2006 COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL ARTIST ALLEY EXCLUSIVE: I first met Andy Lee at the 2005 San Diego Comic-Con while we were both exhibiting next to each other in the artist alley. While I was trying to make chit chat with attendees, Andy was busy painting his works for eager fans. And let me tell you, he had more than enough attendee commissions to keep him painting every second. He was at his table surrounded by the adornment of his fans. When he did have a break from his work, I found him to be as personable and inspiring as his art was. The Testmarket Evolution (TME): How many years have you been coming to the San Diego Comic-Con as a professional artist? Andy Lee (AL): Well, I’ve been here since I believe 2000 or 2001. I can’t remember exactly when, but around that time. So about five or six years. TME: How many conventions do you do in a year? AL: I do about one a month from March to September. TME: Which show gives you the most exposure and commissions? AL: Well it’s hard to say because each convention has their own different types of interests. I guess San Diego would be the busiest, but as far as expos, some of the smaller cons will actually get you more exposure because there are less people to focus on. TME: Can you name some of the smaller cons that you enjoy and give you exposure as a rising artist? AL: Sure. Charlotte’s convention, Heroes Con would be the first one that comes to mind more than any other one because it’s very family run, you know, it’s more for comics sake and for the children and to me that’s the most worthwhile con as far as exposure to the right places go. TME: How long have you been working as an artist? AL: I started working about ’96 after I graduated from Wash U (Washington University) in St. Louis with a fine arts degree and started making something out of it. TME: What got you into wanting to be an artist and your influences when you were a kid? AL: My uncle taught me Zen brush painting when I was a kid and I of course enjoyed comics during that whole time and so I incorporated Asian aspects of art with western art with other things I enjoyed after that. TME: How old were you when your uncle began teaching you? AL: I was in the six grade. TME: Really young! AL: Yeah, really young. TME: And you were into comics and pop-culture art when you were growing up? AL: Yeah, I started with Richie Rich comics and went to Frank Miller and stuff like that as I got older.
|
©2006 The Testmarket Evolution
