Interview with Craig Wolden
As conducted by Chris Buchner

How did you decide on art as your career?
I’m just not very good at anything else, and digging ditches all day long is exhausting!

Was this a natural skill or did it come about with years of practice? Or both?
I like to think both. There are some areas of my drawing that have taken me a long time to refine, and some areas that still need a lot of work. But if I didn’t enjoy it I wouldn’t try to improve, and if I didn’t see any improvement... well you get the idea.

Where did you study art?
On the cold, hard streets!

What is the attraction to doing all pencil work?
I don’t always work exclusively in pencil; the major factor is time. It’s so much faster for me to finish up with pencil than to start a new process. I know there are guys who can ink an entire page faster than you could with pencil, but unfortunately I’m not one of them. That is one of those things that I’m working to improve.

How did you get your first job and what was it?
I found a sample script of Jason DeGroot’s online that I was really impressed with. I contacted him to show him some samples of my work based on the script. Not long after that, he asked me if I would like to work with him on a couple of things. Before I knew it, I was his official dog-walker.

What was your favorite work experience to date?
This may sound disingenuous but; whatever I’m working on at the time is what I am enjoying the most. That may change further down the road, but I hope not.

What are some of your inspirations that guide you in your work?
There are too many to list: Wally Wood, Will Eisner, Bernie Wrightson, Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, Neal Adams, Dave Sim, Gene Colan, Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons, Scott McCloud, Travis Charest, John Buscema, Gil Kane, Howard Chaykin, Paul Chadwick, John Romita, Gustav Klimt and many, many more. I could drone on indefinitely. I’m inspired by each of them for different reasons.

Does having an infant affect your work methods?
Holy cow, yes!

How does your family affect your working habits? How does how you work now compare to how you used to?
First off, I have to say that my wife has been incredibly supportive. She’s always giving me words of encouragement, like… “Will you please go over there and draw?” or “Leave me alone, don’t you have work to do?” and “Use a coaster!”
Just kidding, honey.

I don’t think it will shock anyone to know that your work habits change when there are children to consider. My art is a huge part of my life, but there is nothing more important to me than my girls. Everything takes a backseat when either of them needs me. I only get to see my oldest daughter every other weekend, so when she’s visiting work is a secondary thought, and my little 6 month old needs pretty much constant attention. Hey, It’s nice to feel needed.

There was once a time that I could sit down and draw or paint for an entire weekend without interruption. Now, I really have to plan ahead for pockets of useful time. It can be hectic at times, but I honestly couldn’t be happier.

What are some of the ways you approach doing a piece?
Always from the front… Other than that, it depends on how familiar I am with the subject matter. If it’s about submarines, I do some research and a bunch of sketches. Otherwise I go straight to composition roughs.

Talk about the blog. What made you decide to start it?
I wanted all of the excitement of a web site with none of the actual work involved in setting one up. Plus, with a blog you don’t have to worry about having any of those pesky “visitors” taking a look around.

What got you into comics?
I blame it all on David Mazzucchelli & Dennis Janke: Daredevil #226

Do you have any favorite comic books or characters currently being put out?
The Black Coat. Francesco Francavilla is amazing.

What is the Kwiddex Protocol?
Is this a trick question? It’s a Jason DeGroot written story published by Repercussion Comics. It’s everyday people, in extraordinary circumstances and real world consequences.

How did you get involved with the Comicbook Artists Guild (CAG) and Guild Works Productions (GWP)?
I have Jason to thank for being a part of the CAG and Mark Mazz from GWP contacted me through that. It was really fortunate for me.

What was your approach to doing your cover for GWP’s Psychosis! publication?
Keith Murphey and Mark Mazz sent some character designs and the script for the story. It seemed to really lend itself well to an old style horror movie poster. I sent them some roughs and we went on from there.

What advice would you have to give to people looking to break into the field?
How about: Don’t give up? Too cliché?

What would be your dream project if you had the opportunity to work on it?
Anything involving Stan Lee.

If you were a superhero, your catch phrase would be:
Honey, Where is my pencil? No not that pencil, the other one! I left it right here, it’s not like it got up and walked away... Oh here it is, sorry.

What should our readers be on the lookout for from you in coming months?
The Kwiddex Protocol! Written By Jason DeGroot & published by Repercussion Comics.

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