What was your first project in comics, and how did you get the job?
Trying to remember my first gig ... need some ginko biloba. If I recall, my first work was on a book called Tohubohu from New Breed Comics that I did with HiFi, probably in '99.

 

Though I toiled for a few years before that trying to break into the industry as a mediocre penciler.

 

How'd the transition from penciler wannabe to working colorist come about?
I had been drawing/doodling most of my life, so penciling was the obvious direction for me to go. I ended up working for this online publishing company, and learned to ink my own work just to try to maintain quality. 

 

I taught myself to color for the same reason, and eventually realized I enjoyed coloring more. When someone actually paid me to color, I knew I had found my occupation.

 

Ok, you work under a moniker. Any particular reason for that?
It's a bit catchier and more memorable. There's also an element of product branding to it. 

 

Not to mention it keeps the adoring masses from tracking my address in the phonebook.

 

When you decided that coloring was the way to go, whose work did you look at? Is there a big influence in your approach?
My early influences were the old Top Cow colorists like JD Smith, Liquid, Haberlin and Drew. Whether or not that came through in the work is another matter.

 

You bill yourself as a digital colorist. How prevalent is all-digital work in the market now? Are there many guys still using more traditional methods?
Well it's just another way of saying computer colorist. Practically all coloring is done on computers today except for hand painted work like Alex Ross. Although there is a growing use of hybrid styles that you see in the likes of Richard Isanove.

 

What was your first work for one of the majors?
I started working on Demonslayer while it was still at Image, doing a few pinups and interior pages. But it moved to Awesome shortly after, and then to Avatar, where I resumed regular work on it.

 

You did some work for Marvel's Heroes tribute book. How'd that come about?
Well HiFi was doing the coloring for that book, but they needed subcontractors to help them finish it. They asked for help, I could hardly refuse.

 

Was there a lot of pressure working on an image that A) people were very familiar with in its photographic form and B) carried a lot of emotional weight for people?
I was rather surprised to be given a page by Nelson. He's a fairly big name, and not the usual style I work on, so it was a pleasant challenge. 

 

There was pressure to do a good job because he drew that now-famous scene of the three firefighters surrounding a flagpole amidst the rubble. There was a feeling that I had to try and capture that moment in history, while still using color to evoke a certain emotion.

 

Have you gotten any feedback on the piece?
Only from friends, since we weren't allowed to sign our work as individual colorists.

 

You were part of an artists' group in Montreal, Grafik Sismik. What was that like?
It was an interesting life experience, living in that strange land. But working and living with fellow comic book artists was great.

Especially when they're French, because there's not only always someone to talk about the craft and the industry, but there's also lots of beer. We also gained a greater appreciation for each other's artistic processes.

What kind of non-comics work are you involved in?
I do some design work, and coloring for non-comic book projects like storyboards. I also enjoy creating websites.

What would your dream project be?
To get paid for watching TV. But as far as comics go, that's tough to say. 

My favorite character is The Punisher, so that would be great. But any high paying, ongoing series with relaxed deadlines and solid artwork will suffice.

 

Well, as long as you're not asking for much ... That about does it for me. Anything else you'd like to add?
Your check's in the mail.

 

This is a very pleasant moment, because he plays soundtracks to improve the atmosphere. While he is reading the stories the boys are drawing and painting and their drawings are very nice. Sometimes it's very funny, especially when my husband starts to sleep while reading because he is very tired. The boys start laughing and teasing him.

 

We are finishing the book: "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix".

If you weren't a comic-book artist today, what would you be?
Well I have tried to work in some areas before in some private companies in administrative departments. But I was always unhappy; in the end I was always fired from the jobs after more or less 6 months.  

 

This is why I am sure that I am a colorist and artist, no chance to be anything else.

LIST OF CREDITS As Colorist: 

 

Infantry - Devil's Due Productions
Bloodrayne - Digital Webbing/Echo 3 
Tron 2.0 - 88MPH Studios 
Ghostbusters - 88MPH Studios 
Youngblood: Bloodsport - Arcade 
Masters of the Universe - Image/MVC 
The Victorian - Pennyfarthing Press 
Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye - Dreamwave 
10th Muse - Tidal Wave/Avatar 
Atlas - Tidal Wave/Avatar 
Demonslayer - Image/Avatar 
Exec, Taxman, Operator 99 - Comics Conspiracy 

 

LINKS

 

http://www.blondthecolorist.com/