Growing up, I loved comics and was always drawing pictures from them and making up stories of my own--even though I never tried to draw those stories out in paneled pages--just in single illos. I didn't know that I wanted to be a comic book artist, but I always knew I wanted to be an artist and initially thought I'd like to illustrate book covers. I attended college for a degree in Fine Art, but discovered, on graduating, that it had not trained me for anything in particular as the commercial aspects of art had not been covered. That summer, I was talking to the owner of a local comic book shop and mentioned how I wanted to illustrate covers. I showed him my portfolio and he mentioned the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. I looked into it and within two weeks (it was already August, I had to move on this!) I had interviewed and was accepted for the coming school year. It was just one of those serendipitous things for me--walking into the school, and seeing all the comic art on the walls was a homecoming for me, I just knew it was what I wanted to do. I don't know of any better place to have learned storytelling.

 

Wow, that is awesome, Jan.

I mainly do single illos too, and post things to Deviant Art.

I'm kinda afraid of going for a Fine Art Degree. I've spent six years in the army, and have decided to finally pursue a degree. There doesn't seem to be many jobs out there for people with Art Degrees.

 

Hey Jan, I got a question about when you drew X-Factor back in the '90's. While I did enjoy your work there, the way you did Polaris had me boggled about something.

[link=http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp254/Jagger_Slade/Randoms/polaris.jpg]Polaris[/link]

What's with the hair being so long?

 

Having a Fine Art degree never netted me even one job in the comic book or illustration biz. No one ever asked about it. When editors are looking at your work what it all comes down to is what they see in your portfolio. If you want to learn illustration and comics and want to further your education, then find a school that teaches toward a career and not a degree--one that understands that art is a business and not a hobby. Find a school that makes you work you fingers to the bone doing art every day. At JKS we were all immersed in art for the time we were there, so if you really want to do art for a living find a school that will do that for you.

 

There's a blast from the past. That is long hair on Polaris. Stylistic choice, I think, but who can recall--that was another lifetime ago!

 

Thanks for the advice, Jan

 

Hair can be an excellent metaphor in art, though. I used to draw an amateur comic where one character's hair started out long, got shorter after a Heroic BSOD*, and then slowly got longer again. But with Polaris, I never interpreted it anyway.

*The Star Wars example: "That's not true! That's impossible!"

 

That's the fun thing about comic book art--exaggeration is part of the art form. It can give movement to a picture that does not move.

 

I've always thought as much. I actually started drawing comics while baby-sitting my younger brother and his Mighty Morphin Power Rangers obsession. Parodying it kept me sane. Most of the tropes of superhero comics, anime, and kids' TV got parodied or lampshaded to some extent. Oh, and the characters were all mentally frakked up. I did mention that, right?

Then I accidentally recycled all the drawings?

 

I used the old Mon Cal ship because I figured that anyone running with gangsters like the vigo would probably cruise around in something a bit older and probably stolen. For the Black Sun ship, I just wanted something that looked fast that could also carry cargo.

I don't think Deliah appreciated the 'new' outfit much. Too confining...

Thanks! Glad to hear you liked the issue.

 

Jan, thought I'd give you a little heads up about two Ur-Sema Du icons which were recently uploaded. Thought you might like to look like you. Or not. Either way, [link=http://boards.theforce.net/UserPages/Icons.aspx?orderbydate=True&category=&search=&page=1]there ya go[/link].

 

Hi Jan D.,

With regard to Deliah Blue (whose background you?ve barely been hinting at ), did you ever consider designing her with short hair, a tied-back hairstyle or a headband? It seems rather impractical for a mechanic to have long loose hair around machinery. Or is that how and why she?s a woman of choice words?

 

Easy question first. I considered a lot of possibilities when designing Deliah including short or tied back hair. Her hairstyle would be impractical in real life, but I wanted Blue to personify everything a Zeltron should be--sexy and cool whether she is fixing the Mynock, taking out bad guys or flirting with Cade. The blue hair is her signature, so it seemed appropriate to have it long and flowing. I've tried a headband on her a couple of times, and maybe she will show up in one eventually. Well, of course, she is all trussed up in the Imperial Missionary robes in the latest issues... Poor Dee...

 

You mean you don't think short hair could be sexy on a Zeltron? While I see your point, Deliah could probably get away with it, since she doesn't seem to be a typical Zeltron. I mean, didn't you decide to make Cade a blonde instead of a brunette because it was more of a challenge?

If Deliah does eventually show up with some sort of headgear, maybe it could be like the bandanna that the Marvel character Elektra habitually wears? She could probably give Deliah a run for her credits in terms of sexiness...

 

Short hair could be very sexy on a Zeltron and I did do a preliminary sketch of her with short hair as well as a head scarf of some sort, but it just wasn't Deliah. John and I have talked about this a lot--how you set off to create a character and then how they take over and create themselves. That's just what Deliah did, what Cade did, what they all did, come to think of it. Initially, I did take on the challenge of Cade as a blonde just because John threw that gauntlet down, but now i can't imagine Cade any other way than his fair-haired, snarky self.

Maybe I should draw Blue in an Electra pose with two hydrospanners instead of sai.

 

With the bandanna too? That would be great! I'm sure Deliah'll get the opportunity if Darth Talon ever shows up again, won't she?

 

Hi Quest!

I think it is officially a decade now since I started illustrating SW comics in 1999! It has gone by quickly--too quickly, in fact. That's what happens when you are having fun doing something and I have had a blast illustrating SW. I never set out to do that--figured I would just do an arc or with great good luck two.

It seems like the SW universe has definitely gotten larger and (if possible) more intricate. Since all of the films have been made and the story of Anakin told, other story possibilities have opened up. That's been interesting to see. A decade ago, I don't think there could have been a Cade Skywalker.

 

I've got to say, before I had to stop buy comics altogether (financial reasons) Legacy was among my favorites on my regular monthly to-buy list. I think a well written book can still be considered "good", but for it to be "great" it needs both things. And I always felt Legacy had both in spades! The attention to detail always made it easier for me to allow myself to be sucked into the stories.

 

Hi son_of_skywalker! Sorry to hear you had to stop getting comics. Finances, bleh. Hope you can still get to see Legacy at your local library (sometimes they do have them!) Nice to hear you liked what you saw in Legacy. We try to put attention to detail and character, so it's good to see that is working. Hope you will find a way to beg or borrow the trades to find out what happens to Cade and crew. Thanks for posting!

 

Thanks for the response. Always cool to see the people involved in the things you love actually taking the time to acknowledge you. And I don't think that can ever be overstated.

I do however plan on getting back into the book sooner rather than later. Just not sure exactly when that might be. I've been missing (in more than one way) the mis-adventures of Cade and co. since last November. Like I said somewhere before, it was issue 12 of the Vector cross-through that was the first issue I missed. I'm drawing a blank on which issue of Legacy that was....However, some of what I'm hearing is on the horizon has definitely got my interest peaked enough to where I just have to find a way back to reading the book each month. Mainly the Mandalorians.

Like I said, thanks for the reply, and I will be catching back up with the rest of you as soon as I can. Until then

 

I love your art! I used do a lot of sketching back in my high school days, but in the 17 years since then I notice I've lost my touch quite a bit. I was never up to your caliber anyway, but you and some of the other Star Wars artists have inspired me to start picking up the pencil again and getting back into practice.
Anyway, I have a question. When it comes to adding background aliens in your work are you given direction from the writer as to what kinds of species they would like to see or do you get to choose from some of your favorites? The interesting background characters have always been one of my favorite parts of Star Wars. I'm hoping some of the long forgotten aliens like the Annoo-dat Blue and the Tammuz-an can get a cameo appearance someday!

 

Jan, do you mind confirming a query for us at Wookieepedia.

Did you use Thomas Spanos' likeness for the basis of various character illustrations including Ganner Krieg and Darth Bane (the hologram in legacy)?

I think I already know the answer, but there is a rather persistent editor on Wookieepedia who wants to deny this.

 

Please tell the editor on Wookiee that Thomas was the inspiration for both Imperial Knight Ganner Krieg and Darth Bane in the holo.

How's that?