It seems like every day brings another Kickstarter project, so it’s hard to keep track of what’s going on and what to support. Weekly, we highlight those in our Kickstarter Spotlight segment, but this week, we have another focus in a brief interview with artist Clayton Crain about his actively running project “Evolver.”
This art book tracks Crain’s growth as an artist over 23 years, and is filled with some of the trademark art we’ve seen from him on books like “X-Force,” “Carnage” and more. Take a look at the project, and if you’re a fan of Crain’s work, it’s certainly worth a backing.
I think the first question for any Kickstarter project is, why Kickstarter? Why was that the ideal place to put this project together at?
Crain: The audience for this project is narrowed when the content isn’t mainstream. My feeling is, as much as people may like my art, the majority prefer it paired with characters they know. Kickstarter allows me to see what kind of interest I can stir up and see what type of demand there is.
As an artist, why was this the right time to put a project like this together, and how long have you been contemplating putting it together?
Crain: The project was a bit spontaneous. I had been focused on interiors and covers for 15 years. I’ve done little as far as cons go. I thought a con sketchbook would be nice to tote around.
When developing this massive, oversize art book, how did you decide to go back to your high school years of art? Was it all about showing your evolution as an artist?
Crain: I see it as a overview of my work from the inside out. Also the humility gained is worth the time I put into this project.
In your Kickstarter, you have a breakdown of costs. How important to you was transparency when it comes to this Kickstarter process, especially given some of the controversy surrounding various Kickstarted projects?
Crain: I’m not aware of any controversy. Everyone is here voluntarily, including me. I wanted to show the purpose of the funding goal.
As a comic artist, much of what you have to do is tell the story, but with art books such as this, it seems to me to be more focused on the design aspect of art. Compared to your interiors, does this scratch a different itch for you as an artist?
Crain: I’ve tried to be as involved with a project as much as I could. From the story to making the logos for Ghost Rider, X-Force and Carnage.
Actually making books from front to back gives me a sense of personal accomplishment.
Lastly, what’s next for you as an artist? You’ve been working on Valiant books as of recently. What do you have on the horizon?
Crain: After EVOLVER I may just go back in my studio and work on comics for another 15 years. Oh yeah, I worked for Hasbro last year so that should be coming out by 2014.
