Pat Quinn - Moonstone Artist

After four graphic novels, Moonstone settled into a traditional comic book format with the solid work of writer Ben Raab and artist Pat Quinn. Pat is one of the fresh talents to emerge from the world of Independent comics. Friends of the Phantom caught up with him to learn about his work on the upcoming Moonstone Phantom comics.

What is your background?
Art-wise? I always drew super-heroes as a kid, and took art in high school. In college I started as an illustration major, but later switched to art-education so I could have some sort of career safety net. After being in the "real-world" for a few years I went to grad school for sequential art.

When is your birthday?
7-9-69

How did you get to team up with Ben Raab?
Ben and I know each other from out work together on our creator-owned comic called "Cryptopia". It was mostly Ben's efforts that got me on the Phantom. Bless him!

Could you describe your approach to putting a story together?
I'll give it a shot...I'm kind of changing my approach a little these days, but this is the basic approach:
-I'll read the script a few times, making mental notes.
-I'll read the script again, making little sketches/rough thumbnail ideas on the script.
-Then I make my thumbnails, which are unfinished drawings that have all the staging and storytelling elements figured out...or mostly figured out. The thumbnails are very small.
-Those thumbnails get blown up to 10"x15", and I light-box/trace the stick figures, etc. onto the bristol board using a non-photo blue pencil.
-I use those loose drawings as my base, and then do my rough drawing which includes constructing the anatomy, indicating perspective, and developing the lighting.-and then the final drawing . With the Phantom, I'm trying to cut out, or combine, a step or two, and since I'm inking the book I decided not to do a final drawing, but to finish the drawings
with ink.

What is the comic book business like today for aspiring artists?
I can only speak for myself, based on what I've experienced...it's been tough, and I expect it to continue to be so. Which is fine. I mean, I enjoy what I do and I've been given an incredible opportunity with the Phantom and I'm deeply grateful for it.

What are your goals for depicting The Phantom?
I'd like to keep the sense of awe around him. I'd like to make him "current" but still strongly rooted to his history and the all the fantastic work which defined the character.