As if you hadn’t figured it out by now, we love original artists here at Capes + Cartridges. A few of us met Joel Siegel at C2E2 this year, and we were immediately sucked in by his eye-catching art prints and his outgoing personality. His art, which is heavily inspired by pop culture and entertainment, captures the essence of beloved scenes and almost transports viewers into the moments. So of course, I had to ask him for an interview so we could learn more about the man behind the magic!
Learn more about Joel below and don’t forget to check out his website if you haven’t already!
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Who (or what) has influenced you the most as an artist?
Roy Lichtenstein has always been my favorite artist and I have taken elements of his artwork and style and incorporated them into my own. As an animator and a lover of cartoons I have always been attracted to bold lines and bright colors, thus fueling both my love for comics and for Lichtenstein’s art. These elements are present in my artwork, as you can see.
We could talk forever about our favorite fandoms here at C +C. What gets you talking the most? Which movies, comics, books, shows, etc could you gush about for hours?
Well, this is like opening a can of worms with me, as I am a fanboy about most things. Star Wars, Zelda, Ender’s Game, Breaking Bad, Nintendo, Spider-man, Hellboy, Batman, pirates, zombies, robots, cult classic movies, bad movies, and so on are things I really could go on forever about. Pretty much all of my pieces are displays of love to that film/show/game and I could talk for hours about all of them. I have always been a nerd and a fanboy, both proud to be who I am and never afraid to show it. I bet I could talk for hours about your favorites, too. I already went on too long with this answer…
Tell me more about your creative process. Do you have a special ritual that works for you?
Well usually I start with picking the topic (i.e. the movie/show/game that I want to do a piece on) and then comes the hardest part: choosing a moment. Once I have decided I usually free hand some — if not all — of the piece, bring it into Illustrator, use it as a base, and build from there until I feel I have finished and achieved the overall goal of the piece.
What’s the most interesting or exciting thing that’s happened to you while working your convention booth (at Comic-Con or any other convention)?
I have only worked two cons so far, so I haven’t had too much happen besides one of my racks falling over! But in truth, the coolest thing for me while working the cons would have to be seeing people look at my art and be thrown back into that moment in the film. It’s truly priceless to see peoples’ joyous reactions as their faces change and match the emotion I am trying to convey in my piece. It really is an emotional and visual manifestation of the common ground I share with my fellow fanboys/girls and nerds.
Tell me more about the artwork you sold for a donation to the Chicago House charity event.
Well, Chicago House is a charity that helps find housing for HIV-positive and AIDS patients and children. Every year they have at least one themed charity fundraising auction. Each summer they do a bird-themed one, and I initially got involved because my mother and my sister have been doing art for these for a few years. I chose to do a robin in flight, because it is a scene that may be seen everyday but the beauty of it goes unnoticed. I just wanted to capture that in my style and show people how it looks through my eyes. It did fairly well in the long run and brought Chicago House some money (and whoever purchased it some happiness as well).
I noticed you have a section on your website for costumes and make-up. Can you tell me more about your costume-making talents? Any in particular you’d like to take on at some point?
Yes, there is a section for that and it is under development. I have been doing some sort of cosplaying for years and have made costumes of Rorschach, Henchman 21 (Venture Bros), Peter Parker/Spider-man, and Hellboy. I have even won a costume contest for my zombie makeup abilities. I find cosplaying a great way to show devotion towards a character/series or what have you. I hope to eventually tackle some costumes such as Sterling Archer, Nightwing, Spellbinder (Batman Beyond), Walter White (Breaking Bad), and maybe even Treebeard (The Lord of the Rings).
You’ve illustrated a lot of scenes from a few of our favorite movies (Ghostbusters, The Lord of the Rings, The Goonies, etc). Which of your prints was the most fun to draw? Have you ever illustrated a scene from your favorite movie?
I had a great time creating E.T., Indiana Jones, and Goonies at the same time, as I was on an adventure kick. The truth of the matter is, I have fun creating all of them because I get to watch the movie a boatload of times and listen to the soundtrack, or just listen to the audio of the movie as I work on the piece. Doing that helps me keep the vibe of the movies alive and helps me capture it in my pieces. I have not done one of my favorite movie and I am not sure I ever will since it is a lesser known film (Cashback), but I have done most films I grew up watching. In a sense, they are favorites because I can watch them a million times over again and never grow tired of them.
You mentioned you created a piece for your friend Warwick Johnson’s comic, The Empty Grave: Daddy’s Little Girl, which was recently funded on Kickstarter. Were those prints your own, or did you take on his characters? (If they were your own, what were they? If they weren’t, then was it a challenge to put a spin on something he’d created?)
Yes, my friend Warwick Johnson wrote The Empty Grave: Daddy’s Little Girl and asked me to create a print for their Kickstarter donors and beyond. I am in the middle of making it now! It is based entirely in the world of the comic and uses the main character (and maybe more). The design is not based on any particular scene in the book, but more of a theme. I have taken inspiration from some old Spaghetti Western posters and incorporated elements into my print design. You will just have to wait and see and/or buy the comic when it comes out to get my print…
Have you ever considered drawing a full-length comic? Is that something we should look forward to someday?
Wow, I have briefly thought about it but have not actually gone through with it! A full comic would be sooooooooooo much work for me, especially while working two part-time jobs, doing artwork, and still managing sleep and a small social life; I could not fit this in right now. Only time will tell how things will fare for me creating an actual comic someday. The real question is: Would you like to see me create a full-length comic someday?
Do you have any advice for artists or creators with day jobs? How do you keep it all together while still maintaining your passion for art?
Where there is a will, there is a way. If you put your mind to it you can accomplish anything. If you want to get something done, then give it to a busy person to do. There are truths to all of those sayings, so just push yourself and believe in yourself because you can do it. While I may seem to keep it all together, there have been times when I burned the candle at both ends and ended up really exhausted. Make sure to pace yourself, know your deadlines, and do not forget that relaxation is super important in regards to having a clear, focused mind and body to get your work done. A healthy diet, some exercise, and making sure to stop outside to remind the Sun that you still exist is a good way to keep the positive energies flowing.
What else fills your spare time? Do you play video games or board games? Do you read a lot of books? Tell me a bit more about what makes you tick!
I do play a lot of video games. I am a Zelda guru (see my left wrist for Triforce), and I am mostly a Nintendo guy but I do have a PS3 and a PSP as well. I love the Batman Arkham series, the Bioshock series, and the Katamari games. I do read a fair bunch of books now. I am currently reading The Invention of Hugo Cabret, and also The Neverending Story. My favorite book is Ender’s Game. I am an avid board game player, too (mostly trivia-themed but sometimes I play some other ones). If you haven’t already, you should check out the new board game Quicksilver: The Great Airship Race by Split Second Games. It is a great game and the artwork was made by one of my friends! Movies and TV shows also fill some of my spare time; however, most of my free moments are spent with my girlfriend and we do fun stuff like fly kites, visit family and friends, go to cool places like the zoos or museums, or bake really cool and delicious goodies.
If you could have any superhero cook you breakfast, who would it be and why?
I thought long and hard about this one, and ultimately came to the conclusion that I would want the Ninja Turtles to make me breakfast because we would order pizza and watch cartoons and monster movies. I really can’t think of a better breakfast with some heroes, plus they are pretty rad dudes. Cowabunga!
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Pretty bitchin’ answers, right? We thought so, too.
Check out some more of Joel’s art in the gallery below, and better yet… Get even more art goodness by visiting his website. You can order prints, connect with him on the social medias, and even vote in a poll to determine his next project!
Images courtesy of Joel Siegel.