ARTISTIC/DEVELOPMENT
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. I think writing somehow
chose me. When I was a child I was told two stories that I believe had a
great bearing on me wanting to write. One was a story about the
extinction of the Dinosaurs and the other was the fall of Lucifer. Those
two stories were told to me with such imagery that it sparked my imagination.
What were your earliest inspirations and influences that
introduced you to art/comics/writing? I got into comics late. I picked up Spawn
at around 16 or 17 because of the awesome toys. After I discovered Spawn,
I of course discovered this whole new world of stories that were being
told. One of the first writers in comics that actually inspired me was
Garth Ennis. His work on the Darkness led me to find some of his other
works and after reading his stuff, I was more determined than ever to write comics.
In high school, I went so far as to take an after-school beginners comic art
class, even though I can’t draw a stick figure, but early on I knew that if I
was going to write comics, then I needed to understand what artists saw when
they looked at a page.
And who are your influences now and what about them are
inspiring?
Garth Ennis will always be an inspiration in comics. I’m
liking what I’m seeing from Brandon Thomas, the writer of the Voltron series
from Dynamite and The Many Adventures of Miranda Mercury from
Archaia. He seems to always be thinking how to push the boundaries
of storytelling, which is something near and dear to my heart when it comes to
writing comics. I’m also loving Mike Raicht and Brian Smith’s writing in
the Stuff of Legends; it’s just pure simple storytelling. Outside of
comics, I’m influenced by writers such as Flannery O’Conner, Walter Mosley,
Michael Connelly, Charlie Netwon, Charles Johnson, and most importantly
Alexandre Dumas, just to name a few.
Of the influences that are artists/writers, do you admire them
as a fan or do you really study their style/expression? I admire mostly as a
fan. I’ve learned that every writer has a voice and you need to admire
one’s style but at the same time you, as the writer have to find your own style
of you’ll just end up sounding like the person who you admire. I think
when I first started writing comics, I tried to sound like Garth Ennis, but
then I realized that the dark humor that he creates on the page is his alone
and that if any humor I create must come naturally or it doesn’t feel real.
How important is it to study your art?
I think studying one’s craft is like breathing. If you’re a
writer then you have to write. I’m not saying you have to write a book,
an article, or anything of that nature but if one is to call him/herself a
writer then they should be writing. We study those that came before us to
understand how they paved the road, and then we can build our own road that
leads down its own path.
What are some books that are on your personal shelf?
Too many to name, but I’ll try. The Secret History vol 1 and 2
GN, The Rex Mundi GN, Jinx GN, Middle Passage, Go tell it on the mountain, The
three musketeers, The collected stories of Flannery O’Conner, The Poet, The Godfather,
Black Noir, Devil In A Blue Dress, Crime and Punishment, The best short stories
by black writers, The completes works of Edgar Allan Poe, American Skin, and so
many others.
Are there any titles that you are currently reading?
I’m reading Charlie Newton’s Calumet City. A in-your-face, no
bull crime story that keeps me saying, “I want to write like this”.
When not doing commissions for clients or working on your
personal projects, how do you keep your skills sharp? By reading and then
challenging myself to either write in a different medium or to write in a
different genre. I love a good challenge. I think when you
challenge yourself to write outside your comfort zone you can look at your
writing and discover where you’re strong at and where you’re weak at.
This can be valuable information that can help you build on those weaknesses by
utilizing your strengths so that your weaknesses aren’t so easily seen.
Self-expression and self-identity are closely related, if you
have a nickname or unique name what does it mean to you and to others? And does
that name reflect in anyway how you approach your art?
I have a
unique name, which I believe makes me stand out from the crowd. I love
having a unique name because then I don’t feel as if I’m anything like the next
person, I’m not part of the all-encompassing matrix, if you will, even though I
know I am. Having that unique feel is something I think that unknowingly
finds its way into my writing because I’m always discovering new ways to have
my characters be a bit different from the next character, yet be relatable
through the actions and emotions that we all experience in life.
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?
I have a room in my home that is my office. Behind me is a
large bookcase filled with every book that I seem to cherish for whatever
reason. My desk is made of a large slab of drywall that is built into the
wall. It’s covered with so many college bound notebooks you’d think
I was John Doe from the movie Se7en. Over my computer, tacked to the
wall, is a laminated print out of Wally
Wood’s 22 panels that always work and two pages about camera angles from an
ancient issue of Wizard magazine. On the other side of the computer is a
copy of the Chicago Manual of Style, a copy of the elements of style, a
dictionary and a thesaurus.
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?
I’ve found that I now like to listen is blues, especially
instrumental Blues, Jazz, or Classical music. I tend to listen to John
Mayer or Nina Simone if I’m going for something moody. If I’m writing
action I’ll listen to Fuel or Disturbed. But mainly I’ll have a lot of
90’s grunge/alternative rock playing on Pandora as I write. But I guess
it all depends on what I’m writing and how I think the music will influence the
scene.
What techniques & tools do you employ to bring ideas to
life?
I use nothing but a pen and paper as my tools and then later I’ll of
course type it all up. When writing comics I’ll draw out the layouts at
the top of pages so that I have an idea of how I see the story coming together.
How would you describe your writing style or artistic technique?
I couldn’t even begin to try to give my writng style a name, but I
guess you can call it ‘old school’ if you want because I write everything down
in a notebook, but it’s the only way I feel connected to the work and the
worlds that I’m creating.
It's been said that the difference between a professional and
amateur/hobbyist is that a professional gets paid for what they do more often
than not. What was the tipping point where you transitioned from being a
hobbyist to a professional?
I guess you could say the day I began to look at this writing thing
as a profession was the day I told myself that my starter novel was no longer
for practice, but a novel I was bent on finishing and that I wanted to write
another one. That day things changed for me because I was determined to
make writing a life or death thing. If I got paid for it then that was an
added bonus, but for me it was more about knowing that I was doing this with as
much heart as I could give and that no mater what— at the end of the day— If I
knew I gave it my best shot and didn’t make it then I could live with that.
After that decision some things fell in place and I was hired to write a few
graphic novels, some comics, and now I’m being paid to write an article or two,
so there’s a thin line between being a hobbyist/professional and I think the
only difference is how much one is willing to sacrifices than the other.
In the beginning, what was the most challenging aspect of
working freelance? Trying to figure out how to convince other people to pay you for
your writing. It’s still a challenge and I have to say that a lot of
opportunities I’ve had have come from me randomly emailing or reaching out to a
company or editor knowing that I might not ever hear from them. But if
you never shoot your shot you’ll never know.
How have you changed since, as they say, 'Going Hard' doing your
art for pay? No, I tell people all the time I’ll never change. Sure I’m
getting paid here and there, but I just signed on to write a 4 issue zombie
comic for a small press publisher with the hope of making some money off it,
but the reason I signed on was because the concept is really cool and it’s a
challenge to write something I’ve never written before. I love comics and
I’ll always be writing and producing them first for the love of creating.
What types of commissioned projects do you prefer to work on and
why? For example favorite genres.
I don’t have a preference, but I love to work with people that come
to the table with an open mind, especially if you’re hiring me to write then
you’re essentially hiring me to world build and that takes a lot of effort and
time so if you’re open to suggestions on story then it makes it easier to
communicate those suggestions or to point out various storylines that could
really push a project to the next level.
Do you have set commission rates or are they negotiable on a
project-by-project basis?
I have some set rates. For writing I start at a minimum of $25
dollars and that’s negotiable, but it all depends on how much creating I have
to do for a story. When I’m project-managing comic and graphic novel
projects for clients it’s a flat $50 per completed comic page
What really stimulates your imagination to the point where your
ideas pour from your subconscious onto the paper and you look up when the flood
is over and you're like WOW!
Did I create that? Give me an example of what that piece
of art may have been.
A single word or phase is all I need to stimulate my
imagination. Usually something as simple as the name Virginia Wolfe
creates for me Virgin Wolf and then the rest of the story starts to find its
way into my head.
Describe one gratifying moment, where a client was extremely
satisfied with what you had created and how it had impacted them?
Recently, I just finished writing and project managing a series of
comics for a client and he was so impressed that he sent my wife and I out to
dinner to celebrate since we couldn’t be at the launch party he was having.
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?
Right now I’d have to say that it’s Virgin Wolf, which is set to be
published this August by Silver Phoenix entertainment. Virgin Wolf was a
tale that kinda found me. I was walking and the poet Virginia Wolfe’s
name popped into my head and almost instantly I saw this story about a female
werewolf hunter, but I didn’t quiet know what it was about until I started
doing research on a historical American story that I remembered reading about
in my social studies books as a kid. All of sudden pieces of the story
started to come together and then I started reading Alexndre Dumas an
African-French writer and creator of such works as the Three Musketeers, the
Count of Monte Cristo, and the Man in the Iron Mask and I knew that I wanted to
pay homage to a writer that I never knew had an African ancestry, and one who
has been greatly reused in entertainment with no mention that he was in essence
black.
What are some of the most immediate follow-up projects?
I have a kickstarter campaign (http://kck.st/GGc4wn)
to try and
raise money for my choose-your-destiny graphic novel entitled, Dime. It’s
the story of Private investigator Eddie Puss who is hired by a wealthy
socialite to find the murderer of her husband.
Then there’s Zulu, a 4 book 44 page mini-series that follows the
life of a young teen named Lazarus Jones who becomes possessed by the great
Zulu King, Shaka Zulu, and discovers he has mythical powers as he combats an
evil corporation that’s threatening to destroy his city.
Lastly there’s Palm, a 4 book action/assassin story about a young
Sicilian woman who becomes a trained killer in order to track down an American
mafia boss for killing her family.
Talk about the difficulties of being an independent artist and
the hurdles you've overcome to produce and publish your own works.
The hardest hurdle I think in being an independent artist is
believing in yourself and worth of the work that you’re producing. As an
indy writer, the hardest part is finding co-collaborators who are willing to
work for no money, but maybe for half ownership of the copyright. This is
where I guess negotiating and really showing the artist that you’re dedicated
to getting the project done at any cost is where I’ve been successful at, but
I’ve also had to bite the bullet and work with less experienced or less
enthusiastic artist because ultimately I believe in what I’m producing and I
believe that there are readers out there waiting to hear my voice on the page.
What is your preferred medium for your stories; comic book,
graphic novel, animation or movie?
I like all mediums. Some work better than others. I
guess comics will always be my first inclination, but I try to let the story
decide which medium I’ll write in.
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 love to do a Blade story. I’ve already got this 4-issue
mini-series kinda planned out in my head. The story would follow Blade
killing vampires of course until he comes across a band of kid vampires, you
know, like a lost boys meets lord of the flies type of kids and he can’t bring
himself to kill them so he enlists the help of a vampire turned priest who has
created a sort of sanctuary for wayward vampires. The whole twist of the
story I guess would come when it’s revealed later that one of those kids that
he spared becomes his greatest enemy and really tares down his world and forces
him to look at his own humanity and if holding on to that humanity is worth the
lives he could have saved if he hadn’t spared that child.
For the independent artist, as one who does commissions and/or
personal projects, 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?
I work with a number of artists from all around the world so having
the option to be connected to the world has given my creative process an
outlet. It has also allowed clients from different parts of the country
to find me and for me to contact various publishers outside the country who may
be a bit more open to hiring new writers or welcoming a new voice.
Here are two questions about event presentations, conferences,
fairs etc.
What are the conferences that are on your yearly schedule to
attend?
As of now I don’t have any really that I’m looking to attend because
of financial reasons and because 2012 is the year I release all of the work
I’ve been stockpiling for the last two years. With that said I’ll be
attending C2E2 and Wizard World Chicago. I’m hoping next year I’ll be
attending at least 6-8 cons.
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?
Go in expecting nothing and you’ll probably come out with
something. By that I mean if you plan to pitch rehearse it and know the
project from front to back, but don’t expect a publisher to jump all over it
and want to publish it. At best if you receive a business card then
follow up, but know that at some point you may be left to do it yourself and
that’s okay as long as you’ve shot your shot.
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 think from a writer’s standpoint art is a reflection of our
society. Our existence is based upon what we share with one another.
Entertainment in all its facets is about connecting a reader, viewer, or
listener to the world in some form.
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?
Extremely important. When I was in elementary school I had a
music teacher that would play Scott Joplin, B, Louie Armstrong, and all the
greats in classical and jazz. Now I was never a good student in her class
but later in high school when I had to take music as a course I aced it.
Why? Because I was exposed to the music in and her class and even though
I never knew it I absorbed all that music and retained it for later use.
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? I’ve never been really big on joining groups,
but if someone was to invite me to one I’d probably join to see if there was
something I could learn. Oh, wait there’s this one group of acebook
called black comic writers, so I guess I am part of a group.
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 read scripts, short stories, excerpts from novels, and even
read some pages from some of the comics I’m writing.
What impact would you like your art to make on the world?
I’d hope to one day hear from a young writer that something I wrote
inspired them to want to be a writer. I think that’s the greatest
compliment one can ask for.
What are your favorite quotes or philosophies of life that help
you improve as a person or artist?
This quote I’ve always lived by “every man has but one destiny and
in that destiny is his ultimate fate” Veto Corleone from Mario Puzo’s the
Godfather
“”While you sleep I write” – me
“No rest for the wicked” - me
Is there anything else that you want the readers to know, feel
free to elaborate? No, I think they’ve heard enough from me. Thanks!
That's it for now. If you or any visual artists or writers would
be interested in an interview, be sure to contact me via one of the links
below:
Be sure to connect with via:
360BEYOND@gmail.com
Stay Creative,
Pharaoh
I’m currently working on Woman of the Woods, which will be my first
Sword and Soul novel with a female main character. I’m also working on my first
publishing only book, Once Upon A Time In Afrika, a Sword and Soul novel by
Balogun. I’m also laying the groundwork to release Charles R. Saunders first
new trilogy since Imaro and Dossouye, titles Abengoni. 
The Griots Anthology had been very successful. I released it last year and it has become a flagship for Sword and Soul. If anyone was to ask you, 'what is sword and soul?' you could give them a copy of Griots. We're currently working on Griots: Sisters of the Spear, an anthology of Sword and Soul stories featuring women of color. Our sisters have been seriously neglected in this industry, so this is our way of giving them their recognition and respect. The stories have been selected; the anthology should be available early 2013.
The UniverSoul Circus is back in Chicago,
IL September 21 - October 16 in Washington Park. This is a very exciting and
intimate event packed with tigers, trick dogs, powerful aerialists, elephants,
contortionists, dance music and more. It is a sight to behold with guaranteed
fun for the entire family. There are two shows a day and tickets are very affordable.
Go to www.universalsoulcircus.com
for info.
