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Creator Spotlight: Sandra Lanz

We were honored to have our spectacular cover artist, Sandra Lanz, answer some questions for us.  Above, you can see some of her work, which makes it obvious why we chose her for our cover.  On to the questions!

1. What was your comics genesis (like what started your interest/love of comics)?

I tried to ape the style of Ed the Happy Clown in highschool. It was the first comic I ever bought and I thought there was something fascinating about the way Chester Brown drew hands. I wasn’t much of a cartoonist, but me and my friend Tim tried making a comic one afternoon, and I think that’s where it all started for me. I didn’t know much about form or storytelling, but I liked the result. I liked how it felt to produce something. And now I get to do that every day.

2. What are your inspirations outside comics/ art?

I’m sort of cannibalistic when it comes to inspiration. Drawing is the thing that makes me want to draw. I love music, and cinematography, and animation… but nothing affects my work like the drawings of the Pre-Raphaelites or a good exhibition of artists’ notebooks and sketches.

3. Did you receive any formal training in art?  Where?

I was in a pretty fantastic drawing program at Florida International University, though I continued on to get a BFA in Painting from Florida Atlantic. The lessons from my drawing Professor and mentor, Clive King, (a remarkable Welsh artist) are integral to how I approach drawing every day.

4. You seem to work primarily digitally.  When did you start making work that way and what are some of the advantages and disadvantages?

I really love experimenting with mediums and materials, and after trying a lot of traditional methods on earlier projects, I gave digital drawing a shot.

I ended up loving it because really, I think more like a painter than a draftsman. Digitally, I’m able to develop the drawing as I go, rather than committing to rigid lines on a piece of paper. The downside is how easy it is to fidget with a digital image! I have to give myself a lot of limitations, like not zooming in past a certain percentage, and only using a couple of brushes, and drawing everything on one layer, etc…

5. What’s the best late-night snack when making comics?

There’s a food cart by my studio that makes a mean Mac & Cheese. I like to think that the heft of the meal weighs me down onto my chair, making it easier to sit still and draw for a good couple hours. Solid logic, I say.

6. If you could do a licensed comic or an established character you didn’t own, what would it be?

I’m too excited about all the comics that HAVEN’T been made to be interested in reworking ones that already have!

7. We love the cover you did for us.  What do you think are some of the aspects that make a successful comic book cover?

Covers are very particular little creatures. They want to be bold, and iconic, and easy to appreciate at a first glance. They want to tell a story, but be ambiguous still, and stir up your imagination. They require juggling a lot of elements. I’m still trying to figure them out!

8. What’s the worst movie you’ve ever seen?

I’m very lucky to have a terrible memory, and so, bad movies are rarely retained. “The Room” comes to mind!

9. What are some of your favorite comics & creators working now?

I’m a huge fan of Matt Sheean’s ( mattsheean​ ) and of Simon Roy ( simon-roy​). The work they put out with other collaborators, as well as their solo stuff, is always a treat! I really dig their world building, and I find the way they execute ideas really provocative. It’s unique among the stuff I’ve come across, and it’s kind of thrilling seeing comics do something special and new.

10. What’s coming in the future/what projects are you working on?

I’m currently in a whirlwind of drawing pin-ups and concept art for various projects. In the mean time, I’m also developing an idea with a couple of creators that I really admire. All very hush-hush, you know.

BIG THANKS to Sandra for letting us pick her brain.  You can find her at http://sandralanz.com/

NOW is your last chance to back Speculative Relationships: Volume 2!  We only have 1 day left and if we don’t make our goal, the book with Sandra’s beautiful cover WILL NOT exist in print. :(

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1619738205/speculative-relationships-volume-2

This kickstarter is in its final day and we neeeeeed to see it in print! Help out if you can!

My awesome homey Sandra Lanz!