME THIS SUMMER.
 |
| Page from the Recently published Anti-Hero 113 prelude. |
Talk about the difficulties of being an independent artist and the
hurdles you've overcome to produce and publish your own works.
A LOT OF THE
STUMBLING BLOCKS ARE SELF-MADE. A LOT
GETTING MY WORK OUT WAS JUST ME GETTING OUT OF MY OWN WAY. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I
WAS TOO CHICKEN TO SUBMIT MY WORK.
GROWING UP, I WASN’T
THE ONLY KID THAT LOVED COMICS BUT I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT RAN WITH IT THE WAY
I DID. IT WAS HARD FINDING OTHER FANS
WHO WANTED TO CREATE AND WHO SINCERELY LOVE IT. HARDER STILL TO BE UNDERSTOOD.
What is your preferred medium for your stories; comic book, graphic
novel, animation or movie?
COMICS ALL THE WAY
BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN I’LL FIDDLE AROUND WITH A PROSE STORY.
Here's a fun question. Name a mainstream project/character or an
independent project and/or character that you'd love to work on or revamp and
what would you do to put your twist on it?
I’D BRING BACK THE
THUNDERCATS. I THOUGHT CARTOON NETWORK’S
TAKE ON IT WAS SPECTACULAR AND WOULD LOVE TO PLAY A ROLE IN REMAKING/CONTINUING
THAT SERIES. IT WAS AN RPG ON STEROIDS.
I’D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A SHOT AT THE SILVERHAWKS, BUT THEY PROBABLY
WOULDN’T BE CYBORGS. MAYBE A MIDEIVAL
GUILD OF KNIGHTS OR A MOTORCYCLE GANG J. SOMETHING FUN THAT WOULD LET ME EXERCISE MY WRITING
SKILL FOR A TEAM BOOK. OH, AND THE
BIONIC SIX. I MIGHT MAKE THEM ALL
FULL-BLOODED FAMILY WITH ONE ADOPTED CHILD OR HAVE A BRADY BUNCH THING
GOING. BASICALLY ANY ACTION CARTOON I
WAS HOOKED ON AS A KID, I WOULD RELISH THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADD TO THAT MYTHOS OR
RECREATE IT ALL TOGETHER.
For the independent artist, how has technology affected the way you are
able to do business or make progress on your art? For example, but not
limited to: Finding Clients? Artistic Collaboration? Getting work done?
SOCIAL MEDIA’S BEEN A
BIG HELP. NOT JUST WITH CLIENTS BUT WITH
ENCOURAGEMENT. AS AN ART MAJOR I ENCOUNTERED A FEW TEACHER WHO COULDN’T OR
WOULDN’T ACCEPT THAT THIS WAS A LEGITIMATE ART FORM. SITES LIKE DEVIANT ART, AND FACEBOOK’S
FANPAGE OPTION PROVED DIFFERENTLY AND KEPT MY HEAD IN THE GAME. IT’S HOW I FOUND MY WRITER. RAY ZEPEDA APPROACHED ME ON MYSPACE BACK IN
2008 AND WE’VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS TO BRING ANTI-HERO 113 TO LIFE.
AS FAR AS PRODUCING
ART, I’M ASHAMED TO SAY I’VE ONLY RECENTLY GONE DIGITAL. I FINALLY MANAGED TO BUY A TABLET AND START
PRACTICING. MY DIGITAL STYLE IS
NON-EXISTANT RIGHT NOW! (SHAKES HEAD).
Here are two questions about event presentations, conferences, fairs
etc.
What are the conferences that are on your yearly schedule to attend?
PRETTY SPORADIC. I’M STILL VERY MUCH A BABY ON THE CONVENTION
SCENE AND HAVE ONLY ATTENDED AS FAN. MY
VERY FIRST CON WAS A THIS GATHERING A REC CENTER IN CLIFTON, NJ BACK IN 2010.
TWO YEARS LATER THERE WAS CHARLOTTE’S HEROCON, AND THEN ANOTHER THE YEAR
AFTER. IF I CAN SWING IT, I’LL HEAD TO
CALIFORNIA FOR THE SALINAS CONVENTION WITH RAY.
What advice do you give to aspiring artists of all mediums about the
importance of events and how do you prepare to maximize your potential at these
fairs?
WOW ME GIVING ADVICE
LIKE I’M SOME KIND OF PRO (LAUGH). FIRST
OFF DO NOT FORGET YOUR PORTFOLIO!
I WAS SO GEEKED ABOUT HEROCON AND MEETING SO MANY OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS,
I TOTALLY FORGOT IT! LET THAT BE THE
FIRST THING YOU PACK. AND DON’T BE
AFRAID TO TALK TO THE ARTISTS, WRITERS AND DEALERS. THIS ISN’T SOME HOLLYWOOD CLUB SCENE WITH A
BUNCH OF PRETENTIOUS A-HOLES. SURE IT’S
CROWDED BUT IT’S STILL PRETTY CHILL.
STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION, ASK FOR TIPS.
BE COURTEOUS, BE QUICK, (MOVE ON AND COME BACK IF YOU HAVE TO) BUT
INTERACT AND GET SOME INFO.
BRING A LITTLE
SPENDING MONEY ALSO. THE ORIGINAL ART
THEY SELL IS SOOOO WORTH IT AND YOU’LL BE AMAZED AT WHAT YOU CAN FIND IN THE
DOLLAR BIN.
THE GREATEST THING
ABOUT THESE EVENTS IS THE FEELING OF BEING IN YOUR ELEMENT. FANBOYS, WRITERS, ARTISTS, OTAKU, COSPLAYERS
(AND IN MANY INSTANCES, THEIR PARENTS), WHEN YOU WALK UP IN THERE, YOU ARE
F*CKING AWESOME! YOU’RE THE SHIZNIT! NO IFS, ANDS, OR BUTS. THAT’S THE VIBE I GET ANYWAYS. WHETHER YOU’RE
A CREATOR OR A FAN YOU DON’T FEEL THE LEAST BIT OUT OF PLACE.
LIFE/EXPRESSION
On the idea of Art Imitates Life or Life Imitates Art, is the role of
Art in human existence a catalyst for behavior and community building or is Art
a mirror to reflect the world of what was and what is?
I VIEW IT AS A MEANS
OF TAKING A GOOD, HARD, DETAILED LOOK AT OURSELVES AND THE WORLD AROUND US. NOVELISTS, CERTAIN RECORDING ARTISTS, AND
ESPECIALLY COMEDIANS ARE FAIRLY EXCEPTIONAL AT THIS.
Due to budget cuts for schools, classes and after-school programs,
primarily in black and Latino communities, the youth are not getting exposed or
are exposed to very little physical education and the arts. How important
do you feel the arts are to the lives of the youth?
I THINK IT’S A SHAME.
NOT EVERYBODY EXCELS AT
ATHLETICS/PHYS-ED, AND NOT EVERYBODY HAS AN AFFINITY FOR THE ARTS, BUT THESE ARE
JUST TWO LYNCHPINS IN A CHILD’S EDUCATION. LIFE ISN’T JUST MATH, SCIENCE AND LIT. REGARDLESS OF WHAT A CULTURE TEACHES OR OMITS
FROM CHILDRENS’ UPBRINGING, LIFE IS EMOTION, IT’S FREEDOM, IT’S
EXPRESSION. PHYSICAL, VERBAL,
VISUAL. (GETS OF THE SOAP BOX)
Whether it's the concept of Six Degrees of Separation or Its A Small
World, the culture to are smaller than outsiders know. To bridge the gap
between yourself and your peers, do you belong to any artist groups or forums,
if so which ones?
YOU CAN FIND ME
POSTING ON FACEBOOK THE IN GROUPS
LIKE CONNECTING COMIC BOOK WRITERS AND
ARTIST, COMIC BOOK ARTISTS, AND ICFPI:
TEAM 5, AS WELL AS MY ARTIST’S PAGE IRON
LION STUDIOS. YOU CAN ALSO CATCH ME ON DEVIANT ART AT IRONLION82. I ALSO HAVE PROFILES ON CGHUB AND
DRAWCROWD.COM ON WHICH I’LL BE POSTING MY DIGITAL WORK.
Now to bridge the gap between your art and the public at large, give the
name and address of your sites and forums where people can see your creativity
and how people can get in contact with you for commissions and/or to follow
your work?
YOU CAN FIND ME AND
MY WORK AT:
What impact would you like your art to make on the world?
WHEN THEY PUT ME IN
THE GROUND OR BURN ME ON THE PYRE, I HOPE THEY SAY “HE WAS PRETTY GREAT GUY WHO
TOLD SOME PRETTY GREAT STORIES”.
What are your favorite quotes or philosophies of life that help you
improve as a person or artist?
I’LL TRY TO KEEP IT
AT THREE:
"THE
MAIN OBLIGATION IS TO AMUSE YOURSELF" --S.J.PERELMAN
“ALWAYS
BE YOURSELF, EXPRESS YOURSELF, HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF, DO NOT GO OUT AND LOOK
FOR A SUCCESSFUL PERSONALITY AND DUPLICATE IT.”—BRUCE LEE
"IT'S
SOMETHING UNPREDICTABLE, BUT IN THE END IT'S RIGHT.
I HOPE YOU HAD THE TIME OF YOUR
LIFE."--"GOOD RIDDANCE (THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE" BY GREEN DAY
Is there anything else that you want the readers to know, feel free to
elaborate?
I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MYSELF HERE.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT TOOK TIME TO READ THIS AND GET TO KNOW ME A
LITTLE. AT AGE 31, I’VE OFFICIALLY BEEN
CHASING THIS DREAM FOR 20 YEARS AND IT’S JUST NOW BEARING FRUIT. KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN!
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