Ced Pharaoh's Blog, page 11

POCKET CON 2014! – It’s All About The Youth!

This pass weekend, my son and I breezed through the Pocket Con 2014, which was held on o Saturday, July 12th from 12-6pm.  Pocket Con is a one day event for the youth that focuses on comic artists and characters of color! There were some great guests and vendors, Ashley A. Woods, Mshindo Kuumba, Damian Duffy, Yorli Huff, Turtel Onli and others. There were presentations on comic inking, illustrations, audio, animation and much more.

 

 

 

My son Z, who did the photography, had a few words to share, listen here:

http://cedpharaoh.com/360BEYOND/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Pocket-Con.mp3

It was a pleasure to be there and we will return next year!

Peace!

Creator Spotlight – Andre Batts of Urban Style Comics, Publisher of Dreadlocks

Peace to everyone! I will get right to it! Today’s Creator Spotlight is on Detroit Comic Book Icon, Andre Batts, Publisher of Dreadlocks!  I first met Andre at the African Festival Of The Arts as I pushed my son around in a stroller. We came upon Andre’s table and that’s when my son saw the Dreadlocks poster! Dreadlocks instantly became my son’s favorite character, still to this day. So, let’s get into the mind behind Urban Style Comics….

Andre Batts

ARTISTIC/DEVELOPMENT

As it relates to your earliest memory as an artist, did Art choose you or did you choose Art? Art chose me at a young age, but the art of writing chose me back in 1996 when I first created Dreadlocks.

Who or What were your earliest inspirations and present influences that that inspire your art/comics/writing?  Stan Lee of Marvel Comics has always been my inspiration as it relates to creating a comic book universe. Todd Johnson was my motivation during the first days of Tribe from Image Comics.

How important is it to study your art and how do you approach keeping your skills sharp?  It is very important to continue reading about the market. I read other stories that are not comic book related, it helps with developing your own story and it keeps them relevant.

What are some books that are on your personal shelf? As far as comics, I collect the Walking Dead graphic novel series and 100 Bullets Series. I have several independents! I read a lot of History, Speculative information, Black Genesis (Robert Buvall) and Egyptian Mysteries such as Metu Neter Volumes 1-4, (Ra Un Nefer Amen), Egyptian Book of the Dead, the whole Muata Ashby collection, all Dr Ben Yochanon and more.

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’m working out of my home. I create as the day goes on. If something pops in my head, I will stop and jot down the importance of the thought and will expound upon it later.. Everyday life is part of my creativity.

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. We created a theme song for My character Dreadlocks called Coming of The Firstborn, that would be the theme song. As far as mainstream music, there is so much that you can choose from, but most of the music that my creativity would be influenced by would be Conscious Hip Hop, Reggae and a little Industrial Alternative Rock.

What techniques & tools do you employ to bring ideas to life? Just my computer, pen and pad…

How would you describe your writing style or artistic technique? For the most part, I usually do what I call crash writing of my stories, let it marinate, then go into it and format it as a finished product.

SOUL/ART

In terms of personal projects, what is the Flagship creative project for your company?  My Flagship character is Dreadlocks. My follow up projects are BlackWatch and Jihad A.D. 2166

Talk about the difficulties of being an independent artist and the hurdles you’ve overcome to produce and publish your own works?  There weren’t may obstacles publishing my own works, but there are several obstacles after publishing. Number one is distribution. There aren’t any major distribution networks for independent creators especially those of color. Comic specialty shops are not interested in independent Black Characters unless written by Marvel/ D.C. Which we know how many they have leading the pack.

What is your preferred medium for your stories; comic book, graphic novel, animation or movie? That depends on the title… BlackWatch and Dreadlocks, I prefer a comic book medium. Jihad A.D. 2166 I prefer Graphic Novel. I want all of them to be made as animation projects.

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? Technology is a wonderful thing! I have made so many contacts. The Dreadlocks Fanbase has become bigger. I’m connecting with artist all around the world. If it wasn’t for social network none of this would have happened.

What are the conferences that are on your yearly schedule to attend?  East Coast Black Age of Comics (Philly), Detcon Sci Fi Con (Detroit), OnyxCon (Atlanta) Motor City Black Age of Comics (Detroit), New York Comic Con (New York), Wizard World Ohio, Wizard World St Louis and C2E2 (Chicago)

 

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 feel Art reflects a reality that is unseen! That is why it is important for this creativity to continue.

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? It is very important! Art should never be taken away from the youth. It helps with their total development. Art keeps them focused and helps them develop their own creativity.

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.

www.urbanstylecomics.com          www.youtube.com/drealocks101

What impact would you like your art to make on the world? I want the world to know that Black Super Heroes do exist and that there is a world filled with independent creators that are just as good or better than Marvel and D.C. together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thank you Andre! I appreciate your time and continued success.

That’s it for now!

Remember Support INDIE Artists and their projects! Until next time!

Stay Healthy,

Stay Positive,

Stay Creative!

- Ced Pharaoh

 

Creator Spotlight – Takeia Marie of Atomic Latte Studio, LLC

Peace, it has been a minute since I posted. I’m working on my own project, URBAN MAGE behind the scenes and but there are a few interviews I need to publish. Here is the next interview of a very talented artist that has contributed to my project, Takeia Marie!

Takeia Marie

ARTISTIC/DEVELOPMENT

As it relates to your earliest memory as an artist, did Art choose you or did you choose Art? Haha, good question. I’m honestly not sure. I always liked to doodle, but the first time, I remember thinking that I really wanted to draw for the rest of my life was when my cousin first got me into anime. He showed me things like Nausicaa, Vampire Hunter D, Streetfighter the Animated Movie, and others. I remember being blown away by how detailed everything was, on top of being animated. So I guess those influences found their way to me, and then I chose art.

Who or What were your earliest inspirations and present influences that that inspire your art/comics/writing? I would say my cousin was one of my earliest influences. He also draws, and it made me realize it was something, I could actually do. As I get older, I find myself being more influenced by things that happen around me and the people that I see everyday. As far as artistic influences, my favorite artist hands down is Joe Mad, but I like looking at art that’s even outside of my style range because I think there’s something unique and interesting in different art forms.

How important is it to study your art and how do you approach keeping your skills sharp? I try to sketch something everyday and draw from life. I just try to keep practicing as much as I can.

What are some books that are on your personal shelf? Story by Robert McKee, Invisible Ink by Brian McDonald (I highly recommend that one), some art books like Kim Jung Gi’s 2011 sketch collection, The Legend of Korra art book, and various comics.

Are there any titles that you are currently reading? I’m reading Saga, Watson and Holmes, and Locke & Key

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? Haha, I’ll be really happy when I have a room that I can use as my own studio. Right now I live in an apartment and I have my computer desk, which is set up with my Wacom Intuos tablet and a standard and large format printer. I also have a drawing desk which has all my traditional tools.

I like to jump between working digitally and traditionally depending on the project. There are times that I do everything on my computer and there are times when I’ll lay everything out digitally, print it out and lightbox over the layout with pencil or ink traditionally. It really depends on how I feel.

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? Everyone knows me to be a big Hip-Hop fan, and I do listen to that sometimes when I draw. But I’ll also listen to Heavy Metal bands like Disturbed, especially when I’m drawing intense action scenes, or sometimes if I’m in a more laid back, chill type of mood I’ll listen to some classic and 90′s R&B and soul music.

What techniques & tools do you employ to bring ideas to life? I work in a hybrid digital/traditional method, depending on what I’m working on. In most cases, it’s going to be my tablet and/or pencils and paper.

How would you describe your writing style or artistic technique? I would say my artistic style can range from comic-bookish to cartoony. Sometimes, I like to switch up the style that I’m drawing in, if for no other reason than to not get bored with doing the same thing over and over.

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?  The Forgotten is a story that I’m working on in between other projects. It centers around a young girl and a group of people living in an abandoned city that has been cut off from the rest of the world. The things that those people become willing to do in order to escape. I have concept art that I haven’t really shown anyone yet and some rough page layouts. It’s an idea that I came up with in the wake of a lot of discriminatory things that I saw going on in my community and stories that I’ve heard from families and friends.

  is a story that I’m working on in between other projects. It centers around a young girl and a group of people living in an abandoned city that has been cut off from the rest of the world. The things that those people become willing to do in order to escape. I have concept art that I haven’t really shown anyone yet and some rough page layouts. It’s an idea that I came up with in the wake of a lot of discriminatory things that I saw going on in my community and stories that I’ve heard from families and friends.

What are some of the most immediate/follow-up projects? Fired is another story that I’m working on that will actually be closer to completion than The Forgotten simply because it’s shorter. It’s a little more light-hearted and it’s just about a lazy girl who hates her job and the crazy adventure she has after getting fired. It’s my way of paying homage to old rpgs that I loved like Final Fantasy VII and Legend of Legaia as well as old anime that blew me away action-wise like DBZ, Project A-KO, or YuYu Hakusho.

I’ve also worked on a short comic called Pathways with Justin Martin of R-Squared Comicz that will be coming out soon.

Pathways – page 2 ( Justin Martin- writer, Takeia Marie – Lines & Lancelot Catan – colors.

Talk about the difficulties of being an independent artist and the hurdles you’ve overcome to produce and publish your own works. I think I’m still trying to jump a lot of those hurdles, lol. One of the things I find that still tends to be a big problem is the assumption that artists should work simply for the love of making art. No one actually says that to you in those exact words, but you can tell when the sentiment is there. As artists, I think we are caught in this thing where we do work for free in order to get exposure (usually when we’re inexperienced), and then are consistently expected to work for free in order to get exposure – and at no time is payment even considered. Most people who ask you to work for exposure will have the same “my idea is going to hit it big” attitude, but no actual strategy for getting their product out there and promoting it. I’ve heard stories from pro artists that still get the occasional emails asking them to work for exposure, even though they’ve been working professionally in the industry for years.

I came to the conclusion, that if you’re going to work for free, unless it’s with a partner that you trust who is hard-working and has a concrete plan for getting their book out there, you might-as-well work on your own projects and get exposure for something that is yours.

What is your preferred medium for your stories; comic book, graphic novel, animation or movie? I like any medium that allows me to get a full story in one sitting. So I’ve always preferred graphic novels or trades as opposed to going to the store and picking up single issues. To me, the month or so break in between each issue takes the reader out of the story, especially when they’re reading a bunch of different titles simultaneously. I even think the one-shot can be a great medium for telling a successful story, like Halloween Eve by Brandon Montclare and Amy Reeder or Sanford Greene’s Rotten Apple.

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? People always laugh when I say this, but I always loved Sonic The Hedgehog and wouldn’t mind doing an issue on that comic. It was one of my favorite comics when I was younger and it would be cool to work on it.

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? I think technology is a double-edged sword. The great thing about it is that it has given independent artists and self-publishers a huge advantage. Self-publishing used to be a lot harder and now it’s more accessible. That accessibility, however, is why technology is a double-edged sword, because it means that the market becomes saturated and you have to work harder to stand out. It’s not a bad thing, but technology comes with its gifts and challenges. It has definitely been an asset in streamlining my work flow, allowing me to meet artists that inspire me every day, and allowing me to work with different people in different avenues of entertainment.

Here are two questions about event presentations, conferences, fairs etc.  What are the conferences that are on your yearly schedule to attend? New York Comic Con, Special Edition NYC (even though this one is new but I will be attending yearly), Mocca Fest, and Bronx Heroes Con.

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? These events are essential for getting your work critiqued. There are so many talented artists that are willing to take a look at an aspiring artist’s portfolio and give constructive feedback. Honestly, some people will really rip into your work, but it’s good because it helps an artist to grow a thick skin and to be able to take criticism (which, let’s be honest, is hard for all of us at least at the beginning).

I carry a portfolio with me and business cards and question the artists I look up to as much as I can. A lot of the best advice I got in terms of doing business as an artist came from just talking to people in artist alley at New York Con. Most of them are extremely open and willing to share the things that they’ve learned and their experiences.

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 it’s a little bit of both. Art definitely inspires the human experience and change in our culture in society. Look at all the technology we have now – especially touch screen technology. You saw that in a lot of sci-fi movies, shows, or books long before it ever existed in mainstream society. I think our imaginations will continue to influence the future of the world that way. At the same time, art is always going to be a way to comment on things that are going on in our society and the issues that we need to face.

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 very important! It’s definitely an outlet that most young people otherwise wouldn’t have. If you think about it, our world is fueled by artists, down to the technology that has been created in recent years. So young people are the future artists that we’ll need down the road to keep prospering.

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’m not a part of this group anymore, but Xion, which is a comic book group based out of Philadelphia, was a great community and worth checking out if you’re in Philly.

Khary Randolph also has an awesome Drink & Draw in NYC at Mary-O’s in the East Village. I’m really guilty of not attending often and he’s gotten on me about it before, lol. But that’s a habit I need to break. Here’s the Facebook page if anyone is interested:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/drinkanddrawnyc/

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?

Website: www.takeiamarie.com

Twitter: @KiaPeya

Facebook: www.facebook.com/takeia.marie

Deviant Art: www.kiadesignz.deviantart.com

What impact would you like your art to make on the world? Honestly, I would hope that my art helps or inspires someone. I would love for my art to impact the world, but I think that starts with impacting individuals first.

What are your favorite quotes or philosophies of life that help you improve as a person or artist? I remember Louis C.K said one time:

“We don’t have any years left. No one has any years left. You’re born with none and you leave with how many you got.”

At first glance, that sounds kind of depressing and I know some people who have rolled their eyes at that quote, but I took it as this: we’re all born with how ever many years we’re going to get, and it’s up to us to choose how we want to spend those years. I think that artists are immortalized through their work and through the people that they inspire and influence. To me, that’s something worth remembering.

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Thank you Takeia for taking the time to answer my questions. I appreciate it!

That’s it for now everyone! I must get back to editing and writing! Until next time…

Peace

Power

& Prosperity!

Keep it Positive, Keep it Kinetic

& Stay Creative!

- Ced Pharaoh

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STORYKILLER by Kelly Thompson – Book Review

StoryKiller by Kelly Thompson

This is a review for a book that I supported through Kickstarter! Its called Storykiller written by Kelly Thompson, an accomplished writer, author and publisher. Kelly’s previously released book, also a Kickstarter success, is called The Girl Who Would Be King.

Storykiller is an YA, urban fantasy, action adventure about Tessa Battle, the young heroine, who learns that Fiction characters and monsters are real, and its her destiny to fight them.

There is a place called Story, a world where all of the fairytales and monster stories live. Some of those characters (Fictions) make their way into the Mortal World and its up to the Storykiller to send them back. However, the Stories and the characters are expecting the next Scion to be male. They are caught off guard when the mantel has been passed on to Tessa who hasn’t a clue. However, she quickly begins on the job training when Fictions begin tracking her to end her story (pun intended).

There is an interesting detail that Ms. Thompson has planted about the implications of what happens to those Fictional characters once removed from our world. I won’t spoil it but I found it to be good world building element for her novel.

The characters are memorable with colorful personalities from Tessa Battle to her sidekicks, Micah and Brand who are thrown into the drama that swirls around Tessa’s destiny. There is also Snow, Robin and a host of others.

 

 

Tessa Battle The Black dove by Ross Campbell

I thought this was a good read! It had a fast pace, enough details and breadcrumbs to keep me hungry for more. There must be a sequal to Storykiller! The tagline is awesome, Fight Your Fiction! There’s much to build off from that alone. In addition, Storykiller features some amazing artwork by established artists!

If you like Buffy The Vampire Slayer/Once Upon A Time/Grimm, etc. with touches of first love romances, you should make this apart of your collection.

Ms. Thompson has done a great job! I’m getting my funds together for the next book now. Don’t keep us waiting.

Art by Stephanie Hans

Creator Spotlight – Jerome Walford of Forward Comix, Publisher of Nowhere Man!

Peace,

Today’s post highlights an indie creator, artist and publisher, Jerome Walford. I became acquainted with his project, Nowhere Man, when I backed his Kickstarter project. So here is his interview, to all of my writers & creators..Read, Analyze & Adapt! Enjoy!

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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.  That is a very interesting question. I think it certainly works both ways. In the beginning, I felt a strong desire to pursue the art of storytelling. While there was a strong pull in that direction, at some point it switched. As other opportunities came along and as I met many challenges, I had to make a deliberate ongoing effort to pursue this particular art form and put in the work to make it worthwhile.

Who or what were your earliest inspirations and present influences that that inspired your art/comics/writing?Storytelling in the form of comics is a unique balance between setting up a series of images and text to present something none of the parts could do by themselves. Where the words don’t compete with or detract from the images, and vice versa.

I have been fortunate enough to have read a lot of great literary and comic material that has inspired me. Just a few examples would be “The Killing” Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland, “Watchmen” by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. I’ve really enjoyed Joss Whedon’s screen work as well, because in many ways comics work like stills from a movie. I’m spending the lionshare of my time developing, “Nowhere Man”. A gritty crime drama, those examples presently rise to the top for me.

How important is it to study your art and how do you approach keeping your skills sharp?  I was a fine art major at Cornell University, and a lot of the Renaissance art I was exposed to, still has an impact on me to this day.

To continue growing as an artist, it is very important to study all kinds of art and to learn from the greats of the past, as well as our contemporaries.

Art is truly a discipline that needs to be exercised everyday. I put in the effort each day. Sometimes it’s a little, sometimes it’s a lot, but after a certain period of time, I can step back and see all the progress I’ve made. The other amazing part of it is, that there is a certain muscle memory that develops. Not only can I work a little faster, but I can also produce better art as a result all those practice hours.

What are some books that are on your personal shelf? My shelf is cluttered with reference books, but I also keep a few literary books and graphic novels close. My small collection includes two copies of “Watch Men”, given to me by two friends on the very same birthday. I keep the copies side by side. I also have: Jack Kirby’s “Fourth World Omnibus”, Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman”, “Truth: Red, White and Black” and some books I’ve gotten through various projects on Kickstarter.

Are there any titles that you are currently reading?  I am currently re-reading some of my favorites, which include a few books by Jean Giraud (Moebius) and Neil Gaiman, as well as some anthologies, such as “Flight” and “Comic Book Tattoo”.

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 do most of my work on the computer and occasionally, I pull away and rough something out at the drawing table. I think one’s environment can encourage, shape or even hinder one’s creativity. Having a healthy working environment is very important. I try to keep my workspace as organized as possible, although from time to time the clutter does build up. It is a delicate balance between having reference material within reach and not being able to find what you’re looking for at the moment.

What techniques & tools do you employ to bring ideas to life?  Being inspired by a cool idea is only the very first step. There is still 99 percent of the work that needs to happen. For me, working digitally, I can get a lot done in a relatively short period of time. If I’m at work or on the subway, and I get an interesting idea, I jot it down. Then, when I get a moment, I go back and flesh it out with further notes. If I feel attached to a certain idea, but it’s just not flowing in a literary way or in a manner I can translate visually, I try to move on to something else. If that idea was sound enough it will get reshaped in a way I can use at some point.

Step two is setting aside a large block of writing time, where I unplug from everything. I sit in a small café somewhere and just write, script or edit for three to four hours. The key is unplugging from the normal distractions of the day.

If the writing session is for a comic, step three would be to create rough storyboards, key frames or comic spreads of the story.

Slowly, over the course of several months, those roughs are translated into finished comic pages. I incorporate the dialogue and narration from the script, often with little changes that help the text work better with the finished art. Then it’s off to colors and getting additional feedback from editors and friends.

How would you describe your writing style or artistic technique?  The process often gets more organic and iterative. Sometimes doing and re-doing various scenes, as well as cutting away certain parts that might bog down the story. I try to keep my eyes on the long term vision and theme that drives the heart of the story.

Some folks would call my style character-driven. I try to maintain a strong plot behind my stories, but I’m more intrigued by how the characters act and react to each other, as well as how they change over the course of the narrative.

SOUL/ART

Jack Macguire

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? 

The main project I’m working on at the moment is an indie graphic novel series titled “Nowhere Man”. It is being published by Forward Comix, a small publishing brand I started in 2012.

“Nowhere Man” is story of Jack Maguire, a detective based in New York City who has been granted powers through the use of advanced technology. Jack attempts to use those powers secretly on the job to boost his performance, but it comes at a catastrophic price. Jack becomes inhabited by Zade – a mysterious assassin targeting high-ranking criminals trafficking weapons through the city. Zade’s mission of vengeance and pre-emptive attacks threaten to destroy all that Jack has ever cared about.

The series runs in three volumes, each volume is broken into three parts. This provides nine 50-page books over the span of the series.

What I like most about the series is that it is epic, covering large chunks of recent history, stretches during the 1800s, international conflicts and small slices of a future scape. Yet at the core it is about a non-stereotypical, diverse cast of nine people, with Jack as the central figure.

I have been pouring a lot into the series and I truly hope that comes across. The current form of the script has been in development as far back as 2004. Some of the characters are loosely based on a short story I created in high school.

 

 

What are some of the most immediate/follow-up projects?

I’m also working on a literary novel series I’ve titled, “Curse of the Griffin”. The first book, “Daniel’s Pride” was published summer of 2013. I’m hoping to spend some time on this series very shortly, because it has a lot of heart.

“Curse of the Griffin” is a re-imagining of vampire mythology that puts vampires in direct conflict with refugees from a fallen mystical kingdom. Daniel Griffin is a starving artist trying to survive life in a bloodsucking town without getting turned. When he earns the scorn a young vampire governor, Daniel is thrust into a social uprising that will test his very understanding of courage, love and family.

I’m also in the early stages of working on a light-hearted all-ages comic series.

Talk about the difficulties of being an independent artist and the hurdles you’ve overcome to produce and publish your own works.  I try to focus on the positive.  One of the main benefits is that I can determine the schedule that works for me. There isn’t really anyone that can reject my idea regardless of whether it is good or not. No one can force me to go faster than I am physically capable or hold me back when I’m ready to produce. Starting my own label has been tremendously freeing.

However, there were a lot of challenges along the way. Challenges like: learning not to take on too much; finding help from professional editors and input at critical times in the creative process. When you start any kind of small business, you have to learn a lot of things really fast and wear a lot of hats.

One of the main lessons I have taken to heart is, I’m going to make mistakes.  I may not be as good as I want to be right now, but if I’m persistent, I can learn from those mistakes and do better the next time around.

What is your preferred medium for your stories; comic book, graphic novel, animation or movie?  I think each medium brings something new to the table. I’m committed to finishing “Nowhere Man” as a graphic novel series. I would certainly love to see it translated into live action film or a feature length anime, but not as a strict reboot of sorts. At those instances I would be curious to see how those mediums can bring something new to how the story is told.

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?

If a unique opportunity presents itself to work on an iconic character I would totally consider it. However, right now I have to put all my available energy into finishing the story of Jack Maguire, Zade, Rose Yancey and their friends. If I don’t do it, no one else will. I have to be so singularly focused, that I can’t allow myself that luxury of daydreaming too much about someone else’s iconic intellectual property (IP).

If there is a creative person reading this article right now I would say. Enjoy those products for what they are, many of the standouts have been rewritten so many times and honestly, many of those versions are pretty good as they are. Unless your only desire is to work on a specific IP, your available time is best spent working on developing your own story, or IP. It may not be as shiny and popular as something in the mainstream, but it’s yours.

How has technology affected the way you are able to do business or make progress on your art?  Technology has been an amazing double-edged sword for independent artists. We have relatively new ways to produce work and even newer online networks to share and connect. The other side of it is that we now have a million different ways to distract ourselves, lots of background noise that hinder us from producing creative work.

I am extremely grateful for being able to work digitally because I can produce a lot more in a short time frame. Social media has been invaluable in gaining more fans and connecting with fellow independent creators. But I know that if I have a deadline approaching, the best thing to do is unplug as much as possible and put my nose to the grindstone; just me, a chair and a computer. In some cases, just me a chair and a notepad.

What are the conferences that are on your yearly schedule to attend?  I try to do five to eight shows a year, along the east coast, mostly from the summer to fall. Shows I try to do include: Black Comix at The Schomburg Museum, ECBAAC, MoCCA and the Brooklyn Book Fair. This year (2014) I’ll be trying Boston Comic Con for the first time. New York Comic Con is a show I try to do bi-annually.

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?  In my opinion, especially if you draw your own stories; shows are a great way to connect with potential fans. You are more likely to gain enthusiastic new fans at shows. For most fans, nothing replaces meeting you as the creator of the work, face to face and holding your work in their hands.

Schedule your production wisely. Have all your work: books prints, etc. in hand weeks before the show. This way you aren’t scrambling at the last minute.

You can be cool or edgy, doesn’t really matter in the end. I’m not really any of those things. Just be yourself, fans who truly like your work, will like you even more for being someone approachable.

More importantly, don’t be a jerk. If your writing or art is amazing, but you decide to take out your grief on someone kind enough to stop at your table, nine times out of ten, they will not support your work. Sometimes they will be motivated enough to use their energy and social networks to make your life miserable.

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?  Wow,  I’m not sure I can adequately answer that, but I will just touch on this a little bit. I think it definitely runs both ways. For example, there are a few memes circling social media that compares modern technology innovations to various gadgets found on Star Trek, in some instances decades, before it’s time. In that sense, we create technology (intentionally and unintentionally) inspired by pop culture reference, because it is now part of our collective sensibility of how artful technology should be.

On the other side of the coin, there is always a yearning, especially within minority communities, to see more representation of ourselves in the stories produced. Although, we know it is possible to be a scientist, a great soldier, a leader, or the hero that saves the day, we don’t truly believe it until we see it presented to us on the page, in the music or on the screen.

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 believe the arts and physical education are vital parts of developing a balanced personhood, and this starts at the earliest ages. Even though someone may choose a different path in life, both these areas teach invaluable lessons in critical thinking, the important practice and perseverance.

I make most of my living programing websites using HTLM and CSS. This might not sound as glamorous as being an artist. Yet coding has a certain rhythm and creativity to it. To thrive in such challenging times as the one we live, we need to have a strong sense of specialized skill, yet be well rounded enough to draw on a learnedness in the arts, science and physicality – like a renaissance kind of individual.

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?  The best way to connect with the projects I’m working on is through my website: www.forwardcomix.com. I keep it fairly up-to-date. If you join the newsletter, it gives you a way to see some of the work in progress before other folks do. Sometimes, I send out FREE comics that way too. Join today! Hint. Hint.

I’m also on facebook.com/forwardcomix and twitter.com/forwardcomix

I do take commissions, iconic characters are ok, if my schedule is open but I prefer commission requests for originals of the characters I’m currently developing.

What impact would you like your art to make on the world? The overall impact I would like to make is two-fold. I would like to create a new iconic IP that reflects the ethos of our generation. My vision is to create a storyline that is diverse, non-stereotypical and features a gritty, yet positive, black male lead character. Secondly, I would like to be a part of cultivating originality as the staple of pop culture.

What are your favorite quotes or philosophies of life that help you improve as a person or artist? I find the parable of the talents to be a very compelling way to approach life. We can’t earn salvation, and when we’re gone, we certainly can’t take any of this stuff with us. But life and the talents we have are precious gifts. To waste our lives, gifts and opportunities is perhaps the most spiteful act we could ever do.

I find the parable of the talents to be a very compelling way to approach life. We can’t earn salvation, and when we’re gone, we certainly can’t take any of this stuff with us. But life and the talents we have are precious gifts. To waste our lives, gifts and opportunities is perhaps the most spiteful act we could ever do.

Last Words.

Thanks for the opportunity. This was not an attempt to soapbox or anything but just an attempt to give some honest answers to some very thought provoking questions. I hope some of the things I shared was helpful anyone pursuing a career in the arts.

Please check out my Kickstarter and back it if you like the project. A successful campaign will allow me to spend more time working on the “Nowhere Man” series. Here’s the link:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2022302623/nowhere-man-jacked-up

Thanks for reading and all the best.

Jerome

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Thank you to Jerome for the interview!

I hope the readers have enjoyed it! Please go support Jerome and his Kickstarter Campaign as well as his other projects!

Remember Support INDIE Artists and their projects! Until next time, which will be soon, I promise!

Stay Healthy,

Stay Positive,

Stay Creative!

- Ced Pharaoh

 

Video Favorite | Finesse & Synquis – Soul Sister

Back in ’88, there was a duo of female emcees called Finesse & Synquis! Though many compared them to Salt-N-Pepa, I still loved their style and their album! Take a look & listen!

Street Art | Graffiti Mural

Street Art | Graffiti Mural

Video Favorite | Words By Rakim

Back in the day, I had a paid gig to shoot Rakim during a Thanksgiving Concert in Chicago. It was awesome to say the least. I even had the opportunity to share the stage with the Lyrical God himself (no I didn’t get a chance to rock the mic with him but he did set me up lovely with a crowd pleasing, rock star-fall backward into the crowd shot!  Flavor Flav came on stage and later they both hugged it out and chilled backstage. It was a good night!

Rakim | Image: Ced Pharaoh/360BEYOND

Flavor Flav, Promoter & Rakim Image: Ced Pharaoh/360BEYOND

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a nice, short documentary of one of Hip Hop’s most prolific lyricists! Absolutely, my favorite MC. The 18th Letter, Rakim!

 

THE FLASH — Don’t Blink!! Looks Promising!

 

LIFE IS REAL | Home Sweet Home

Peace!

I hope that Life finds you well. I have been mulling over concepts to explore using my Love of photography.  in a world full of fluff and over-indulgence of dressed up fantasy, I’ve decided to try and capture images of everyday, real life moments in time. I’m not sure how far I will take the concept but here is the first of many images to come. This series is called Life Is Real. The idea comes from a favorite song of mine by Mos Def, of the same name. There is a line in the song, that resonates with how I’d like my creations to affect the viewer or reader.   “Reach The World, But Touch The Streets First!”  It declaration that will serve as a focus. Enjoy.

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For some people, this is Home Sweet Home.

Count Your Blessings.

Life Is Real | Home Sweet Home