Connor Willumsen

So here it is guys and gals, the much awaited Connor Willumsen interview! We had the chance to sit down with this artistic ward and get him to reveal a little insight to what’s really going on inside. Enjoy the feast my friends.

First things first. You know know a little about us, so tell us about you. Why do you create? What motivates you to put pen to paper?

It’s a compulsion with me. I would always draw to get better and better, and after awhile it became a gratifying feeling to tickle someones gizzard with my work. It’s a very personal, obsessive thing to want to share with people in some way.

Absolutely! Do you have any formal education or was it something you started on your own?

When I was younger I started out with getting myself some anatomy books, and I was mostly self-educated. After highschool I went to Alberta College of Art and Design for a four year program that focused on conventional illustration. It was a very technical school and I picked up design skills and they had a lot of fine arts classes. After that I got a scholarship for Comic-specific education at the School of Visual Arts in New York.

Your style in comics and illustration is definately more defined than the conventional line and ink comic.

Yeah, the good thing about art school is that it allowed me to be exposed to unexpected things. It opened up oil painting and traditional, sort of impressionistic art. I started noticing comic artists doing the same thing, and I think the formal education allowed me to gain alternative points of view.

When you work, do you use more traditional tools, or are you strictly digital?

I try to stay away from most digital process, I don’t physically like sitting on the computer. I try to keep it fairly quick and loose and keep most of the attention on the drawing itself. I like to have a finished, physical piece in my hand.

How was the reception at your MOCA convention this year?

This was my first experience with it and I didn’t really know what to look forward to. I got to meet a lot of like minded artists and it was gratifying to have them encouraging what you do and exchange ideas. After sitting in your room all day long drawing its something that reinvigorates you.

So how has the economy affected the comic book industry for you?
Well, its hard to tell because I just recently started doing work that i’m getting paid for, so I can’t really compare. My idea is to produce personal projects that I could pitch and get paid for. I’m finding more work for hire stuff and it’s not too difficult to find. Doing the personal projects is definately riskier right now though.

Have you shown your work in any galleries yet?

I’ve done group things, but i’ve always felt really uncomfortable in that environment. When you make a comic, it’s meant to be printed in red, and doesn’t have much relevance in a ‘fine-art gallery’. I’d like to keep the two seperate.

You’re living in New York now?

Yeah, I just finished the school of arts thing and I’m currently living in Brooklyn. Once i’m done with everything here i’ll probably relocate again, but I don’t know where.

Very cool. So with all of your work, is there a creative process you go through?
It’s pretty loose. I always keep a notebook on me and I seem to be doing things while im in transit. Its pretty on the fly. I have a standard desk setup with the computer and the notes, but I like the idea of keeping it limber. It’s more exciting that way.

So when you’re creating your illustrations, do you consider the color while drawing, or do you focus on that post idea?

I don’t usually plan it, especially if its a line drawing. The great thing about photoshop is that you’re really not limited at all by color choices. You can do anything to your image so i’ll just sort of add arbitrary colors to it. I’ll add layers of variables and then feel it as I go, adding and subtracting. I always find some new little trick to play with when i’m working on a piece.

Do you have a favorite piece that you’ve done?

That’s sort of like choosing a favorite illness, ha. I have one i haven’t posted yet. It doesn’t feel pretentious, it just is what it is. I guess it’s my least embarassing work that I’ve done.

Is there a stigma with illustrators and comic lovers with recreating Super Heroes?

There is because its like ‘ oh they’re going to think i’m stupid for liking super heroes’, ha. Let’s not kid ourselves, we all like super hero comics.

The word illustrator has become a favorite. I’ve been hearing some comic book artists referring to themselves as that.

Its important to be comfortable with being a comic artist or cartoonist. I try to just tough through it and if the thought of a cartoonist sounds hokey to them then they can go to hell, thats their choice.

Since you’ve been in New York, have you gotten a chance to go around the art community?

Yeah, i’ve just recently started to come out of my little Canadian shell. It kind of puts the fire under your ass to get more work out as fast as you can. In New York its easy to get excited, which is good.

You’ve been in Brooklyn for how long?
When I leave it will be a year total. It seemed like every movie I liked as a kid took place in New York. It was very satisfying when I finally made it. Even if I can’t stay now I would definately like to come back in the future.

Well thank you for your time, and one last question. What’s your favorite breakfast food?

Hmmm, I quite like eggs benedict actually. I’ll say eggs benedict.