Who is Greg Kimmett?
Toughest question and actually the last one I answered on your list - even though it’s the first. I’m a guy who has been doing something creative from day one, whether it’s my comic book art or being born in the back seat of a moving car (true story – almost didn’t make it into this world, came close to being shot out of my dad’s speeding station wagon en route to the hospital as he careened through a busy intersection) I was the last of five kids so by that point Mom was spittin’ em out like a Pez dispenser. Anyway, I digress. I can remember writing and illustrating a couple of what I called comic books for show and tell in Kindergarten. One was about this kingdom fighting a dragon onslaught and the other one was about a little kid who lost his hearing when a snow flake fell in his ear. Okay, so I wasn’t too bright, snowflakes melt but hey, I was five – cut me some slack. Many years have passed and dozens upon dozens of creative projects have come and gone and now I currently pay the bills designing packaging in the retail food industry, all the while plugging away at my art with the intention of landing enough gigs so that I might do that for a living. Sort of like a waiter moonlighting as an actor. My wife and son keep me well grounded and provide a bottomless well of inspiration, love, support and encouragement, that without - I could not even function.
Which artists have inspired you?
Wow, where to begin?
Wow, where to begin?
Jack Kirby, Walt Simenson, Frank Frazetta, Todd McFarlene, Alex Ross, John Romita (Sr. and Jr.), Steve “Sash” Scott, Greg Cappullo, Steve McNiven, J. Scott Campbell, Sajad Shah, Craig Gilliland, Kris Carroll, Derek Wilkerson, Harvey Cahn, Tya Keith, Bobby Foster – I could go on all day. There’s a few in that list that you may not be real familiar with but they are hard working artists making a name for themselves much like me, who relentlessly inspire me with their work. I take my inspiration from many places, not just visual artists, music inspires me, everyday people and events as well. That’s the beauty (and the curse) of being an artist. Sometimes something will happen in the world or a spark ignites in your mind because of a song playing on the radio or something someone close to me has said - and that sets me off on a path of creativity whether it’s two in the afternoon or in a dream at two in the morning. You have to jump on it and get it on paper before you lose the moment and that’s what I like to capture in my art, moments in time that speak to me and hopefully others as well.
If you had the chance to draw for any character who would it be and why?
There are so many but if I had to narrow it down to one, it would be….okay I can’t pick just one, I have to go with two - SpiderMan and Batman respectively. These two have been my favorites since I can remember and I’d love to take a professional crack at both for different reasons.
SpiderMan because I just love the freedom as an artist that this character offers. He’s fluid, dynamic, energetic, expressive in his movement and personality. When I draw this character it’s like I’ve had the handcuffs removed and I can just go to town, twisting his body in the air to achieve new angles as he zips through the city streets without any restrictions. Anybody who knows me or follows my work will tell you, I try to do something different with every pic, push myself to try something new. A new angle, perspective, take an established character and put my own spin on it.
With Batman for me, it’s the richness and depth of the character even more so than his appearance (although he’s wickedly cool to draw). I’d love to have the chance to render that tortured mind in print, there is so much going on in that Bat head.
When I’m drawing these characters (or any character for that matter) I put myself in his/her shoes and I know it sounds crazy – but you become that character while you’re drawing it and that enthusiasm just translates to the paper or whatever medium you’re working with (guess it’s an artist thing). And as much as I put myself into my work I don’t let the reader off easy either. If Darkseid’s raining hellspores on Metropolis the reader is one of the Teen Titans watching it happen at street level or SpiderMan and Doc Oc falling in a dizzying fight to the streets below. I try to make the reader part of the action whether they want to or not. I think it engages them more in the story.
Whose death would you most like to draw?
Deadpool. Just to get rid of him. Just kidding….I think.
Seriously, it would have to be Alfred (Batman’s tirelessly devoted butler). That relationship has been so long, so devoted and so rich with compassion I think it would be a deep, dark day in comics. Lots of superheroes have been killed off in the comics and then resurrected - but I think depicting Alfred’s death with respect and elegance, would be a powerful, moving story that would change the Batman and his readers for a long time.
What projects are you working on right now?
I’m currently working on a number of projects. Two of them are with the same writer - who has penned a new character he is developing called Nightmare: Angel of Darkness. It’s the story of a tragic hero fighting to discover the truth behind deaths in his life and discovering who “he” is in the process. A rich story that I hope I’m doing justice.
Speaking of Justice, I’m also working with the same writer on a more light hearted story arc called Justice High. If you happen to stumble onto facebook, check them both out – along with my art page of course – Art by Greg Kimmett – shameless plug there, couldn’t resist. I’ve got a couple to 300 pics you can check out ranging from (honestly “really bad” stuff in my opinion) back in the day - to more recent work that I must say I’m pretty proud of.
I leave the older work in there to remind me where I came from should my head get too far in the clouds. What can I tell ya, I’m Canadian = Humble.
Also as a result of the first Illumi-nerdi contest and Steve “Sash” Scott, I was introduced to the Wonderfunders group, so I do work for them and continue to learn from that vast well of knowledge.
Then there’s my own characters that I’m always dropping in on between projects to try and complete. First there’s a rag tag group of misfit superheroes called “The Unmentionables” who no else wants to work with and have to forge their own way in the world….to the reluctant hero named “Mech Mac”, a mechanic stranded on an alien moon trying to outlive the alien menace absorbing everything and everyone around him. He just wants to get off that rock and back to his family, unfortunately circumstances ultimately turn him more mechanical than man through an unfortunate “bonding” accident with a flight suit. Fun and challenging stuff.
Why do you believe in comic books?
When I was a kid and my family went on vacation our big trip was camping, all over Ontario (Canada). My parents would pack us five kids and the dog in the family station wagon and we’d head off to a nearby camp ground and we’d spend a week or so under the stars with the mosquitoes and various other forms of wildlife.
My brothers and sisters would take fishing poles, swim suits and other assorted camping related things and then there was me…with my stack of comics. I can still remember reading the tales of Superman, Sub Mariner, The Fantastic Four and countless other characters in the leaky family tent - because it always seemed to be raining when we camped.
I got hooked on the wonder and escapism of the medium at an early age and I think I picked up a pencil and started drawing before I started walking. I paint wildlife and write as well but it’s the excitement and the undying kid in me that takes me back to comics every time. Whenever I pick up a pencil to draw another comic book character I’m right back in that leaky tent as a kid being swept away by another adventure.
If you had the chance to draw for any character who would it be and why?
There are so many but if I had to narrow it down to one, it would be….okay I can’t pick just one, I have to go with two - SpiderMan and Batman respectively. These two have been my favorites since I can remember and I’d love to take a professional crack at both for different reasons.
With Batman for me, it’s the richness and depth of the character even more so than his appearance (although he’s wickedly cool to draw). I’d love to have the chance to render that tortured mind in print, there is so much going on in that Bat head.
When I’m drawing these characters (or any character for that matter) I put myself in his/her shoes and I know it sounds crazy – but you become that character while you’re drawing it and that enthusiasm just translates to the paper or whatever medium you’re working with (guess it’s an artist thing). And as much as I put myself into my work I don’t let the reader off easy either. If Darkseid’s raining hellspores on Metropolis the reader is one of the Teen Titans watching it happen at street level or SpiderMan and Doc Oc falling in a dizzying fight to the streets below. I try to make the reader part of the action whether they want to or not. I think it engages them more in the story.
Whose death would you most like to draw?
Deadpool. Just to get rid of him. Just kidding….I think.
Seriously, it would have to be Alfred (Batman’s tirelessly devoted butler). That relationship has been so long, so devoted and so rich with compassion I think it would be a deep, dark day in comics. Lots of superheroes have been killed off in the comics and then resurrected - but I think depicting Alfred’s death with respect and elegance, would be a powerful, moving story that would change the Batman and his readers for a long time.
What projects are you working on right now?
I’m currently working on a number of projects. Two of them are with the same writer - who has penned a new character he is developing called Nightmare: Angel of Darkness. It’s the story of a tragic hero fighting to discover the truth behind deaths in his life and discovering who “he” is in the process. A rich story that I hope I’m doing justice.
Speaking of Justice, I’m also working with the same writer on a more light hearted story arc called Justice High. If you happen to stumble onto facebook, check them both out – along with my art page of course – Art by Greg Kimmett – shameless plug there, couldn’t resist. I’ve got a couple to 300 pics you can check out ranging from (honestly “really bad” stuff in my opinion) back in the day - to more recent work that I must say I’m pretty proud of.
I leave the older work in there to remind me where I came from should my head get too far in the clouds. What can I tell ya, I’m Canadian = Humble.
Also as a result of the first Illumi-nerdi contest and Steve “Sash” Scott, I was introduced to the Wonderfunders group, so I do work for them and continue to learn from that vast well of knowledge.
Then there’s my own characters that I’m always dropping in on between projects to try and complete. First there’s a rag tag group of misfit superheroes called “The Unmentionables” who no else wants to work with and have to forge their own way in the world….to the reluctant hero named “Mech Mac”, a mechanic stranded on an alien moon trying to outlive the alien menace absorbing everything and everyone around him. He just wants to get off that rock and back to his family, unfortunately circumstances ultimately turn him more mechanical than man through an unfortunate “bonding” accident with a flight suit. Fun and challenging stuff.
Why do you believe in comic books?
When I was a kid and my family went on vacation our big trip was camping, all over Ontario (Canada). My parents would pack us five kids and the dog in the family station wagon and we’d head off to a nearby camp ground and we’d spend a week or so under the stars with the mosquitoes and various other forms of wildlife.
My brothers and sisters would take fishing poles, swim suits and other assorted camping related things and then there was me…with my stack of comics. I can still remember reading the tales of Superman, Sub Mariner, The Fantastic Four and countless other characters in the leaky family tent - because it always seemed to be raining when we camped.
I got hooked on the wonder and escapism of the medium at an early age and I think I picked up a pencil and started drawing before I started walking. I paint wildlife and write as well but it’s the excitement and the undying kid in me that takes me back to comics every time. Whenever I pick up a pencil to draw another comic book character I’m right back in that leaky tent as a kid being swept away by another adventure.
Glad I have had the chance to do some stuff with Greg through Wonderfunders. I am a huge fan of his style. It is unique, and that's saying something.
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