Oh yes. That was me inside the Clifford the Big Red Dog costume.

But as much as I loved working there, it never even occurred to me that one day I could have books on the shelves there. That one day I might be a visiting author there. But this Saturday, I got to return to Kids Ink and celebrate Harbinger amongst old friends, family, and the ghost of Saras past. It was surreal and strange, but mostly really, really wonderful.

Sometimes you need the long view to be able to appreciate the journey.

Thank you, Shirley, for having me back! It felt like coming home!

Celebrating with family!

I loved Graceling the first time around, and it was just as good the second time. I sank into the story with a satisfied sigh, getting lost in the book as you only can at the hands of a wonderful writer. But I was also in for a happy surprise. Instead of distracting me from my own writing, reading Graceling made me hyperaware of all the things Cashore was doing right.

The flip side is that Graceling shed light on the things I was struggling with in my own writing. I’m currently revising a new book and it was amazingly helpful to see how Cashore managed to keep her main character likable, despite the fact she does unlikable, perhaps even unforgivable, things. Not an easy line to walk. Or how she managed to keep tension in the romance without letting it taking over the whole book.

I’m not saying that I want to copy Cashore’s techniques…I just mean that the best way to learn how to write a good story is to read really good ones. It lets you see how someone else is solving the same problems you’re facing. It inspires you to push yourself farther and take bigger risks. And best of all, it’s fun. In the midst of revising and plotting and rewriting, it’s easy to forget…the best part of your job as a writer is being a reader.

Wished I could stay here…

Snorting laughter through my tears.

Grieving, Savoring.

As most of you know (since I’ve been talking about it non-stop for four months!), twenty-five wonderful and talented artists created art pieces inspired by Harbinger to celebrate the release of the novel. With the help of extraordinary bloggers, I’ve been revealing one picture each week. I’ve also been interviewing the artists and preparing for what turned out to be an incredible gallery show! And, more importantly, an awesome party!

Illustrators and artists came in from all around southern California and all around the country for the gallery opening. We celebrated big-time with trays full of sushi, galleries full of artists, and wonderfully creepy mini-Harbinger cakes made by the talented Elle Jauffret.

I want to take a minute to thank all the wonderful artists who contributed art to the show, the Holbrook website, and gave such fascinating interviews. This has been one of the best parts of Harbinger coming out this spring…and that’s saying A LOT. Because this spring has been amazing.

Also, a big thank you goes out to Mysterious Galaxy, who came out to sell books at the gallery. They are an fantastic independent bookstore in Redondo Beach (and, of course, San Diego!) and, not only are they incredibly nice, they are also very active with book events all around the LA area. I’ve been incredibly impressed by their beautiful store, knowledgeable staff, and their dedication to reading, authors, and general book fun!

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to catch you up on everything that’s been happening with me and Harbinger. Launch parties, book signings, chatting with high school students. It’s all been amazing and I feel incredibly lucky that I’ve had so many wonderful people to celebrate with. So thank you all! And for all those people who are far away…here’s a few more pictures. Enjoy the party!

Follow the Path! 25 incredible illustrators and artists have picked their favorite scenes and characters from HARBINGER to give you a taste of Faye’s world. Each week, in the gallery at the Holbrook Academy website, a new illustration will unlock. During the month of March, all twenty-five illustrations will be shown at the Hive Gallery in downtown Los Angeles. Come see it!

This week’s art reveal is hosted by: The Irish Banana Review

Faye disappearing into the trees from Harbinger. Artwork by Patricia Cantor.

SWE: Hi Patricia!

Your piece is so cool! I love your illustration of Faye running through the Holbrook woods. The way you did the overlapped the trees give such a feeling of density. And I love how Faye is disappearing just behind the branches. Can you tell me a little bit about this piece?

Patricia: For a while now I’ve been fascinated with the imagery of forests and trees. Trees are so familiar but can seem rather daunting to us small humans. I liked the idea of the forest feeling like both friend and foe, protection and danger.

SWE: What a great juxtaposition! I can really feel that in the colors and the net you created with the branches.

Do you have a favorite kid’s book?

Patricia: Anything by Chris Van Allsburg. He is so good at calmly integrating the unexpected and bizarre into a normal world, both in his visual and verbal storytelling.

SWE: I totally agree with that. Growing up, I was mesmerized with Jumanji. The ordinariness of the two kids, combined with the strangeness of the jungle appearing there in their living room was brilliant. The crazy thing is, it didn’t feel silly to have a lion appear on top of the piano…instead you felt the danger and tension of what was happening.

From Christopher Sat Straight Up In Bed. Illustrated by Patricia Cantor.

How about your own work? What sorts of things have you illustrated?

Patricia: Just finished a picture book for Eerdman’s Books for Young Readers, Christopher Sat Straight Up In Bed, that will come out in the fall. It’s a monster-under-the-bed type of story that was great fun to do.

SWE: I can’t wait to read it! I’ll be on the look out…I love monster stories!

Did you always know you wanted to illustrate?

Patricia: I’ve wanted to be an artist since I was a kid. I finally got really serious about it about 5 years ago when I became really sensitive to the unpredictability of the future. I decided it was now or never.

SWE: I understand that feeling. With writing, I didn’t so much want to leave a legacy, as I wanted to make sure that I fulfilled a dream of mine. For me, I needed to make sure that fear didn’t get in the way of getting my book published.

What’s your favorite thing about the job?

Mornings are not my friend, so it is usually early afternoon before I get serious in the studio. I can work well into the night, but I need to break about every two hours. I need quiet for brainstorming, but like mellow instrumental music for early work on finishes. I can listen to vocals or NPR only if I think I’ve got a piece totally under control, otherwise the other voice is too distracting. My studio is a small room behind my garage, full of books, art materials, drafting table. No electronics other than the CD player. Underfoot are my two “mutts,” one of whom knows to sit quietly while I work.

Patricia: The same thing that I find the most challenging: I get to control all my time and how I go about doing my job. It can be very satisfying when things turn out well as I’m the one who’s responsible. I’m also totally to blame when I’m not as careful with my time as I should be. (Of course, it goes without saying that I just really love to make pictures.)

SWE: What a great answer! I’m struggling with this stuff right now.

So…salty or sweet?

Patricia: I only get one?

SWE: What do you do when you are seeking inspiration?

Patricia: It’s really hard to say. I do look at a lot of images in print media (guilty secret: I love the artistry in Vogue). But I think it’s more a keener state of awareness of everything around me when I have a visual storytelling problem to solve.

SWE: What about people who inspire you?

Patricia: I have a couple of friends who are incredibly productive. That inspires me to not be such a slug. I used to be worried that what I produced wasn’t good enough and needed more time to be finished. Sometimes it does, but productivity is really the goal (and my challenge). Quality naturally follows.

SWE: Orangutans or squids?

Patricia: Really? I haven’t a clue!

SWE: Wow… coming in undecided on this one. Brave choice. When the war comes between monkey-kind and giant cephalopods, I hope you choose you allegiances carefully.

Do you do work outside your own illustration?

From Christopher Sat Straight Up In Bed. Illustrated by Patricia Cantor.

Patricia: I teach 2D Design at CSUF, which I really love. Because it’s such a broad topic, it’s a little easier to keep it fresh. I learn so much every semester (I know every teacher says that – but it’s true).

SWE: What are you working on now?

Patricia: A couple of picture book stories that I am writing myself. And getting ready to dive into a new contracted picture book (all the i’s are not yet dotted so stay tuned…)

SWE: And…do you have a superpower?

Patricia: Ironically, as anyone who knows me can attest, I have a keen sense of exactly what time it is. Very helpful in determining just how late I really am!

SWE: It’s almost like an anti-super power! Thanks, Patricia! Make sure you check out more of Patricia Cantor’s art at her website.

And keep your eye out for her books!

I mean, my book has a waiting list at the library!! Woohoo!

Growing up, I got almost all my books from the library. So the idea of my book on a library shelf makes Harbinger feel real in a way nothing else has. Of course, I’m still constantly checking out books and, occasionally, paying fines. Because there is nothing better that a whole building dedicated to free books.

So! I’m psyched to be part of the new Teen Authors Reading Night at the Los Angeles Downtown Library! This Thursday at 6:30 pm, I’m going to be reading from Harbinger, discussing writing and books, and I’m going doing this in incredible company.

Five wonderful YA authors will also be reading and chatting…Gretchen McNeil (Possess), Ann Stampler (Where It Began), James Owen (The Dragon’s Apprentice), Claire LaZebnik (Epic Fail), Crickett Rumley (Never Sit Down in a Hoop Skirt…)  The wonderful Cecil Castellucci will be hosting the event, asking some great questions, and generally being awesome.

So come on out, meet writers and readers, and hang out in a huge building full of books! ‘Cause what could be better than that???

Follow the Path! 25 incredible illustrators and artists have picked their favorite scenes and characters from HARBINGER to give you a taste of Faye’s world. Each week, in the gallery at the Holbrook Academy website, a new illustration will unlock. During the month of March, all twenty-five illustrations will be shown at the Hive Gallery in downtown Los Angeles. Come see it!

This week’s art reveal is hosted by: Writing from the Tub

Flood by Monkmus. Artwork inspired by Harbinger

SWE: Hi Monkmus!

I love your portrait of Faye and her water vision! You can really feel the tension and anguish in her body. Not to mention that she is rockin’ those stripey tights! Can you tell us a little bit about why you choose this moment?

Monkmus: I really wanted to create a piece that was emotionally charged… to draw the viewer immediately into Faye’s world of intense visions.  I hoped that if I kept the artwork loose and expressive that the effect would add tension to the piece – a reflection of her state of mind when she is overcome by the onrushing waves.

SWE: Well, I think you nailed it. She makes me hurt for her.

So, what’s your favorite book from when you were a kid?

Monkmus: The Wind in the Willows.  It’s my favorite by far…  I find myself re-reading it often.  It’s a classic for a good reason…  beautiful writing that wonderfully articulates its cast of endearing characters.

SWE: I love it too. It’s whimsical and wonderful and the writing is just perfect. I have the edition illustrated by Tasha Tudor, who I love!

Artwork by Monkmus

What about your own stories? I know you’re working on a couple picture books for Beach Lane Books. Is there anything you can tell us about them?

Monkmus: Not much at this time, except that I hope to have the first book completed by this year and released sometime in 2013.

SWE: Well, I’ll just have to wait for them in suspense then! Did you always know you wanted to be an artist?

Monkmus: I’ve always been able to draw well, but I never thought I could do it for a living growing up.  Around the end of High School, I was introduced to the process of animation and illustration… I’ve been hooked ever since.

SWE: Orangutans or squids?

Monkmus: Squids.

I wake up pretty early in the morning and get cracking. I usually play music loudly while I work, but it's usually instrumental... lyrics can be a bit distracting for me when I'm trying to concentrate. I actually do most of my work, writing and sketching, sitting on a couch. When I need to bare down and complete art, I have a desk for drawing and painting, as well as a computer set up to scan, finalize, sweeten, and deliver my work. My work area has pretty bare walls... but I have a lot of books lying around.

SWE: What’s your favorite thing about the job?

Monkmus: Getting to draw for a living.  When things get busy and I’m rushing to meet deadlines, I sometimes forget how lucky I am.

SWE: The same thing happens to me. I get wrapped up in my fear that I’ll never solve a plot problem. Or that I won’t make a deadline. And forget what I love about writing. It’s definitely something I’m working on right now…remembering that I’m at my happiest when I am finding my way on the page.

What do you do for inspiration?

Monkmus: I often find myself reading a lot if I’m seeking inspiration.  If I can’t find anything that inspires me at home, I often wander into a bookstore.  Although I do hop on to the web to do research, I like the activity of browsing through aisles of books to get my mind going.

SWE: I think bookstores would be a dangerous place for me to go for inspiration! I’d get lost in other people’s stories and forget my own!

What about a person who inspires you?

Monkmus: Tom Waits.

SWE: Other than the picture books (which sound awesome), what other things are you working on?

Monkmus: I’m a Director of commercials and music videos. I’ve just finished directing the first round of ads for McDonald’s Happy Meals (Goat and Ferris).  I’ve also directed music videos for Death Cab For Cutie, Badly Drawn Boy, Mogwai, and Kid Koala, among others.

Artwork by Monkmus.

SWE: Wow! That crazy impressive! Do you like doing that kind of work?

Monkmus: I enjoy it very much… it balances out my need to interact and work with others, as compared to writing and illustrating, which can be very reclusive at times.

SWE: So…do you have a superpower?

Monkmus: Moments of kindness.

SWE: And the most important question of all…Wonder Woman or Supergirl?

Monkmus: Wonder Woman for sure.

SWE: Good man! Thanks Monkmus! And for more of his art, don’t forget to check out Monkmus’s website!

Follow the Path! 25 incredible illustrators and artists have picked their favorite scenes and characters from HARBINGER to give you a taste of Faye’s world. Each week, in the gallery at the Holbrook Academy website, a new illustration will unlock. During the month of March, all twenty-five illustrations will be shown at the Hive Gallery in downtown Los Angeles. Come see it!

This week’s art reveal is hosted by: Me, My Shelf, and I

Total, Blissful Hush by Kelice Penney.

SWE: Hi Kelice!

Your piece for Harbinger is incredible! It’s the only 3D piece in the gallery and I love the way you’ve created this cool box for the bird skeleton to sit inside. It almost looks like floorboards. And the bird itself is made from wire and fleece. The whole thing is creepy and awesome. Can you tell us a little bit about what inspired you to create this piece?

Kelice: I choose the bird skeleton because I can completely relate to collecting and cherishing things other people maybe not understand or find value in themselves.  It was such a poignantly sad moment for Faye when her parents discovered her secret treasures and then looked upon her as a freak…

SWE: Well, you did a wonderful job of showing Faye’s skeleton collection as beautiful. Thank you.

Close-up of Kelice's Harbinger artwork. Made from wood, fleece, and wire.

What sorts of things did you read when you were growing up?

Kelice: Besides absolutely adoring Ray Bradbury (not specifically YA but I definitely devoured his books as a teen) I really truly love: Greencastle and the Denizens of the Sacred Crypt by Lloyd Kropp.  Funny and sweet and sad and…interesting.  It’s about a few teenage boys growing up in the 50’s who would be labels ‘geeks’ by today’s standards, and all the hardships they faced being different. Faye could sort of relate to that.

SWE: Did you always know you wanted to be an artist?

Kelice: I couldn’t help it!  I was born to put cute faces on things.  Getting paid for it is just a bonus :)

SWE: You usually work in 3D, like your Harbinger piece…cloth, faux-fur, foam. What’s your favorite part of creating art like this?

Severed yeti head by Kelice Penney.

Kelice: Seeing peoples expressions when they pick up my (usually) furry creations is always pretty cool.  I LOVE to hear someone say “aaawwww” when they are holding a plush severed head!

SWE: Those fuzzy severed heads were featured in a magazine recently, right?

Kelice: Yes!  A bi-annual magazine entirely devoted to handmade plush entitled “Stuffed”.  They featured my yeti heads and a catball.  Very exciting to see pretty glossy pages displaying my work so beautifully photographed.

SWE: Orangutans or squids?

Kelice: Go team cephalopod!

SWE: Where do you go when you are seeking inspiration?

I usually work in my garage that I converted into a sewing studio. That thing is jam packed full of faux fur, huge foam blocks, sewing machines, and glue guns - a bit chaotic, but I really do love having a place to create that is slightly apart from every day ‘life’ stuff. But close enough for snack runs.

Kelice: The internetz!  Seriously…..that place is good.

SWE: What about people who inspire you?

Kelice: Jim Henson was rad.  I am really glad to see that the Muppets are making a comeback!

SWE: Me too! I LOVE the Muppets. I even have a “Muppet Me” that I got for my birthday a few years ago.

What are you working on now?

Kelice: Trying to make my ‘hobby’ of sewing and creating into a full time business…wish me luck.

Something I love to do is collaborate with other people – like they send me a design and I make a plush likeness of it.  Please- anyone who is interested in an unusual plush that you can’t find anywhere – send me an email!  Let’s talk.

SWE: Your work is amazing! I know you will make it!

Do you have a superpower?

Kelice: When I go out in the sun I get these mysterious magical spots all over my face – I’m SOLAR POWER GIRL.  It’s kiiiind of like being able to change my appearance all shape shifter like.  Just…….more subtle.

SWE: Hmmm…that almost sounds like freckles. Just sayin’…

Catball! by Kelice Penney

Last but not least…Wonder Woman or Supergirl?

Kelice: Wonder Woman…………… cause I don’t want no Sara wrath coming down upon me…  And who is this Supergirl chick, anyways?

SWE: You are right to fear my wrath! Good choice!

Thanks, Kelice! You can check out more of Kelice Penney’s fuzzy art at Careful it Bites and on her Etsy page. Also if you love Kelice’s Harbinger piece, you check it out at the Hive Gallery through the end of March, online or in Downtown LA…along with all the other Harbinger art!

Follow the Path! 25 incredible illustrators and artists have picked their favorite scenes and characters from HARBINGER to give you a taste of Faye’s world. Each week, in the gallery at the Holbrook Academy website, a new illustration will unlock. On March 3rd, all twenty-five illustrations will be shown at the Hive Gallery in downtown Los Angeles. Come join us!

This week’s art reveal is hosted by: Katie’s Book Blog

"A Gulf of Maine Perspective" from Harbinger. Artwork by Tony Etienne.

SWE: Hi Tony!

This one is going to be extra fun for me, because how often does someone get to interview their husband? Woohoo! Let’s get started!

I love your illustration of this library room. I’ve imagined this room a thousand times, trying to make sure the “where” of everything makes sense in the story. So it was so much fun seeing someone else’s take on it! Can you tell me a little bit about why you chose this?

Tony: Having read Harbinger a few times, one of the moments (man, there are so many good moments!) that really stuck in my head is the one where Faye and Kel stumble across this weird room (I’ll try not to spoiler).  I loved the idea of them riffling through all the books, looking for clues.  Almost like a detective novel or maybe a Scooby-Doo episode, you know?  And I wondered to myself “What were the books on that shelf?  Where were they from?  Why were they there?  Were they really old?”  Lots of “why” questions, really.  And I imagined the hot day and the dark, musty room, probably only lit by a single window.  It really made me want to draw it.  My hands itched.

Tarot cards from Harbinger. Illustration by Tony Etienne.

SWE: Well, you did an incredible job with all the books. Each one is so detailed and intriguing.

But this isn’t your first piece of art for Harbinger. You also did the awesome end papers for the book and the tarot card illustration. Can you tell us about that experience?

Tony: Thanks for the compliment!  Doing the books was fun both for doing the abstract designs, and making up some of the titles was hilarious.  Moving on, though… for the tarot illustration, I wanted to reinterpret the nine cards that were used in the book in a way that would both work within the context of something done in the mid-to-late 19th century but also be something new for the world of Harbinger.  I looked at a bunch of Tarot card art from the 16th-19th centuries, and tried to mimic and synthesize the aesthetics of the cards from those periods.  I tried to mimic the posing of figures, which is both expressive and kind of stiff.  Compositions leaned towards a more informative display (sacrificing realism for making sure you can see all the important details) while still being visually pleasing.  I can’t say objectively how successful I was, but I’m happy with the resulting cards, and I’m kind of tempted to do the other cards in the deck in the same style.

Harbinger end papers, a campus map of Holbrook Academy by Tony Etienne.

The end papers were kind of the same fun experiment.  I’ve always admired the maps in books that I’ve read, and getting the chance to try it on my own was enjoyable while still being a learning experience.  My initial attempts were too visually dense and didn’t quite achieve the look I was going for.  In the end, I settled on a look that was believably something that Holbrook Academy might have had printed and sent out to prospective families.  It’s chipper and sunny, all the buildings look clean, and the grounds appear well-groomed.  All in all, a nice place you’d feel good about sending your troubled teen to.  It’s not until you get into the story that you realize what a sinister map it actually is.

SWE: Clearly you’re interested in creating art that tells a story, did you have a favorite book growing up?

Tony: Oh man, that’s a hard one.  I love so many books.  Two of my absolute favorite books that I re-read until the covers fell off were “King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table” and “Robin Hood” by Roger Lancelyn Green.  That guy opened a whole world for me.  Couple those with some old “My Book House” books that belonged to my mom when she was a kid; these were chock-full of fairy tales and what-have-you, and that really fueled my love of folklore and illustrations from that era.

Norton Juster’s “The Phantom Tollbooth” was probably the first book that gave me my love of great puns and wordplay, but Douglas Adams helped a lot too, as did Terry Pratchett.  Lastly and most recently, I rediscovered my old pile of Richard Scarry books and realized what an influence he’d been in my unconscious need to add details to everything I draw, stuff that you wouldn’t catch the first time you saw it.

Most of the time I have to work at night because of my day job, but I also like to work in the mornings when I can. I'll have some breakfast, sit in front of the computer and catch up on favorite webcomics and some other stuff, and mentally prepare for the day. Once I can’t procrastinate any longer, I'll crank up the stereo (or put on my best headphones if my lovely wife is home) and get started. My desk? I am lucky to have two workspaces; a drafting table where I can draw with a pencil and eraser when I need to just come up with ideas or draw whatever comes out of my brain, and my computer desk where I do a lot of my inking and coloring. One of my two monitors is a Cintiq 21UX mounted on an Ergotron LX arm. This lets me swing the Cintiq tablet out and onto my lap so that I don’t have to hunch over the desk like a goblin all day long. I love working on my Cintiq -- when I first started using it, it was like finding a favorite pencil I didn’t know I had lost.

But yes, I love drawing things that have a story in them, be it obvious or hidden.  Sometimes it’s the small details that let you know what’s going on.  Sometimes it’s the composition, or any number of things.  But I always like to allude to a greater story than just what the art shows you.  It’s kind of like writing a short story — I like to come away from an illustration wanting to know more about the world and what’s going on in it.

SWE: Did you always know, then, that you wanted to be an artist?

Tony: You hear artists get asked this a lot, I think, and they always say stuff like “oh, I’ve always drawn since I was little, I always had a sketchbook, etc etc”, and it used to make me feel like I was already the last one out of the gate.  I drew, but not all the time.  I never kept a sketchbook on me.  In fact, I’ve avoided really committing to drawing almost my whole life, up until about a year ago.

When I was little I liked to draw but was always frustrated that the things I drew never looked like what they really looked like in real life or in my imagination, so I started looking for shortcuts, and I gradually moved to trying to make art on a computer.  I stopped drawing except for little doodles and designs in the margins of pages.  Then, when I saw movies like TRON and The Last Starfighter, I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up.  So I aimed at that, and trying to learn to be better with a pen and pencil got left behind.

I made my way through an art undergrad program, graphic design, more art school, and finally a career in visual effects before I came full circle and realized that I just needed to learn how to draw better.  And the funny thing is that all the other stuff I learned, all the graphic design, composition, lighting, color theory — all that stuff that I learned while trying to avoid drawing — it all synthesized in this kind of gestalt explosion in my head and really made me realize that I’d already been an artist the whole time and that drawing is just another tool in the box. Drawing is still hard, but now I’m not as afraid of it as I used to be.

SWE: You work as a visual effects artist by day, what kind of things have you worked on and what’s your favorite part about that job?

Emma Frost from X-Men: First Class makes the cover of Cinefex Magazine.

Tony: Well, I’ve worked on some pretty awesome movies like the first Narnia film, The Golden Compass, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men: First Class, and most recently, Chronicle. My favorite thing about my job is solving interesting visual and technical problems, like figuring out how to make Emma Frost look like she’s really made out of solid diamond,  or making the Hulk look photoreal.  Stuff like that is exciting even when it’s stressful.

SWE: And what about your own art?

Tony: My favorite thing about drawing and illustrating is that I just get lost in whatever I’m working on.  Even if I have a great beer sitting right next to me while I’m working, I tend to forget that it’s there until I come up for air.  Getting lost like that is super rewarding, especially if I’m scared of the part of the image I’m working on — that means that I’ve conquered that fear.

SWE: I know exactly what you mean! The getting lost inside something part is the best! Recently I’ve been struggling with a revision of my new book and this is the part I miss most…really sinking down into a world you’ve created.

What do you do when you’re seeking inspiration?

Tony: When I’m stuck artistically, I tend to read a book or play games.  The worlds of books and games can take you away and let your brain do the background problem-solving that you need to not do consciously.  A certain description in a book or a unique visual in a game can hold the key to what you’re looking for. Sometimes you just need to get out of the house and clear your head, and taking the dogs for a walk can help a lot.

The Tavern by Tony Etienne

Additionally, a lot of my ideas come to me at really weird times, so I’ve learned to keep a notebook on my phone that syncs with an online account.  Wherever I am, I can jot down a really weird idea or joke and it’s always there for me.

SWE: Ditto on all of this. No wonder we get along so well.

What about people who inspire you?

Tony: At the risk of being a total cheeseball (in that I’m being interviewed by my wife), I’m going to say “my wife”.  She’s the most fearless person I know.  When she decided that she was going to be a writer, she sat down and got started.  She learned to write, and even on the days when she was at her most fearful, she still got up in the morning and wrote because it’s what she loved to do.  She never gave up, and never will.  Now her book is in bookstores all over the US and Canada, and she’s helping me on my own artistic journey.  It’s pretty inspiring.

Influences — so many people, both authors and illustrators.  I think I will mention briefly the people out there in the comics/webcomics world — unbeknownst to them, they help me realize that it is indeed possible to make a living by drawing the funny things that you love — something I hope to do someday soon in some form or another.  In no order at all: Scott Kurtz, Kate Beaton, Kris Straub, Jeph Jacques, John Kovalic, Aaron Williams, John Allison, Sergio Aragones, Charles Schulz, Bill Watterson, and Berkeley Breathed.

SWE: Wow. That means a lot to me. Fearless is not at all how I feel, so it’s wonderful to know that you see me that way. Thank you. And at the risk of being a cheeseball back, I’m so excited to be on this journey with you!

Now onto more important things…orangutans or squids?

Tony: One of the first words I remember having trouble with as a kid was ‘orangutan’.  I had a set of glass tumblers that had different animals on them, and they told you how to pronounce the animal’s name.  I could have sworn that it was pronounced “orange YOU-tan”.  Turns out I was wrong.  Squids however were never quite so cruel to me, so I like them better.  Plus their tentacle suckers have grasping teeth, unlike the octopus.  Isn’t that weird?

SWE: It is indeed weird. Even more weird, I’ve learned a lot about squids from asking artists this question!

What are you working on now?

Mine, Not Yours by Tony Etienne

Tony: I’m the lighting supervisor for a new film called “R. I. P. D.”, starring Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges, and Kevin Bacon and based on the Dark Horse comic book of the same name.  It’s a new and interesting challenge for me in that I’ve finally gotten the opportunity to work with Houdini, a software package I’ve been meaning to learn for a long time.  As a side note, my Bacon number is “1”.

SWE: Do you have a superpower?

Tony: I’m amazingly good at appearing suddenly and without warning.

SWE: You do not lie about that! So…

Wonder Woman or Supergirl?

Tony: I like being married to my wife, so I will say “Wonder Woman”.  But seriously, even if I wasn’t married to a big Wonder Woman nerd, I’d pick her anyway.  She may not have had the best comics career in the world (taking the minutes at JLA meetings with a pad and pencil), but she’s one of the superheroes DC pantheon that has the most potential, and I have high hopes for her future.  Also, let’s get some more women writers to write Wonder Woman.  How many have there been? One?

SWE: Thanks Tony! This has been really fun! Don’t forget to check out more of Tony Etienne’s art at his website. And, of course, in the pages of Harbinger!

And if you’re curious…here’s what Tony works on at his day job!

AND if you’d like to see how Tony created his illustration for Harbinger, here’s a timelapse video of him creating “A Gulf of Maine Perspective!”

Follow the Path! 25 incredible illustrators and artists have picked their favorite scenes and characters from HARBINGER to give you a taste of Faye’s world. Each week, in the gallery at the Holbrook Academy website, a new illustration will unlock. On March 3rd, all twenty-five illustrations will be shown at the Hive Gallery in downtown Los Angeles. Come join us!

This week’s art reveal is hosted by: The Book Scout

The Harbinger. Artwork by Dave Fass.

SWE: Hi Dave!

I love the eeriness of your piece! The creepy eyes and the vibrant water…can you tell me a little about it?

Dave: I felt like one of the first things that really grabbed me about the story were Faye’s visions and mind reading abilities.  It really adds an interesting facet to things, so I decided that would be a cool thing to try and draw.

SWE: Well, you created a fascinating interpretation of it! Strange and mysterious in a way that makes you want to know more.

What was your favorite book when you were growing up?

Dave: I love A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.  Reading it when I was young, the combination of amazing adventure and cool science fiction was really satisfying.  I need to go back and read it again one of these days.

SWE: It’s definitely one of my favorites too. It was the first time I’d ever read something that combined magic and science and it made a huge impression on me.

Did you always know that you wanted to be and artist?

Most of the work that I do happens in the evening, staring at my computer screen, with some sort of music on. My computer sits at my desk which is a hub for the random accumulation of the etceteras in my life. There are things stuck to other things, and things draped over other things, and I like it that way.

Dave: I’ve loved drawing since I was young, but I only decided to actively pursue making art when I was in college. I wasn’t as interested in practicing science as I thought I’d be, and art was a more natural fit for me.  I started taking a bunch of art and media related courses and the rest is history.

SWE: Feels like such a familiar story…I wasn’t as interested in the day-to-day of science as I thought I’d be either. At first, I was very unnerved by that realization. But I was so glad when I found writing…I’m glad you found art too, because I love your stuff!.

What’s your favorite part about creating art?

Dave: I like to create tangible things from the abstract ideas that pop into my head. I’m a natural introvert, so my art is a way that I can share with other people without using words, which are sometimes scary.

SWE: Wow. I’ve never heard anyone put it like that. I love what you said about sharing without words.

Orangutans or squids?

Dave: Squids for sure. People don’t really think about squids as something interesting–they’re seen as some snail-like creature that just swims around and doesn’t really do anything, but they’re so interesting. They come in sizes from super tiny to the size of a bus, can rapidly change the color of their skin in waves and ripples to communicate with each other, and can live in the deepest parts of the ocean that we’re only starting to explore…how can you not love that?

SWE: You can’t! The size thing really gets me. It seems crazy that the same animal could have so many variations.

Cover Splitting by Dave Fass

What do you do when you are seeking inspiration?

Dave: I don’t really have a formula for finding inspiration. There’s not a specific place or activity that triggers my creative process, it definitely varies. A lot depends on the emotional nature of what I’m working on. My work is pretty heavily influenced by music and the associated feelings that go along with that.  If I’m trying to draw something sad, for example, I’ll put on the music that helps me slip into that emotional state and work from there.

SWE: I heavily rely on music too. It effects my mood in a huge way. I tend to listen to the same music over and over when I’m writing something, as a trigger.

What about people who inspire you?

Dave: Stephen Hawking…the man’s entire life is inspiring.  A brilliant scientist who continues to make groundbreaking contributions to the worlds of physics and cosmology despite becoming increasingly paralyzed due to ALS…the guy is amazing, and that’s not just the nerd in me talking.

SWE: I totally agree!

Can you talk a little bit about your work?

She Doesnt Even Realize by Dave Fass

Dave: I’m probably best known for my design, “She Doesn’t Even Realize”, which has been featured on Threadless for going on 10 years now.  It’s crazy to think that it’s been that long, but they’re still reprinting it, so it must be doing ok.

SWE: I love that picture. It feels a little sad and a little funny and is just perfect.

What have you been working on recently?

Dave: Lately, the 9-to-5 has been taking up most of my time, but now that’s starting to settle down a bit, so it gives me more time to focus on the various art projects I’ve been wanting to do…this is the ebb and flow of art in my life.  Once the whiteboard fills up with ideas, or the little scraps of paper take over my desk, then it’s time to pick one and get working!

Right now, I’m doing a lot of little projects that I can squeeze in after work. Posters for friends, paintings for shows, prints for whatever. I’m trying things out in order to figure out what I want to focus on artistically. I’m working with different mediums and experimenting with what works for me. I’m consistently looking for opportunities to put myself out there in the art scene, which will give me more excuses to get creative and experiment with my art.

She Doesn't Even Realize Threadless Shirt

SWE: Do you have a superpower?

Dave: My superpower is the great and mysterious POWER OF PROCRASTINATION™, with which I can put off even the most daunting task for Future Dave to worry about.  Future Dave must hate me.

SWE: And last but not least…Wonder Woman or Supergirl?

Dave: I don’t remember reading many Supergirl comics, so I’m gonna have to go with Wonder Woman, if only because I know her better.  Plus, Wonder Woman at least has her own thing going on and isn’t just a copy of Superman (yeah, I went there).

SWE: Hear, hear!

Thanks Dave! Check out more of Dave Fass’s artwork at his website, stupidpictures.