Ryan Ottley, the artist of Image Comics’ flagship superhero book (and arguably the best superhero book in comics), is our featured artist on today’s Artist August interview. Ryan was Multiversity’s favorite artist of 2010, and he hasn’t slowed down in 2011.
We’re extremely pleased to have chatted with him, and check out after the jump as we talk about what it’s like to work with Kirkman, how he fell in love with comics at first sight, and finding out who would win in a fight: a Sea Bear or a Grizzly Shark. Well, all of that and more.
Also, come back later to see a post of some of our favorite examples of his art.
Can you look back on your life and recall the single moment that made you want to work in comics? Or was it more of a natural progression that led you here?
Ryan Ottley: It happened instantly the first time I saw a comic. Seriously, I was always into drawing. But at age 15 when my cousin Bryan showed me my first comic, an issue of the Amazing Spider-Man drawn by Todd McFarlane, I felt the movement and energy and I thought instantly that I wanted to draw comics someday.
Who or what has influenced the development of your art?
RO: A key factor for me in getting better was no social life. It really does work. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to break in. NO friends, okay maybe one good one, but just draw hours a day. Learn everything you can. I was highly influenced by all comics I read, then by anatomy books and just drawing from life.
It’s rare for creators to stick on one book for extended periods, yet since issue 13, you and Robert Kirkman have been rocking Invincible. What about the book has kept you so close to it? Have you ever been tempted to move in another direction?
RO: Issue 8 buddy, don’t go skimming off issues of my run now. Here’s a run down of how and why I’m still on Invincible. I started as a fill-in artist for one issue, issue 8. Robert dug my speed so he kept me on. I was just happy to be drawing any book. I was a hungry artist ready to work, after issue 8 was done and Robert wanted me on full time, he sent me the first 7 issues to read. I loved it. Amazing stuff. Every script after was a joy to work on.
I still thought I wanted to work my way up some comic ladder and make it to Marvel or DC someday, that was my dream job since I started reading comics and it was just something ingrained into my thinking that every artists end goal is to work for the Big Two, that’s the the top rung, that’s as high as anyone could go! And many still feel that. I plugged away on Invincible every month, had many chances to leave and work at the Big Two, did one small thing at DC but my desire to work there started to dissolve. Robert and Cory made me part owner of Invincible, I was getting paid more than I would anywhere else, I don’t have all these bosses telling me what to do. It was just friends making comics the way we wanted, no rules. And I realized I’ve had my dream job all along.
You basically decide what is top to you, if you grow up thinking working for a large corporation is as high and far as you want to go, then go for it. Or you can be the few who build their own corporation, work independently and take a bigger risk. It doesn’t work out for everyone, but when it does it can be pretty great. I honestly don’t think there is a better superhero book than Invincible. And I doubt anything could ever make me leave.
How would you say your art has improved since you first started on Invincible?
Continued belowRO: I think it has improved a lot, but there is still a long way to go. There is always more to learn.
You were Multiversity’s Artist of the Year in 2010, and anyone who reads Invincible understands why. The Viltrumite War might have been one of the best arcs in terms of superhero visuals ever. How was it working on that arc in particular, and is it less exciting for you to draw a conversation than it is to draw a father and son exploding a planet?
RO: Anything is fun to draw if you are in the right mood. It’s an artists job to make what they are drawing enjoyable to draw. Even if it sounds boring you need to convince yourself that there is a fun way to draw it. If not, an easy page could take forever to draw and then you’ll hate it. Of course action scenes are more enjoyable for me, the reason why I got into comics was because I felt the movement and action on the page, so working that out is always fun. The Viltrumite War was crazy, I definitely enjoyed it and it was a ton of work at the same time.
Since issue 51, you have been working pretty consistently with Cliff Rathburn and FCO Plascenscia as your inker and colorist. How is it working with the two of them, and how important is it for you to have an inker and colorist that complement your styles well?
RO: Both Cliff and FCO are an amazing help with everything. It was tough inking myself for so long, I felt I couldn’t get better at pencilling if I was always this rushed to finish both pencilling and inking every month. So getting Cliff on board was crucial for me to become a better penciller. And Cliff is just a better inker than me. FCO always added that energy I always wanted with my art. He’s been great.
How is it working with Kirkman, a guy many consider the greatest writer in comics today?
RO: He’s a great dude, I’m still amazed at his will to work as much as possible and do as many books as he does, even now with his TV show he still thinks comics are the better place to work, and more enjoyable to make. He’s been awesome to work with, I really wish there were a lot more writers like him. Someone that is talented and loves comics this much that they want to make new original content.
Invincible features new characters being created constantly, sometimes on an issue-to-issue basis. Who have been some of your favorite creations so far, and is the act of developing new character looks all of the time fun or stressful?
RO: Battle beast, Conquest, Gravitator are ones I like most. Aliens and monsters are always fun to create as well. It can be stressful at times because I feel I have this deadline looming over me for the comic so when I need to design someone and I’m not figuring out the design right away I get frustrated. So yeah, sometimes it’s fun, sometimes it feels like I have no idea what I am doing.
Gun to your head, you have to answer: who would win in a fight, a sea bear or a grizzly shark?
RO: Jason Howard and I have had this conversation a few times. And we both agree the bear would win. Sharks only have a mouth, a bear has teeth on his hands and feet as well so in the end a shark is nothing more than a giant delicious salmon to the bear.
Does feedback (both positive and negative) with fans and critics via social media push you as an artist?
RO: I’ve heard many say we should never listen to reviews, good or bad. Just work and be happy, don’t care what others say. Ignore them all! I can’t do that. I read reviews, I like it when it’s positive, if it’s negative then yeah I take some thinks to heart. But really, I am my worst critic. I try to get better because I’m not satisfied with my current ability. And the day I am is the day I stop progressing. So, i never want to be satisfied.
Continued belowComics, even with increasing acceptance amongst the mainstream, are still a niche medium. With that in mind, have your friends and family always been supportive of your pursuit of a career in this field?
RO: Oh definitely. My Mom and other family members read everything I do, it seems their least favorite thing was Grizzly Shark. my Mom almost started crying at the sight of a family getting eaten by a Shark. But other than that she’s way proud!
What would be a dream project for you? Any particular writers you’re dying to work with or titles you’d like to take a stab at? Perhaps a personal project you just want to see come to fruition?
RO: Dream projects these days for me are original content with a writer that creates something awesome and original or myself doing it all. I have ideas, the problem is finding time in between a monthly gig to do them. So every once in a while you’ll see me do a one shot here and there.
Desert Island question: one book, one album, one film and one comic. What do you take with you?
RO: Book of Mormon, yes I’m Mormon. Vivaldi, I listen to a lot of rap and metal but I love classical as well and that just seems like the best choice for desert island all alone music. Cast Away, that way I can study over and over how he got off the island. Probably Sandman, been meaning to re-read all that, now I’ll have time on my island.
Who are your favorite artists working in comics today?
RO: I love what Cory Walker does, anything he does I just gush over. He has more skill than any artist alive, I don’t know how he does what he does. Another artist like that is Sean Murphy. I love Stuart Immonen, Moebius, Frank Blanchard, Diddier Cassegrain, Claire Wendling, any artist who is French seems to blow my mind.
What projects do you have coming up?
RO: Every issue of Invincible is a new project to me, I love it and I know everyone else will as well. I have side projects on my mind that I have to get out sometime. There is a short 8 pager I’m doing right now for an anthology but not sure when that’s going to be available so I won’t say anymore on that yet.
I do have an art book that I just had made called Violence and Pinwheels. I will make that available to order in August sometime. Just like my last art book Violence and Piggybacks I only printed a certain amount, not to be reprinted. So if you want the book and missed out on the first one then order quick, see me at a con or buy from me off my website. Thanks!
