CREATORS | DYLAN EDWARDS |
Occupation: Cartoonist,
illustrator, and artist.
Websites: Studio NDR and Feeping Creatures.
First professional project: My first published strip appeared in SOJOURNER: THE WOMEN'S FORUM. This despite my not being a woman; it was a strip about lesbians.
Dream project: I'd be very curious to see some of my characters animated.
Favorite personal project to date: Although I don't have as much time to work on it as I would like, I really enjoy writing and drawing my characters from Politically InQueerect.
Work outside of comics: My main non-comics work is my Feeping Creatures, little monster figurines I make and sell at various conventions as well as online. I do a lot of drawings and paintings, and take the occasional illustration project. My illustrations have been seen in various
publications, including THE BOSTON PHOENIX, as well as on t-shirts, web
sites, greeting cards, and stationery.
First introduction to comics: Either POGO or PEANUTS, which my parents had around the house.
Most influential comics/creators on your life or career: Los Bros Hernandez, Dan Clowes, Charles Shulz, Walt Kelly, George Herriman, Alison Bechdel, Charles Addams.
Current favorite comic: Acme Novelty Library.
All time favorite comics: EIGHTBALL, LOVE & ROCKETS, NAUGHTY BITS, HATE, DYKES TO WATCH OUT FOR, PEANUTS, POGO, KRAZY KAT. I also collect musty, old, out-of-print volumes of panel cartoons and newspaper strips from various long-forgotten artists.
Favorite LGBT character in any media: Krazy Kat, the prince/ss of gender and orientation ambiguity.
Last good movie you saw: A silly Australian zombie movie called UNDEAD.
Last good book you read: "You Belong in a Zoo" by Peter Brazaitis.
CDs you're listening to now: Pixies, Smiths, Alkaline Trio, Echobelly.
What aspect of the comics medium draws you to work in it? The autonomy; I like being able to do a project that doesn't require a whole crew to produce. I also like to write as well as draw, and with comics I get to do everything.
Does your queerness impact your work? Sure; many of my strips focus on queer characters, or include them in some way. I don't force every strip to have a queer theme or character, but I also think straight white gentiles have enough material done specifically for their amusement, and there needs to be stuff for folks who don't fit that paradigm.
What advice do you have for aspiring comics creators? It can be useful to study someone else's art technique, but the bulk of your training should come from life drawing; this is especially important when drawing people. It's the best way to develop your own unique style. Also, prepare yourself for crushing poverty.