Ferguson’s 7 Questions With… John Quigley

Answering this time is an artist who will be making his publishing debut in the upcoming Cork Sci-fi Comic… John Quigley.

What was the first comic work you did that was published?

The Cork Sci Fi Comic is my very first published work!! I went to DICE with some pages and a few months later I saw that Turncoat press were looking for submission’s so I sent them in and I ended up working on it!! It’s a 4 page story about an Evil Scientist who wants to send Cork back to the stone age, but our hero Lee Rivers might have something to say about it!! I’m from Clonmel, Tipperary so it was nice of the Cork lads to let me on it!!

What is the biggest thing you have learned since that book?

That cringe and shudder I felt when I saw what I’ve drawn told me that I’ve a long way to go and to keep practicing. I’m always looking for ways to improve! It just made me want to practice more. Someone said Success leaves footprints.

What’s your process for drawing a comic book?

I research and gather up all the references I need, locations, cars, body poses, technology . It’s a black and white comic so I researched a lot of the Batman black and white comics and how the panels were laid out. Read the script a few times and thumbnail it.

I try and get my pencils as tight as possible and bring out as much detail as I can. Then I scan it in and convert it to non photo blue and start inking. I use really fine brushes, and some markers. Then I tighten it all up on Photoshop. I went to a comic work shop run by Nick Roche and Stephen Mooney where I really learned a lot about process.

What is the biggest influence on your work?

Artists: Frank Frazetta, Yoji Shinkawa, Final Fantasy art, Jim Lee, Frank Quitely, Gary frank, Sean Murphy. Jae lee is my biggest influence though I think he’s style is amazing. Huge Dark Tower Fan!!
Writers: Stephen King, Tolkien, Peter David, Paul Jenkins, Grant Morrison, Geoff Johns.
TV: Batman TAS, Band of Brothers, X Files, The Walking Dead, I love the shadow and lighting in these shows.
Movies:I love the feel of Ridley Scott’s movies, Blade Runner Especially, Christopher Nolan’s for the tension and the detail , Lord of the Rings for the size and scope of what they did and Spaghetti Westerns, The man with no name trilogy.

What are you working on right now?

I’m just finishing up some art for the Cork Sci Fi Comic at the moment. We’re releasing a trailer for the comic where our artwork in the stories will be animated!! So I’m looking forward to seeing that. Other than that I’m working on anatomy and drawing different things every day!!

What do you out now or coming out next?

I’m hoping to get on another book before the end of the year, there might be something in the works, I’m just keeping my fingers crossed at the moment. And then stressing myself out getting a portfolio ready for DICE!!

What is your favourite Irish comic?

I really liked Monster Motors by Nick Roche this year, looking forward to getting the sequel The Curse of Minivan Helsing!! Really enjoyed Declan Shalvey’s Moon Knight run and Rob Curley’s League of Volunteers was great too. Half Past Danger is amazing. It’s a really hard question you know…

EXTERNAL LINKS

John Quigley on Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnquigley209