Need help comming up with interview questions for an artist!

[Ares]

I’ve been accepted as a writer for a comic art magazine and I have an article due for March.

 

The theme of the issue is Comic Artists from around the world.

I’ve decided to interview the artist who does the covers to ION Kalman Andrasofsky and he has agreed to be interviewed.

 

I need to come up with some questions so I can have a 2 page article minimum but I want to make it bigger.

 

Some of the questions I am considering are...

 

How did you get your current assignment?

What do you use when Drawing/Inking/Coloring?

Do you use the Computer a lot?

What is your favorite aspect work?

Your least favorite?

What style of drawing do you use?

Who are your influences?

How long does it take to complete a cover?

Do prefer covers or interior work?

 

Right now its in planning stages and I will be conducting interview in Feb.

Since this will be first interview I am kind of lost on what to ask.

Any advice?

[lmiller]

i think i would ask. what made him want to start drawing comics. what was the 1st comic book that he read. what. superhero or title would he like to work on in the future. hope some these help you out. thanks.

 

larry ;]

[comix4fun]

You have to ask him about his art training background.

It seems to be a stock interview question. You can get into whether or not he had formal training, how far it went, if he was more an organic, naturally trained artist or a studio guy/art school guy or a combo of both.

 

Some of the best comic art interview answers come out of these questions.

You can hear stories of other pros they might have come in contact with at school that influenced them directly etc. etc.

 

You can ask when he started drawing (at what age) and what comics he was reading at that time.

Then you can ask him what influenced him when he started drawing, and if those influences or favorites changed over time.

 

Then there are simple questions about the tools and techniques he uses, what comics he reads today, where he sees himself in 5-10 years, and all the small questions that will arise depending on the answers he gives you.

 

Hope this help, look forward to reading the article.

 

Chris

[Mighty Hal]

Years back, I did alot of interviews. When a subject had been asked the same questions over and over again, you could hear it in his voice. Worse yet, his answers would be the same stock reply that he'd said before...and before...and before....

 

If you want to engage Andrasofsky, ask him a question he hasn't heard a hundred times already. What's the weirdest assignment he ever had? Has any of his finished work surprised him? Has he ever been fired from a job?

 

And, yes, people do answer the odd questions. When I asked champion-level bodybuilders if they'd ever used steroids, every one of them answered the question -- even if only off the record.

[Mister Trent]

Ask about interests outside of the comic-book biz.

 

Favourite movies . . . TV shows . . . music, etc.

[Pirate]

Ask him Which question did I forget to ask?

[grandz-migration]

Congratulations on this assignment.

 

As a professional artist myself let me say there

are some good ?'s here. The one I would not ask however, is

" which question did I forget ". I say this because chances

are you will get some dead air on your phone (or a long wait

on the e-mil).

 

Some artist' expect you to be in-charge during the interview,

and they will most likely fumble that question.

 

Music was mentioned. You might want to ask if music plays a

part in his creative process: if yes, (and it does) what does

he listen too?

 

Does he have another job to pay the rent.

 

Was he illustrating before comics?

 

What did he do before comic book work?

 

Are there any influences on him now, that make him want to change

his style? And on that note -does he produce illustration in

other fields ( like advertising, personal work for people ) that

he uses a different style for?

 

One thing to keep in mind also, is not to stick to a format of

questions when talking with him. Listen to his answers, and he

may provide you will some good ?'s to ask.

 

Good luck. And have fun.

[Pirate]

Congratulations on this assignment.

 

As a professional artist myself let me say there

are some good ?'s here. The one I would not ask however, is

" which question did I forget ". I say this because chances

are you will get some dead air on your phone (or a long wait

on the e-mil).

 

Some artist' expect you to be in-charge during the interview,

and they will most likely fumble that question.

 

Music was mentioned. You might want to ask if music plays a

part in his creative process: if yes, (and it does) what does

he listen too?

 

Does he have another job to pay the rent.

 

Was he illustrating before comics?

 

What did he do before comic book work?

 

Are there any influences on him now, that make him want to change

his style? And on that note -does he produce illustration in

other fields ( like advertising, personal work for people ) that

he uses a different style for?

 

One thing to keep in mind also, is not to stick to a format of

questions when talking with him. Listen to his answers, and he

may provide you will some good ?'s to ask.

 

Good luck. And have fun.

 

Well they like to use that question in back issue magazine and its a fun read so...

[Ares]

Its for the CFA-APA Magazine

[Pirate]

well its not for any major mag.

Its for the CFA-APA Magazine

 

thats not the point nevermind, good luck on your interview

[Ares]

thats not the point nevermind, good luck on your interview

 

Yeah that was a stupid comment by me wasnt it...

[grandz-migration]

Congratulations on this assignment.

 

As a professional artist myself let me say there

are some good ?'s here. The one I would not ask however, is

" which question did I forget ". I say this because chances

are you will get some dead air on your phone (or a long wait

on the e-mil).

 

Some artist' expect you to be in-charge during the interview,

and they will most likely fumble that question.

 

Music was mentioned. You might want to ask if music plays a

part in his creative process: if yes, (and it does) what does

he listen too?

Does he have another job to pay the rent.

 

Was he illustrating before comics?

 

What did he do before comic book work?

 

Are there any influences on him now, that make him want to change

his style? And on that note -does he produce illustration in

other fields ( like advertising, personal work for people ) that

he uses a different style for?

 

One thing to keep in mind also, is not to stick to a format of

questions when talking with him. Listen to his answers, and he

may provide you will some good ?'s to ask.

 

Good luck. And have fun.

 

Well they like to use that question in back issue magazine and its a fun read so...

 

I agree Back Issue is a good Magazine. I'll check one out when I'm at the shop

tomorrow and see if I can find a response to that question.

Was there one issue in particular you are referencing?

 

I was referring to some interviews I've seen/read of newbee's.

Some of those artist's fall on that question.

[irchooker]

Wow. I could really give you some questions to ask him. But you should avoid the personal.

 

So, how about:

 

"Rob Liefeld really struggles with feet. Would you say you have the same problem with hands?"

 

"You have difficulties with deadlines, and almost every book you've drawn has been late, would you say it's because you like to take a coffee break and a long walk every 45 minutes?"

 

The upside is that Kalman really tries some neat things once in a while and has drawn a few great covers.