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This month, my column will feature a series of interviews with comic book artists and creators going to STAPLE! THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA EXPO (Saturday, March 3rd). Staple is an annual event in Austin Texas to promote independent creative media: comics, art, animation, and self-published literature.  In its third year, Staple is the must-attend convention for any self-respecting fan of indie comics.

Kristian Donaldson is the artist of IDW’s Supermarket, DMZ #11 (both written by Brian Wood), and some upcoming work on Fallen Angel. He’s an incredible illustrator and storyteller, reaching a wider audience this past year. Dallas is happy to claim him, but Austin gets Kristian for STAPLE! weekend.

How has your art changed since you first started doing comics?

DONALDSON: Well, the first comics I drew were much more rad. They frequently starred ninja turtles, and random ninjas, which my mom collected into two folders called “ninja turtles” and “random ninjas”.  I peaked at 7, and that’s a hard thing to deal with.

I don’t really know how to answer. I’m too close to it, and I’m too critical of it. I can tell you what I focus on more, now, as opposed to earlier in my development. And that is, that I want mood, and style, and linework to service the storytelling, rather than be their own end. All I care about is storytelling, because for the longest time I didn’t know what it was, and probably still don’t. But I’m trying.

At a certain point, after I had already had some books published, I embraced brush inking, and loosened up considerably. The act of drawing became much less laborious, and much more fun. And that freed me up a bit to focus on staging and space, and problem solving to get the story told. It happened almost overnight, and it was a real change in my way of thinking.

During Wizard World Texas, Zeus Comics hosted a gallery showing of your paintings. Any plans to do more?

DONALDSON: It was a great night, and Zeus was so amazing to offer me the opportunity. It was a great experience for me, and it was satisfying on a lot of levels. The painting came about as an extension of live art, and was something I was able to do between DMZ, and the work I’m
doing now on Fallen Angel. I was basically unemployed for three months, and had the time, and the means to experiment. Luckily, I hit on something that people wanted to see. I’ve already come to the conclusion that I can’t sneak paintings in between comic pages like some people can. So until I get another long break, I just don’t see a new body of paintings getting made. I think there’s enough live art shows to keep the spirit of the whole thing alive for me.

While your art style is certainly unique, your use of color is also very stylized. Was this intentional? Where did you get your color inspiration?

DONALDSON: I used to work for Lee Loughridge, who to me, is just the best colorist in comics. I learned from flatting DC stuff for him, and
occasionally looking over his shoulder. Flatting something, and then seeing his final product was really crucial for me. Plus, he and some of the guys in the studio, like Matt Wilson, and Eric Darnes, and Nick Filardi, actually taught me how to color properly for print.

And I’m an art school kid, so I got exposure to all the great 20th century abstract expressionist and pop art guys. I’m influenced by everything from deco buildings, to Japanese cartoon advertising culture, from Mission Hill, and old Tom and Jerry cartoons, to 4 color show flyer screenprints. But I’m in a big black and white stage right now, so, I dunno.

What will you have at your table for Staple?

DONALDSON: The usual: books, prints, a hangover.

First year at Staple, what are you most looking forward to?

DONALDSON: There’s a great guest lineup of people I haven’t gotten a chance to meet. Mostly though, I’m looking forward to seeing the great people in Austin who have been so supportive of my work, and have been great hosts and great friends to me this last year since I moved to Dallas.

Make sure to check out Kristian’s website: www.prodigalnine.com

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