Q: How did you get started with illustration?
A: When I was young, I thought I would go into drawing comic books,
since my heroes growing up were comic artists like Jim Steranko, Joe Kubert
and John Buscema. But as I grew up, I found that I was much better at
painting a single, very finished image, rather than the quicker art that
comics require, so I went into illustration. I used to paint traditionally
in acrylic and gouache, but about 6 years ago I bought a computer, and now I
work almost entirely digitally.
Q: How exactly do you do the Animorphs covers?
A: I get a cover concept from the editor on the series, Tonya, and the
art director, Karen, specifying the character I will morph, and the animal.
I then do from 3 to 20 sketches in pencil, which I typically scan into the
computer so I can move the elements around and experiment with different
solutions. After a sketch is approved, I work with professional
photographers Addie Passen and Michael Frost to photograph the models who I
use as reference. Using this reference, I digitally paint the characters
and the animals, and run them through Elastic Reality using special
proprietary techniques I have developed. Some of the effects that I get out
of the program cannot be achieved using the program as it comes right out of
the box. Elastic Reality gives me much less than finished results, so I go
back in and rework every stage of the morph until it looks just right!
Q: How did you get the Elastic Reality morphing program?
A Elastic Reality is an Avid product. It is quite expensive, more
than $1000.00, and not at all easy to learn. However, it is the most
powerful of the morphing programs. I have been encouraging the Avid
company to create an "Elastic Reality Jr." that kids could use that would be
less complicated and expensive-maybe they will do that in the future and you
will be able to start making morphs yourself.
Q: What other graphic design programs do you use?
A: The other programs I use are Adobe Photoshop and Adobe After
Effects. I digitally paint using Photoshop and composite all of the
finished morphs. I also use After Effects, an outstanding animation and
editing program, to do the flipbooks.
Q: Do you draw the first picture inside the cover also?
A: I create both the cover and the cutback (inside front cover) for the
Animorphs books. One thing on the cutbacks that most people haven't noticed
is that I sometimes sneak in a surprise appearance by my favorite cat Orson.
Orson passed on to the "great cat home in the sky" several years ago, but I
keep her memory alive by hiding her in some of my covers. The cutback for
#24 contains an Orson appearance that only the most eagle-eyed Animorphs fan
will find.
Q: How can you create such good pictures on the computer? Everytime I
try to draw on the computer, it looks like a toddler drew it!
A: One way to make better pictures in the computer is to learn to draw
traditionally outside the computer. The computer is just a tool like any
other for an artist, and not a solution in itself. There are lots of things
that the computer makes easier for an artist, but getting a good idea down,
and setting up a composition, are still much easier with a pencil and a
piece of paper. Spend time drawing things around your house, and try
imaginary scenes and situations-then when you get back to the computer you
will have a concept to flesh out using the digital tools! Even when doing
my covers, there are hundreds of possible ways for a morph to occur, so I
sketch a range of solutions in pencil first and then transfer the best ideas
to the computer.
Q: Have you ever illustrated any of Piers Anthony's Land of Xanth
Novels?
A: I have only done one Piers Anthony books, called Macroscope,
published by Avon Books. I have never done a Xanth novel-most of them have
been painted by one of my favorite illustrators, Darrell K. Sweet.
Q: How many books do you illustrate a year?
A: I do around 20 to 25 projects a year, but not all of them are
covers. I also do matte paintings for films and commercials, and digital
animation.
Q: Any advice to young artists?
A: My advice to the aspiring artist is to draw all the time, and don't
get too obsessed with the computer. Any good artist can develop the skills
to work a computer, but very few computer people will ever develop into
artists. After you finish high school, get into the best art school you
can. I went to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and I
would highly recommend that school as a training ground. I have taught
courses at School of Visual Arts in New York City, and the curriculum there
is also wonderful. There is nothing like the creative environment of a top
art school to stimulate, develop and nurture your talent. Throughout my
life, I also have found inspiration by studying the work of other artists,
such as Bob McCall, Frank Frazetta, Jackson Pollack, Ingres, Albert
Bierstadt, Picasso, Paul Chadwick, Barclay Shaw, N. C. Wyeth, and Grant
Wood, just to mention a few of my favorites. If there is a name on this
list that you aren't familiar with, you should seek them out, and get
inspired by the great work of other artists.
Q: Why do you draw Tobias with brown hair? In her first book, K.A.
Applegate wrote that his hair was blonde.
A: I have been painting Tobias with dark blond hair, because the model,
although originally written as a blond in his book, showed up as a dirty
blond! So, you may have noticed that whenever his hair is currently
described by K.A., it is as a dirty blond.
Q: How long does it take you to make a cover?
A: It takes me 10 days or so to do the covers, 7 days for the cutbacks,
and 3 or 4 days for the flipbooks.
Q: Did you do covers for any other books?
A: I have been working as an illustrator for about 20 years, and I have
done more than 500 covers. I have worked for just about every major
publisher, along with such diverse clients as Michael Jackson, American
Express, Lucasfilm, Universal Studios, Totco Oil and Galloob Toys.
Q: What inspires you to do the Animorphs book covers?
A: I work closely with the art director, Karen, and the editor,
Tonya, but, of course, the greatest sources of inspiration are the
the wonderful stories that K.A. Applegate writes!
Q: Are you a big fan of Animorphs?
A: Absolutely! The books are truly delightful, and I am proud to be
part of such a fantastic series.
Q: Did you like to doodle on your notes when you were younger?
A: I drew all the time while I was growing up, on everything!!!
Q: How do you know what animal to draw?
A: I get a scene description from the editor, Tonya, and the
art director, Karen, who are responsible for the consistent look of
the series.
Q: Could you send/tell us about future covers?
A: Sorry, but I can't give away any of the upcoming surprises!!
Besides, you don't really want all the surprises spoiled, do you? You can
always look for the first announcements here at the official Animorphs web
site.
Q: Did you ever draw a picture of yourself (as an animal)?
A: I morphed my wife and me into two of our cats in the Christmas card
we sent out last year, but that is the only time I have done a self-morph.
Q: Do ever draw knights or dragons?
A: I have drawn a fair number of knights and dragons on my covers. You
should check out the cover I did of a dragon playing cards with a prince on
my web site at www.davidmattingly.com.
Q: What do you like to do in your past time?
A: I like to do a lot of the wonderful activities New York City has to
offer in my spare time. My wife Cathleen and I see lots of plays on
Broadway, and try to see as many of the art shows that come to town as we
can. We also like to hang around the house with our cats, watching movies
on video, and reading.
Q: Is drawing what you do for a living?
A: Yes, making pictures is what I have done for a living my entire
life. I feel very blessed to be able to get up each day and do something I
love.
Q: Why are they morphing in regular clothes on the covers?
A: I know that having the characters morph with shoes and loose
clothing is inaccurate to the books, but Scholastic and I preferred
depicting the characters in realistic everyday clothing, rather than
"morphing outfits." It makes the images more interesting, since the best
part of the morphs artistically is when there is a complex blend of colors
and fabric folds.
Q: Does the Animorphs series keep you full-time busy now or are you
working on other projects?
A: I do other covers and projects for other publishers. One of the
series I am working on is the "Honor Herrington" series for Baen Books,
written by David Weber.
Q: Are you contributing to the TV series?
A: I am not working on the TV series so far, but I regularly work in
that area and would enjoy doing some of the morphs if the opportunity arose.
I headed the Walt Disney Studios matte department in the early 1980's before
I moved to New York, so I have a lot experience doing effects for film and
television.
Q: Do you think you could post some rough drafts you had of the
Animorphs book covers?
A: I'm happy to hear you like seeing the preliminary sketches so much!
We do have a few sketches on this web site, and we will try to get more
posted in the coming months. Since I do several sketches for every finished
cover, there are a lot of ideas that don't get seen.
Q: What does a Yeerk look like?
A: The author describes a Yeerk as being a large gray-green slug or
worm with no eyes, and feelers up at the front of the head. I painted a
Yeerk for the flipbook of the "Hork-Bajir Chronicles." I'm also doing a
full painting of a Yeerk for an upcoming cover, but I can't tell you which
one.
Q: Is there any other place I can find your work?
A: I do have work at other sites on the internet, especially those
associated with 3D computer animation and modeling. You can use one of the
web search engines, like Yahoo or Alta Vista and type in my name to find
additional samples of my work. I also have a large color book of my science
fiction work out called "Alternate Views, Alternate Universes, the Art of
David B. Mattingly". You can get it through Bud Plant Comic Art at
800-242-6642. The book is around $20.00, and includes a signed book
plate when ordered from Bud Plant.
Q: When did you first start drawing images, covers and things like
that?
A: I have been drawing all my life, but my first professional cover
illustration was published in 1978. It was the cover for "A Wizard in
Bedlam", by Christopher Stasheff, published by DAW Books.
Q: What do you like to do on your PC?
A: I use my computers pretty much exclusively for doing my
illustrations, although I also write letters, do my finances and connect to
the internet.
Q: What do your cats do all day?
A: Our cats, like most felines, sleep most of the day, but we have a
young male cat, Henry, who has brightened our life with his boundless energy
and comic personality. He has more dash than five cats bundled into one,
and is constantly running around my studio.
Q: Do you enjoy your job?
A: I love my job. I have worked as an illustrator for 20 years, and I
have enjoyed every day of it.
Q: Do you talk to K.A. about the covers?
A: I don't discuss the covers directly with K. A. Applegate, but
everyone at Scholastic makes a special effort to stay true to her stories.
Q: Do you get a lot of e-mail?
A: I get a lot more e-mail since my section was added to this official
Animorphs site. Although I don't have time to answer, I read each one and
delight in e-mail from people who enjoy what I am doing!
Q: Have you done all the Animorphs covers?
A: The only Animorphs covers I haven't done are 1, 2, 9, 10 and 12,
because I was tied up on other projects.
Q: Did you do the cover for The Andalite Chronicles?
A: No. It was done by a friend, the talented illustrator Romas Kukalus.
Q: Have you met KA Applegate herself?
A: No, I have not met K.A. Applegate.
