Interview with...
JATINDER GHATAORA
British artistic talent
Jatinder Ghataora was born in Tanganyika and has lived most of his life in
England. His world experiences have helped him form unique understanding which shows in his art. Jatinder recently
stopped by CBI Central and discussed his art career and his future projects…
JMH: Where were you born and raised?
JATINDER: I was born in a country that no longer exists. Tanganika, I have the honour of having been to Infant school (Kindergarten?) in three different continents, Africa, India and Finally Europe. Lived in Birmingham for most of my life.
JMH: Tell CBI about yourself…
JATINDER: My Parents are from India, Typical Indian Family, was discouraged from reading comics. I did read my older brothers’ comics and started collecting from 1973. I Went to State School, College then Polytechnic, Started My working Like in 1984. In the last 31 years I've had about 12 different jobs and now I’m not working, I can peruse a career in comics.
Or as they say: Jatinder Lives in Birmingham, England, UK, with his Dog, Wife and two kids. (That is my Dog going for my throat in the picture so you know why he is first).
JMH: How long have you been drawing comics?
JATINDER: I self-published a couple of fanzines in the early 1980’s. I had a sketch I sent in for a competition (I didn't win but it still got published in 1982, in a UK Marvel Rampage Magazine. As well as one or two other pieces. By 1991, other things took priority (son, wife and mortgage), so I almost stopped what little drawing I was doing for around 20 years
JMH: How did you break into the industry drawing comic books?
JATINDER: In the last few years I've done sketches for friends and Family, but Southern Heroes is really my first “Internationally” Published work.
JMH: Do you have any formal art training?
JATINDER: Very little the school art teacher didn't see comics as real art, my exam submission was a painted Iron Man and a street scene which was they local laundry, including a lot f graffiti. I did get a decent grade ain Technical Drawing.
Now that I’m not working I attend night school classes at the Independent Art School. I’m doing a diploma in cartoon art with the London Art College and all being well I’ll be doing another art class at the Birmingham MAC; you’re never too old to learn.
JMH: Who are your artistic influences?
JATINDER: The earliest art I can remember was a painting my father had on the wall which came from TIME Magazine. It showed a hand grabbing a barbed wire and it was very graphic and gruesome. The first comic art that grabbed me was the cover of Captain Marvel 19 by Gil Kane and Captain Atom by Steve Ditko. If you bear in mind that I could I was only learning English and it was and always has been the Artwork that attracts me to comics. The studio was a great book and I’m so glad I've met Barry Windsor-Smith, Bernie Wrightson and Michael William Kaluta and would have loved to meet Jeff Catherine Jones. Special mention to Lilliana and John Bolton. They invited me to join they at their table at the 2013 LFCC. The rest are all the usual suspects Wally Wood, Jim Starlin Bill Elder, Bill Evertt, Neal/Arthur Adams, Steranko, Kirby, Cockrum... this could be a very long list.
JMH: How do you focus when drawing?
JATINDER: Have the TV on or Listen to Music, Morrell (http://morrell.bandcamp.com/album/late-nights-vol-2-white-light-ep), Snooty Bobs, Talking Heads and Lena Lovich. In fact I've made a few videos, check out:
https://www.youtube.com/user/jatindersg
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8v33TH_chs
JMH: What types of technology do you use to draw?
JATINDER: I like the feel of the Pentel Twist-erase pencils, Tombow Pens for inking as well as a variety of other kinds of pens and pencils, (I'm terrible for leaving them lying around and end up buying new ones when I'm out and about), Lettraset and other cheap markers. I also use Manga Studio 5 for digital colouring.
JMH: What was the first comic book you ever read?
JATINDER: Before I could read, I loved the pictures, the first I can remember was Captain Marvel and Captain Atom. The colours were brighter on the Captain Marvel and the image was so striking that I did a redraw of the cover in an updated version, I dare not compete with the Mighty Gil Kane Comics I actually read were British weekly comics called Countdown, Hotspur and Mighty World of Marvel (Black and white reprints of Marvel.
JMH: Do you read any of the new comic books that are being published today? If so, which ones?
JATINDER: Besides Lucky Comics ( www.luckycomics.com ), War by Fly Comics (I’m doing a comic strip for Neil Sambrook, the guy behind Fly Comics), Picked up a load of comics at the Birmingham Comic festival lots of indie stuff.
JMH: Print vs. Digital. Your thoughts…
JATINDER: As I collect original art it has to be the paper version digital stuff is good presentation, but it does make you wonder where the artist’s skill ends and the software graphics take over. For myself, I try and do as much colouring (coloring) by hand but I have started using the PC for some stuff.
JMH: What sources do you use for cover images?
JATINDER: First thing is to read the script, and image something that would reflect that the story is about. I used to love the old horror barbarian stuff and often it would have the girl clutching the barbarian’s leg or being threatened by some monster, but that didn't actually happen in the comics hence I put a girl on the Cover of Southern Heroes. Sometimes if I need to draw hands I would look at my own or mirror (when I say I have a hand in the artwork, I really mean It is my hand I've drawn), or even take a picture, failing that I may use google to search images. I intentionally don’t try and look at other covers while I’m drawing, right or wrong, I want it to be my art and not someone else’s.
JMH: What other mediums or genres have you drawn for?
JATINDER: Mostly horror/superhero/real life. I really enjoyed adapting a song to comic format but it was a rather gruesome song about a girl eating her father…. Damn it wish I hadn’t remembered that, I’m having one of those moments when you get a tune in your head and you keep sing it all day.
JMH: If you could draw a book from one of the big two (Marvel or DC), which character/s and why?
JATINDER: Ideally, a new character as established characters have a lot of baggage and will always be compared to previous incarnations of the character, saying that something like Jonah Hex would be cool because he is more or less a standalone character, most of his stories are nice and compact no large story arches that spread all over the place.
JMH: What project are you currently working on now?
JATINDER: A four page story called “After the War”. Below is a panel from the story reproduced here by permission from Fly comics/Neil Sambrook).
I am studying for a Cartooning Diploma. Attending night school, looking for work etc...
JMH: What future projects do you have in the pipeline?
JATINDER: A creator owned project, I’ve done some prelims, but need to arrange the story. I may be looking to work with some other writers.
JMH: Do you have any words for aspiring artists?
JATINDER: DO NOT GIVE UP!!! You will find regardless of what /how you draw you will get comments like it’s no good or that it looks like someone else’s art, Just draw/write/create for yourself. The more you do something the better you get and you will come across good critics who will say something like… “Have you thought about doing it like...” and those are the people you have to admire and decide if you want to take on their views. Be open to Learn / Listen and Adapt.
Stick to your word, agree timescales. A publisher will want to put a book out at a certain time for an event, agree on a schedule with other people working on the project (even if it is yourself).
Treat others as you would like to be treated.
JMH: How can fans and publishers get a hold of you?
JATINDER: email: [email protected]
I’ll be attending a couple of conventions in the UK later this year ICE, in Birmingham and I’ll have a table at the Nottingham Convention.
JMH: Jatinder, CBI appreciates your time. All the best.
JATINDER: Thank you for giving me this opportunity and I hope you enjoy my art.
JATINDER: Before I could read, I loved the pictures, the first I can remember was Captain Marvel and Captain Atom. The colours were brighter on the Captain Marvel and the image was so striking that I did a redraw of the cover in an updated version, I dare not compete with the Mighty Gil Kane Comics I actually read were British weekly comics called Countdown, Hotspur and Mighty World of Marvel (Black and white reprints of Marvel.
JMH: Do you read any of the new comic books that are being published today? If so, which ones?
JATINDER: Besides Lucky Comics ( www.luckycomics.com ), War by Fly Comics (I’m doing a comic strip for Neil Sambrook, the guy behind Fly Comics), Picked up a load of comics at the Birmingham Comic festival lots of indie stuff.
JMH: Print vs. Digital. Your thoughts…
JATINDER: As I collect original art it has to be the paper version digital stuff is good presentation, but it does make you wonder where the artist’s skill ends and the software graphics take over. For myself, I try and do as much colouring (coloring) by hand but I have started using the PC for some stuff.
JMH: What sources do you use for cover images?
JATINDER: First thing is to read the script, and image something that would reflect that the story is about. I used to love the old horror barbarian stuff and often it would have the girl clutching the barbarian’s leg or being threatened by some monster, but that didn't actually happen in the comics hence I put a girl on the Cover of Southern Heroes. Sometimes if I need to draw hands I would look at my own or mirror (when I say I have a hand in the artwork, I really mean It is my hand I've drawn), or even take a picture, failing that I may use google to search images. I intentionally don’t try and look at other covers while I’m drawing, right or wrong, I want it to be my art and not someone else’s.
JMH: What other mediums or genres have you drawn for?
JATINDER: Mostly horror/superhero/real life. I really enjoyed adapting a song to comic format but it was a rather gruesome song about a girl eating her father…. Damn it wish I hadn’t remembered that, I’m having one of those moments when you get a tune in your head and you keep sing it all day.
JMH: If you could draw a book from one of the big two (Marvel or DC), which character/s and why?
JATINDER: Ideally, a new character as established characters have a lot of baggage and will always be compared to previous incarnations of the character, saying that something like Jonah Hex would be cool because he is more or less a standalone character, most of his stories are nice and compact no large story arches that spread all over the place.
JMH: What project are you currently working on now?
JATINDER: A four page story called “After the War”. Below is a panel from the story reproduced here by permission from Fly comics/Neil Sambrook).
I am studying for a Cartooning Diploma. Attending night school, looking for work etc...
JMH: What future projects do you have in the pipeline?
JATINDER: A creator owned project, I’ve done some prelims, but need to arrange the story. I may be looking to work with some other writers.
JMH: Do you have any words for aspiring artists?
JATINDER: DO NOT GIVE UP!!! You will find regardless of what /how you draw you will get comments like it’s no good or that it looks like someone else’s art, Just draw/write/create for yourself. The more you do something the better you get and you will come across good critics who will say something like… “Have you thought about doing it like...” and those are the people you have to admire and decide if you want to take on their views. Be open to Learn / Listen and Adapt.
Stick to your word, agree timescales. A publisher will want to put a book out at a certain time for an event, agree on a schedule with other people working on the project (even if it is yourself).
Treat others as you would like to be treated.
JMH: How can fans and publishers get a hold of you?
JATINDER: email: [email protected]
I’ll be attending a couple of conventions in the UK later this year ICE, in Birmingham and I’ll have a table at the Nottingham Convention.
JMH: Jatinder, CBI appreciates your time. All the best.
JATINDER: Thank you for giving me this opportunity and I hope you enjoy my art.
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