Read a quick summary of his interview here, or watch the interview to hear the whole story.
CC: Would you consider yourself a writer, or artist?
AW: More of an artist.
CC: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I've been drawing as far back as I can remember. My dad got me into it. As a kid, my dad noticed I had some talent and that I could draw. He would have me draw shapes and I could draw those shapes the exact size that he would put them on paper. A lot of kids, they'll draw these big blocky forms on the paper but I did them exactly the way my dad had them and he noticed that I could draw around kindergarten and I just I went went with it. He encouraged my drawing. I think that's what really got me going and it's just something that a talent that I was born with.
He also owned a collection of over 800 comic books of every type and I must have read every one of them. The artwork is what appealed to me most. Since my youth, I have always wanted to be a comic book artist and a Walt Disney Animator. Check the first one off my list!
CC: Do you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
AW: 75% self-taught.
CC: Describe your style.
My style is a realistic cartoon style. I have been influenced by the following great artists: Walt Disney, Norman Rockwell, Gary Larson, Joe Madureira, Scott Campbell, Frank Cho and Blizzard Entertainment artists.
CC: What would you say most motivates you to do what you do?
AW: I love to draw!
CC: Are you inspired by any particular works or creators?
AW: As mentioned before, there are so many artists that I have been influenced by. My favorite comics growing up were Archie, Marvel Comics, Batman, Battlechasers and Danger Girl.
CC: Do you work with others? If so, tell us about them. This could be co-creators, publisher, agent, etc.
AW: When I first got on the comic book creation scene in late 2016, I did the penciling, inking, writing and lettering. I hired Steven Oaks to do my coloring for me. Then I switched it up on Issue 3 of Relics with Derek Dow out of Scotland. However, I recently acquired my very own Wacom Cintiq and plan on doing the coloring for the last issue. My sister, Angela, was a great help in coming up with plot and storyline ideas for the comics. I've also worked with other colorists for interior/cover work.
CC: What creation are you most proud of?
AW: My comic book series, Relics. It's my own little pet project and I aim to see it completed some day. Hopefully very soon.
CC: Can you tell me about your current project?
AW: Relics Issue #5. The final issue in my 6 issue mini-series. I've started inking the pages and I'm only on page 11 out of a possible 24 or 28 pages. It's going to be a jumbo issue like the first issue because I have a lot of story to tell in order to wrap it all up.
CC: What passions do you have outside of comics?
AW: I love to read, play PC games (Read Dead Redemption II is my current favorite), go running, camping, hiking, fishing, watching movies and of course I love drawing!
CC: Do you have any thoughts about the comic book industry?
AW: When I was just starting college in 2002, I studied traditional animation. Two years later, computer animation was already starting to take over the industry. I didn't want to see it happen, but it did. I see the same thing happening to comic books eventually. They are going to be all digital someday. I think we'll still have them way into the future because it is a great storytelling medium and it has birthed some of the most popular movies of our time.
CC: Do you have any advice for anyone that is just joining the industry for the first time, or looking to join the industry?
AW: Just create. Focus on an area you are good at and then assemble a team around you that can help with any other creative work involved in the creation of your comic/graphic novel. If you're a writer but can't draw, hire it out. Crowdfunding is a great way to obtain the funds if you can get the word out.
CC: Anything you would like to add?
AW: I think that CryptoComics is doing a great thing! We need a central hub for comic book collecting and trading and as comics became more and more digital, this is going to be a great space entertainment and big collectors.
Thanks to Anthony for his time and sharing his story!
