{"id":2363,"date":"2019-06-01T13:52:26","date_gmt":"2019-06-01T13:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joehill.nl\/TheCollection\/?page_id=2363"},"modified":"2019-06-01T13:52:45","modified_gmt":"2019-06-01T13:52:45","slug":"interview-jay-fotos","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/joehill.nl\/TheCollection\/artist-corner\/artistcorner-interviews\/interview-jay-fotos\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview | Jay Fotos"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Jay Fotos<\/strong>, a multi award-winning comics veteran who is currently working professionally in comics industry for nearly two decades on hundreds of projects. To name a few, from Spawn<\/strong>, Sam and Twitch<\/strong>, Godzilla<\/strong>, Transformers<\/strong>, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles<\/strong>, Mars Attacks<\/strong>, 30 Days of Night<\/strong>, V-Wars <\/strong>(Netflix series coming soon) to the #1 New York Times Best Seller series Locke & Key <\/strong>(Netflix series in production) Co-creating the ongoing zombie Vietnam series \u201968,<\/strong> Frank Frazetta\u2019s<\/strong> Death Dealer<\/strong> and also spearheading the Frazetta Comics<\/strong> line through Image Comics. Fotos is currently working on comic series \u00a0<\/strong>(SYFY Channel TV series), George A. Romero\u2019s Road of the Dead<\/strong>, Dungeons & Dragons<\/strong> with IDW publishing. Creature concept designs<\/strong> for the hit Netflix series, THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Now also available the much-anticipated creator-owned RISING REBELS<\/strong> horror series exclusively at JAYFOTOS.COM<\/strong><\/p>\n

www.JAYFOTOS.com<\/a>
\nwww.68ZOMBIE.com<\/a>
\nwww.facebook.com\/JAYFOTOSstudios<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

How did you become a comic colorist? Were you looking to come in a colorist, or did you start as an inker, writer, penciller?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I kind of fell into being a \u201ccolorist\u201d Now-a-days I don\u2019t label myself as a \u201ccolorist\u201d I do so many other things I don\u2019t like to pinpoint just one aspect of the field. But I understand that most of the bigger projects I\u2019m involved in I\u2019m the \u201ccolorist\u201d It\u2019s all good, I just like to also talk about other projects I\u2019m involve outside of that. I actually started as an inker, with \u201cassists\u201d on a few Spawn titles that Chance Wolf kindly showed me the way. At the same time was learning the computer side of things and an opportunity opened up at Todd McFarlane Productions and I starting working in his \u201ccoloring department\u201d at his offices in Tempe, Arizona.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>When you color, do you use any photo reference or do you just pull it all out of your head?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m a big fan of movies and I pay attention to lighting, tones and moods set by movies\/TV shows. I was never a big fan of the traditional \u201csuper hero\u201d style of coloring. I was more about giving an overall feel\/mood to a story than rendering everything to look like plastic or wet lollypops, LOL! I kid, I\u2019ve rendered a few lollypops in my day, it can be fun at times and clients will ask for that style from time-to-time\u2026 I just grew away from that.<\/p>\n

Fundamentally, what is the role of a colorist in building a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

As mentioned, with me it\u2019s mood and tone. Giving a story more of an atmosphere. My intentions are to make the comics as less \u201ccomic-booky\u201d if that makes sense, more realistic in story-telling.<\/p>\n

How does a typical work day look like when you are coloring? And what do you do when taking a short break?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Depends on the project, if I\u2019m bunkered down to do an 20-22 page comic issue I usually give myself a full week (seven days) to just focus on that project. I do have a production assistant to help with flats\/preproduction, this helps me to just focus on my art and plan out my technique that best fits the style of art I\u2019m working with\u2026 That changes from project to project, I need to be a chameleon and work in different styles on what best fits the art\/story. My days are up and down, I\u2019ll work for 20-30 stints, get up and do something around the house to stretch my legs. Believe it or not, I don\u2019t like sitting in front of my computer and if there\u2019s an opportunity to get away from it, I go for it. Ha-ha!<\/p>\n

Is there something on in the background when you are working? Like music, podcast or TV playing? And what kind?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll mostly be listening to local 80s, classic rock radio stations. I\u2019ll listen to a pod cast here and there when there is something I\u2019m interested in or some creator I know is doing an interview.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>What sorts of tools do you use? And how long does it take to color a page?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Photoshop. Period. To color a page is tough to say, it can take 20 minutes to a few hours (and this is after flats are done by my assistant and however it takes him to do it) But some times I don\u2019t even do that and just go straight to \u201cpainting\u201d as I call it. Just completed a couple covers that way. It varies for sure on each project that get dropped in front of me.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Are some stories easier to color than others?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh yeah, there are styles that are much looser and some very complicated\/technical\u2026 say like L&K, Gabe goes crazy on architecture and landscapes. He doesn\u2019t cheat, so then I can\u2019t either.<\/p>\n

How is your relation with Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez whom you worked with on Locke & Key and with Charles Paul Wilson III, were you colored for Wraith?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our relationship is great, we are all professionals, we have our jobs to do and after the initial creative \u201cpow wow\u201d on what we would like done we go back in our caves and get to work\u2026 then at the end we all tweak and edit anything that needs to be fixed. Pretty cut n\u2019dry.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Tell me more about working with Gabriel and C.P.W. III, was there some back and forth before you started on a book? Like special color schemes or how to color some scenes?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I think those guys look to me to give them the initial first stab on how to approach it and come back with any notes or ideas. Luckily, these guys trust me enough and are usually pretty happy on what I do, so there isn\u2019t to much altering.<\/p>\n

How involved was Joe in the books? Was there a difference with Locke & Key and Wraith?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone is hands on, but like I mentioned everyone is dialed in with each other. One guy gets it and passes it off to the other and it all comes out fantastic at the end\u2026 like a relay race. With Charles on Wraith we approached the art a little differently, from what I remembered Joe and Charles had a couple notes and I ran with it and it worked out great\u2026 I LOVE how that series came out.<\/p>\n

Is it hard to switch styles between books? Do you try to style each story in a different way? Like with Locke & Key and Wraith?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve worked on close to 500 comics over the past 20 years, with different artists, writers etc. with that, I\u2019ve become really good in working in different styles and techniques. I love that about my job, it\u2019s a challenge with every new artist\/writer I work with and keeps things fresh.<\/p>\n

How many projects can you have simultaneously?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I average 2-3 books a month, but then I also do games, movies and TV production art as well.<\/p>\n

Are you a Joe Hill fan? If so, any fav books or short stories?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Of course! My wife was a fan before me, she read Heart Shaped box and the collection of short stories he did called 20th Centry Ghosts.<\/p>\n

Do you work in CYMK or RGB?<\/strong><\/p>\n

RGB in CMYK mode.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Do you think about how to lead the eye around the page with your colors?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, I always try a have a focal point either on the panel or page.<\/p>\n

You are one of the last to work with the pages, does that make you feel more pressure to make the deadline?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A lot of that is due to how\/who handles the schedule, a managing editor\u2019s job is to keep everything and everyone on track giving everyone ample time to complete their job. It also helps to work with professionals. I\u2019ve very lucky to be working with the best in the business, so that elevates the stress.<\/p>\n

Are colors in comics being reviewed enough? They are important to complete any story, but it seems there is not much talk about the colorist and their work.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hmm, I think in most circumstances the colorist finishes the art. So why not consider the colorist the artist too? On my books I create, I list all of us the \u201cartists\u201d there is no \u201ccolorist\u201d title. Reason also being is I tweak the art too to make it work\/read better and fix mistakes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>What is the mark of a good colorist? What marks out good coloring from coloring?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now-a-days I rate good coloring on \u201cless is more\u201d back in the day when Photoshop came into play on coloring comics everything was over rendered with lens flare filters on every panel overdoing everything. Working with the art and not over doing it I think has been my mantra.<\/p>\n

Is there any advice you can give, for a beginning colorist? What does it take to stand out as a colorist? To get noticed?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Be flexible. Don\u2019t overthink it. As I mentioned, working with so many artist and other creators I\u2019ve \u201cbent\u201d my style in so many ways to best fit the overall final art. I try not to push a certain style on top of another\u2019s that doesn\u2019t work. I see other colorist doing that, they have a curtain style or overdo it and they apply it to everything they do. I can hand you five different books I\u2019ve worked on and you would never guess they were all done by the same guy (me). I make it a point to work with the art and color it on what best fits the style and tone.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>What are your thoughts about both Locke & Key and NOS4A2 being developed for TV?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Amazing of course! Jonathan Maberry (Vwars creator) said I was a \u201clucky charm\u201d for him, because a lot of books I\u2019ve worked on adapted from other media or have become movies or TV shows\u2026 Vwars will become a Netflix series as well! Now I just need to get my own works on the big screen. Hello Hollywood, anyone listening?<\/p>\n

Will there be more to come for them in the future?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I hope so \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

What are you working on right now?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m just wrapping up my own series RISING REBELS. Completely creator driven, with no mainstream publisher, no distributor and only available straight from me at www.jayfotos.com I am also working on Dungeons & Dragons (IDW) just wrapped up a Wynonna Earp (IDW) and I do a lot of work with IDW Games, TMNT, BATMAN and some other projects we can\u2019t announce yet. Also do a lot of creature concept art too, you see the Netflix series \u201cThe Haunting of Hill House\u201d? I helped with all the concept art for all the ghosts!<\/p>\n

If you were a color, which one would it be?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Florescent green.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2014Ben, June 2019<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jay Fotos, a multi award-winning comics veteran who is currently working professionally in comics industry for nearly two decades on hundreds of projects. To name a few, from Spawn, Sam and Twitch, Godzilla, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mars Attacks, 30 Days of Night, V-Wars (Netflix series coming soon) to the #1 New York Times […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2160,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2363","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joehill.nl\/TheCollection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joehill.nl\/TheCollection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joehill.nl\/TheCollection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joehill.nl\/TheCollection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joehill.nl\/TheCollection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2363"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/joehill.nl\/TheCollection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2740,"href":"https:\/\/joehill.nl\/TheCollection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2363\/revisions\/2740"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joehill.nl\/TheCollection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joehill.nl\/TheCollection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}