Back in 2012, I went to my first convention. Never did I dream over 11 years later, I would have over 50 conventions under my belt and oftentimes, be selling my books or being an assistant to amazing celebs at them. Cape is an area I have loved visiting all my life; plenty to do, but not overwhelming like a massive city. So we they started having anime and comic cons, I was on board. Over the years, I have gotten to know so many wonderful people, calling them friends, all with their own lovely light and killer talents.
Lindsey is one of those, my Cape Con Sisters.
I first bought one of her works back in 2016 of a Swalbu (picture in here) at one of my favorite places, Villainous Grounds (a comic coffee shop.) I noticed her work at a Cape Con and we have become friends, lovers of 80s and 90s magical girls and CLAMP works that many younger generations are not familiar with, our collections, and fanfare for Sailor Moon deep. She is a tabletop player, a Pokemon master, a cosplayer, and a breathtaking artist and creative. And I cannot wait for you to meet her today! ^_^
This is a fan art she did for my new adult series, “The Hunter and The Bringer,” which is published in its fan book, “Before and After.”
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Creative-to-Creative Q and A:
1. Where did you grow up? Did your childhood have any impact on your art?
I grew up in Oil City, Pennsylvania. It’s a small rural town in the northwestern part of the state, roughly two hours north of Pittsburgh. I grew up in the mid 80’s and 90’s and still have a great love for everything from then. Cartoons, toys and pop culture just inspire me in general, my studio is decked out in a lot of my childhood toys and reproductions that have come out over the years. I adore bright colors and I’m sure that stems from my childhood.
2. Tell us about the first piece of art you recall ever doing.
My mother has told me that I’ve always been an art person. As soon as I had the motor skills to color and scribble I did, even on the hallway walls much to my mom’s dismay. I was that kid that you could set me down with a coloring book, or blank paper, and a box of crayons and I would be content for hours on end. I was fortunate enough that our public school system had a good art foundation as well. We had art classes included in our curriculum as early as first grade. What sticks out in my mind though was our book-it program.
In first grade, every book you completed reading you would get a little cut out of a book, the title of what you read would be written on it, and then there would be a blank head and hands for you to fill in. We were allowed to do whatever we wanted with these cutouts and when they were done each week we’d get to add them to the line of books in the hallways. I guess you could say I’ve been making fan art most of my life, because I turned all of my books into either Care Bears or Ninja Turtles. It was the 1989/1990 school year so the Ninja Turtles were a popular choice with most of my classmates too.
3. What are you currently working on?
I always have a few things going at once. I’m always working on my stock for the conventions I sell at. Crafty things like cross-stitched magnets, cat ears, buttons, the occasional plush toy. I’ve been doing a lot of mixed-media paintings this past year. I take acrylic paint and glitters to make an abstract background, then I decoupage printed images onto the canvases, before layering more paint and sometimes some extra items to pull the whole thing together.
I’m always making Pokemon fan art. My coloring pages are what I tend to do the most, but I’ve been getting back into full-color illustrations again.
I’m also getting back into making custom dolls, which is very time-consuming but so satisfying when I finish one. I just learned how to reroot hair and make doll wigs a couple years ago and I haven’t got to fully fine-tune my skills with this yet.
4. What is your favorite original character and piece you have ever created and why?
My favorite original character to draw would have to be Staria. She’s my alter ego and fan sailor senshi/scout that I created back in high school. She’s evolved over the years and been fleshed out as a character who suits whatever needs I have for her. Despite myself getting older, she’s still pretty much my college self, just a little more extreme at times.
It’s hard to pick one piece that I’ve done of her. I use her as my avatar a lot but she’s also the character that I use to tie all of my favorite fandoms together. Back when I first created her it was so I could insert a part of myself into the Sailor Moon universe. That turned into an epic crossover story that to this day I have not completed. Yet some of my favorite art of her comes from this unfinished series, “Tales of the Stars.” There’s one drawing that shows her current self struggling to accept her past life as well as her new powers as a protector of the universe. She’s standing in her school uniform looking distressed as images of her other forms loom over her.
5. Do you have to write/draw in order or do your ideas just come to you and you put them in order later?
Sometimes I doodle or make lists when ideas come to me, but usually I just need to start it or I won’t ever get around to it. I like to work in order usually, but sometimes I’ll jump around.
6. What was your path like until you found art?
I’ve never really had a time without art in my life. I didn’t get serious about it until high school. Before that, I had thought about being a teacher, but I don’t have the patience to be an educator.
7. What materials do you use for your artwork?
I prefer traditional illustration mediums. Give me paper, pencils, some fine liners and markers and I will go to town. I am trained though to work with various paint mediums, printmaking, sculpting, sewing, cross stitch and embroidery, photography, film and animation, basic graphic design, weaving, and some basic jewelry making. I can work digitally, but it is not my strong point. I am currently working to improve that skill as well, though it’s not my favorite.
8. Tell us about your book and its pictures and cover.
I don’t currently have a book, but I am working on a children’s storybook to dedicate to my nephew. It’s still very much in the pre-production stages. I’m still fleshing out a story and working on character design.
9. What inspires you to write and do art?
The various tv/book series that I enjoy are what inspires me the most. I love fanart, but I do get my own original ideas from other media. I’ve been working on a project that was inspired by color theory.
10. How do you get reviews and followers for your social medias? Any tips and tricks?
I’m terrible with social media. I honestly kind of hate it, but as an artist, I know it’s important and is really my own double-edged sword. I’m bad about keeping up with my own posts and I hate dropping money for boosts.
My tip is don’t be like me.
They say you should post three times a week though. Maybe I’ll get there if I focus a bit more.
11. What is harder: writing, editing, or marketing?
For me, marketing. I’m so bad at selling myself and my work to others. I just kind of stick it out there and hope for the best. I’m not trying to make my living off my art alone currently, so I don’t have that pressure of, this needs to sell so I can pay my bills.
12. If you could publish every book and art idea you’ve ever had, how many would you have out right now?
Oh gosh, so many. There would be four large series for sure, and maybe half a dozen one shots if I stuck with ideas that I have fleshed out.
13. Have you ever considered co-writing a book/series or piece with another creative?
I’ve actually tried on several occasions, but they have never panned out. In one case the other party just stopped communicating with me all together. The other was a family member who couldn’t take constructive criticism and that fell apart fast. The one that has hope of working is just a long time coming cause we’re both very busy people when it comes to our day jobs.
I’m open to collaboration, but all parties involved need to be willing to take input from the others.
14. What do you do to relax?
If I’m not doing art, I like to read. I love a good fiction novel, but I’ve just been reading a lot of comics as of late. I’ve got about four apps on my phone right now that I hit up each night before I go to sleep.
I enjoy playing Pokemon and World of Warcraft, they are my usual go-to games.
15. If you could tell your 14-year-old self one thing, what would it be?
Don’t let other people get to you. I got picked on a lot in middle school and when I hit high school I was a rather defensive person. I still care a little more than I should about what others think of me. Be your own person, you’ll live a happier life if you are.
16. What advice would you have for this upcoming generation?
Look at the world around you, not just the media that’s fed to you. Be less self-absorbed, life isn’t about “how does this affect me” it’s about how you play a role in what our world is. I get it, I like locking myself away and ignoring all the bad, but if we all do that, all the time, we can’t make anything better. I’d rather leave the world a better place for the next generation, not a worse one. We have enough to be scared of today, we shouldn’t want the future to be someone else’s problem.
17. Have you ever read a book that changed your outlook on life?
I don’t know if I’d say it’s changed my outlook, but I’ve read several that have made me a more open-minded person. Not everyone lives their life the same way, and we shouldn’t jump to judge them on that. Just because we don’t choose that path, doesn’t mean no one can.
18. Do you have a classic piece of art/literature or a classic author you are fond of? How about one that is overrated?
I love Vincent van Gogh’s works. His color palettes just speak to me and I love Impressionism in general. Starry Night is my favorite, but I also enjoy all of his sunflower works.
Art is subjective, but if I have to pick something, I’d have to go with “American Gothic” by Grant Wood. It’s an iconic piece and has been parodied right and left, but I just don’t care for it. I do find it funny though that most people believe that the subjects are husband and wife, when in fact they are father and daughter.
19. Is there any type of music that gets your writing juices flowing?
Music can inspire me, but it tends to distract me if I’m working. I listen to a lot of punk and alternative rock, but I’m a sucker for 80s pop. I have a soft spot for classical music that’s grown as I’ve gotten older. I appreciate it more, and I can’t help but laugh at how much I was exposed to because of Looney Toons.
20. If you could pick three people who are your heroes or role models, who would they be and why?
Naoko Takeuchi, the creator of Sailor Moon. I would not be the person I am today without her work. She inspires my art style, and is the reason I went to college for art.
Tim Burton, though his early works mainly. I love his imagination and art direction.
Eric Goldberg, he is a Disney animator who is trying to revive 2D animation at the studio. He has been working in animation since the 1970’s. I love that he is trying to preserve the legacy of hand-drawn animation in this age of digital that is slowly allowing it to become forgotten.
21. Dog or cat person?
I like both. I grew up with dogs, but I have cats in my home. I don’t have time for a dog, and cats manage on their own a bit better when I can’t be home.
22. What do you want to eat right now?
Honestly, I just finished dinner, so I’m full, but I’m sure I’ll want some ice cream before the night is out.
23. If you could be in any movie that has already been made, which one would it be?
I’ve been pretty obsessed with The Hunger Games again, as of late. It would be fun to be a capital citizen and get to wear an over-the-top crazy costume.
24. What is your favorite holiday or time of year?
I love Halloween. Admittedly it’s gotten harder to enjoy as an adult, but I still decorate and watch themed movies for the entire month of October. I try to dress up, but sometimes I get in my own way and skip a year from time to time.
URLS:
www.SlyDuckyCreations.com (under construction currently)
www.podzilla1985.com – Podcast Podzailla 1985
www.facebook.com/slyduckycreations – Facebook
BIOGRAPHY:
Lindsey Benet Wolfgong
Born: Feb. 8th 1983
Grew up in Oil City, PA, and graduated from Oil City High School in 2001
Holds a BFA in media arts with a focus in animation and a minor in art history from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
Currently resides in Cape Girardeau, MO.
I am a lifelong artist and crafter, I cannot think of a time when creativity hasn’t been a part of my life. I regularly sell my art at our local comic cons and at a local gaming store, Gaming Grounds, in Cape Girardeau.
I am an active cast member on the Podzilla 1985 network. I appear regularly on PZ85 Plays (a tabletop game show) and Podzilla After Dark (current events, all things nostalgic, and top 5 lists). We put out three to five shows a week, ranging in themes from pop culture, wrestling, the paranormal, and games. We will be celebrating nine years of recording this coming March.
