Profile: Katie Cook

Katie Cook is a very busy girl: she has recently finished the first season of the Starwars.com Clone Wars webcomic, Her 8-page "Tricks of the Trade" was published by Dark Horse Comics in an anthology and she has just been commissioned by Strathmore Papers to create the cover art for a line of sequential lined bristol board. She also designed 25 "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" trading card set for Rittenhouse Archives AND she recently co-curated Visual Storytelling, an multimedia exhibit for Gallery Project in Ann Arbor showcasing sequential artists. I wonder when she sleeps…
-Madbadcat

::: Artist Name:::
Katie Cook

::: Title of Work(s):::
I’m all over the place…. but right now I’m currently working on the webcomics for the Star Wars the Clone Wars (via starwars.com) and a small project for DC Comics.

::: Website:::
www.katiecandraw.com

::: 1 ::: Tell us about yourself. Where did you grow up? What’s your favorite color? When did you first realize you were an artist? Did you draw as a kid? Color outside the lines?

I grew up in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area and have yet to learn anything about football. I love a good lime green, but if it’s too "limey", i don’t care for it. I’ve been drawing all over the margins of my papers since kindergarten and have been telling people i was going to be a cartoonist since then.

…and no, i always colored inside the lines. i used shading too! very impressive, i assure you.

::: 2 ::: What comic book genres interest you the most? Who is your favorite comic book artist and/or writer? How have they influenced your work?

I’m a huge fan of superhero comics… yet i don’t think they influence me as much as they should. I actually think a lot of my influence comes from the illustrations in books that i loved as a kid (like anything dr. suess, i think he was actually a big influence on my linework!)

and my favorite writers and artists can change every wednesday, so that’s not always a fair question!

::: 3 ::: How did you get involved in comics? What was your first comic?

i’ve wanted to draw comics and be a cartoonist for most of my life, so i feel pretty lucky. a few years ago, i started to draw some pages for a few, creator-owned things and eventually have worked my way up to being able to work on some of my favorite licensed properties (mostly from word of mouth through peers and art directors).
and my first large comic was one that i drew on lined paper about one of my teachers (back in middle school) that was stuck in several edgar allan poe short stories. if i remember correctly, she didn’t make it out alive. i’d not sure what that says about me… but i’m sure it has to do with fluffy bunnies and kittens.

::: 4 ::: What is your favorite story you’ve ever drawn? Favorite character?

It’s really hard to say, as i can’t actually talk about that project until…. march-ish. ha!

::: 5 ::: What was the hardest part of creating your work? What hardware (computer, scanner, printer, etc) do you use? What software?

the hardest for me is sometimes motivation (but the reminder i need to pay my mortgage normally takes care of that), but sometimes it’s sitting down and realizing how many people *see* what you’re working on after the fact. it kind of gives me stage fright and i get a little jittery about starting.

and i’m a mac.i have an intel 20" imac, an epson scanner that’s giant and slow, and printer that looks more like a VW bus than a machine… all crammed into a tiny room with a cat, a button maker, and a "wall-e" poster.

and i use the adobe CS3 suite. photoshop and illustrator are my two best friends. i also like to mix watercolor and other traditionally painted pieces with digital elements.

::: 6 ::: How have you handled the business side of being an artist? How do you promote your book/website/comic/work?

for the longest time, i was (awkwardly… and badly) handling the business side of everything. i have since handed off that charge to a man much better at this kind of thing. my husband ryan has taken over the roll of manager and he really helps me keep better track of everyhing. i’m a little scatter-brained sometimes so it’s really helping me out.

and i think that most of my promotion comes from having a blog and just making myself available online.
also, most people think my cat (named "ipod") is pretty adorable, so i’ve got a few crazy cat lasy followers.

::: 7 :::What’s the best and worst parts of being a full time, working artist?

the worst part is sleepless nights, deadlines and pulling out all of my hair because of said deadlines.

the best part is being able to wake up and say "i, in no way, shape or form, want to put pants on today". then you trudge to your studio in you pajamas and get to work… a cat in your lap and a dog at your feet.

::: 8 ::: Has the Internet helped your career as an artist? If so, how?

i think one of the best things you can do as an artist right now is have an internet presence. i have people that not only follow my work, but follow me… in a non-stalkery kind of way. but when people connect with your personality, your life AND your art. it’s pretty awesome and you’ve earned a fan-for-life.

::: 9 ::: What is one stereotype about comic book writers/artists that is absolutely wrong?

that we’re angry, bitter people.

::: 10 ::: What one stereotype is dead on?

that we’re angry, bitter, *lonely* people. (ha! just kidding…. maybe not)