Sam Schutt

Digital Artist, Penciller

Where were you born? Where did you grow up?
I was born in Três Forquilhas (a village), Northeast of Rio Grande do Sul, and when I was 2 years old I moved to Porto Alegre and grew up there.

Schooling? Art training?
I studied on my own, creating my own ways to learn. I never really like to attend a traditional classroom. I became a publicist, designer and an illustrator by practicing these professions for over 20 years. I keep studying because I’m always learning, and I don’t think it could be any different. I still need to improve my skills a lot more!

How long have you been working professionally in comics?
I never worked professionally in comics, I believe it’s time for me to start a new phase. And it’s definitely in the comics market.

What things — both in art and otherwise — have you worked on besides comics? Are comics a full-time gig for you or part-time?
I’ve always worked professionally in Advertising, Design and Illustration. I always wanted to work full time with comic books. This is my goal now. Once I tried to work at a different area, in the storage room at a shoe store. It took me 20 days to quit… I was feeling like a fish out of water, I don’t know what I was thinking.

Talk about how you broke into the business –was it easy? Hard? Ups? Downs? Any interesting anecdotes? When you held your first published work in your hands, how did you feel?

Well, I’m not officially in the market, but I’ve always admired the ninth art. It actually was very hard for me to start working for the comic book market as a professional, I think it was because there are not many opportunities in Brazil and also due to lack of obstinacy. I had been trying to establish myself in this market for several years, but I would always end up working as a publicist and designer, that’s how I could guarantee my financial stability, because in Brazil, unfortunately, people aren’t very interested in comics. I believe that many people still think that comic books are for children. But they’re also created for educated adults. As an amateur, I published a project at an old horror magazine in the 90’s, in Revista Calafrio from the former publisher Editora D-Arte, here in Brazil. The story title was CANIBAL. That was the most amazing thing that ever happened to me… In one afternoon, I was fixing the bike I had and with my hands all greasy, I picked up a mail sent by the editor Rodolpho Zalla that contained a letter and a check for my drawings. I was so happy I couldn’t believe it! That was awesome. About two years ago, I found out that a talented Brazilian artist, Flávio Colin, drew my story “Maldição no Pampa” (I also enjoy writing), and it was recently reissued in a special edition. Another moment of pride!

Did you work as an assistant to any other artists? If so, please talk a bit about those experiences.

No, I never had the opportunity to assist anyone, it could’ve helped me to learn and evolve a lot more as an artist.

How did your parents take to the idea of working in comics?
Although, this has happened a long time ago, my parents had always wanted me to be a doctor, lawyer, civil servant, things like that. But that’s not me, I can’t help it… so now they understand that this is what I like to do and what I am good at.

How would you describe your workspace? Is it part of your home,
or do you go “to the studio”?
I have my studio at home, very well structured for what I need.

What job are you proudest of? What’s your most embarrassing?
Well, my projects that are exposed here make me proud, because they brought me to GHG. Although I take it very professionally, the comic books that contain scenes for adults only, embarrass me a little whenever I have to show it to someone. I always imagine that somebody will criticize me in a negative way due to its content, but so far they’ve been well accepted. Art overcomes the prejudice.

What are you currently drawing? Comments on that project?
I have a few personal projects. But my focus was a theme involving fantasy and adventure that happened in the past and mixes futuristic elements. But this is going to take quite some time to be finished since this project is not linked to a publisher.

Talk about your family: Parents, siblings, home situation. Are you married? Have kids? Names? Anecdotes about married life, how does it relate to your busy schedule, etc. If you have kids, do they understand your job? What do they say about it? Do they read comics?
I’m a peaceful guy, I like to stay at home drawing and doing researches. My time for partying is gone… I have been married for six years and I live with my wife, two dogs and one black cat.  I have a 19-year old son who does not live with me. He likes comics and I’m always encouraging him to improve his drawing. Ha-ha, in the beginning of our marriage, my wife used to be jealous whenever I drew a “hot girl”, but now she understands that this is the image that sells, right?

What projects do you hope to work on in the future?
I have always been a fan of a classic character: Tarzan! I really would like to, one day, be able to contribute with my art to this amazing character. I also like Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Jungle Jim, The Prince Valiant… I’m a huge admirer of the old masters, Burne Hogarth, Alex Raymond, Ray Moore and Harold Foster, among others, that influenced several generations of artists. Of course that there are current characters like Conan, The Punisher, Batman, Hulk, Thor, X-Men and many others that I would like to draw and leave my mark. Who knows maybe someday one of them will fall into my hands… (laugh)!

Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?
Being an excellent professional as a comic book penciller. This is my world, it’s like the air I breathe!

What is the interest in comics where you live? Do friends and neighbors know you draw comics for a living? How do they react?
Here in this neighborhood I think no one knows what I do. But I do know a few people in my town that enjoy it and understand the comics world. There have been comics workshops and I participated in one of them, that was pretty cool! I also took a course with Daniel HDR a few years ago.

What’s 1 thing you’ll always find in your refrigerator?
Milk and fruits, lots of fruits! And sometimes something that I forgot to eat and spoiled, he-he!

What’s your favorite food?

Coffee with milk and bread with mashed bananas, hmm!

What are your favorite interests –Movies? Music? TV? Any hobbies? Sports?
I love movies with lots of special effects, they inspire me to draw. I also like animations and intelligent movies a lot. I listen to many different styles of music… I enjoy listening to pretty much everything, but I have to mention Rammstein. I’m always searching for new websites to download songs for free, and I have tons of it. I usually turn on the television only to watch the news and movies, and also some fights on the UFC, Pride and other channels. One of my hobbies is collecting comic books and movie DVDs. Once in a while I play two dozen of noises on my guitar and then put it back on the corner.

Have you ever thought of writing your own stories?
I’ve done that for a long time, and even draw a few of my stories. I like to create everything, but the time passes by more quickly without drawing so much. Today I want to draw a lot more without writing. In the future, perhaps I’ll start a project written by me when I feel like it’s time. Just let me get famous first!

Have you ever been in a gang?
At first I thought this question was pretty weird. But then I realized what this was about! Yes, I’ve been in several gangs for several times. The first was in my high school, I used to be part of the gang that used to gather around at the back of the classroom; then another large gang from the church I used to attend; I participated in three garage rock bands; I became part of a gang that liked to party and the last one was the gang from my capoeira classes. Currently I’m on solo career, he-he!

What’s an average day in your life like? Walk us through a typical day.
Well, I wake up early, have breakfast, travel to my studio (next to the kitchen). I read my emails and keep drawing until midday, that’s when I ride my bike (about 15 km per day). On my way back I take my dogs to walk, then I have lunch, take a shower and go back to my studio. Occasionally I go to the movies at night with my wife, visit my mother and sister or go out to do something else.

Do you know any funny or interesting anecdotes to tell about the comics market?

No, maybe next time… 😀

Do you have any great, unsold projects in your files that nobody’s got to see published?
Yes, I have written parts of two projects, and hopefully they’ll be published. Something about capoeira and the other is about fantasy between past and future, pre-history, monsters, warriors and weird people.

What’s your complete list of published credits?
I am dying to answer this question, but we’ll have to wait…

If you weren’t a comic-book artist today, what would you be?
I would still be an artist, but as a musician. I love playing guitar, but I’d have to study and practice a lot (I’m a bit rusty)… or sculpt, this is something I practiced for a short period of time but I really enjoyed it.

Have you ever taught comic-book art or had any assistants? If so, talk about that.
I’ve given a few tips, but I don’t think I’m capable of teaching someone, I’m still learning!

When I used to work as a graphic designer I had many assistants. I had a lot of work to do!

The single thing you’d most like to be remembered for in your life is…?
As a comic book artist who contributed and left his mark so that the ninth art could become more and more magical and fantastic.

Any closing words to your fans?

Hello, if anyone outhere is my fan, first of all, thank you very much, second of all, be persistent! Your path may be easy to tread, but if not, don’t ever give up, or you’ll leave something behind that many people would like to see, including you. Show your potential, show your art!

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