Captain TGT Project

The “Captain TGT” Project started out with Lar deSouza, artist of Least I Could Do, Looking For Group and Executive Art Director of The Gutters, drawing a Commission Sketch for the Webcomics: What’s Cooking? Feeding Families: City by City Large Magnets

I have always been fascinated by the talented people that I get to interview. Yet there is always something more to know, more to ask them, more to have them share with everyone. What better way to showcase their talents through their art. Add in a few simple, but thought provoking questions and you have the simplest form of expression there is. Look through these talented creators and learn a little more about them.

Name: Robert Torres
Website URL: http://www.punkinstudios.com
Summary of your comic:
Depends. For my long form (The Fall: Divinity) it’s: Two brothers who hold the fate of an entire world in their hands. For my less serious gag a day (Melvin’s Domination): A disgruntled genius and a slacker IT loser live together and get into all kinds of trouble while trying to take over the country first, later the world.
What is art to you?:
It’s a lot of things. It’s therapy, it’s expression, it’s a way. I look at art as something that I was always fated to do and swept me away from the real world and into a world I create and can do whatever I want in. Whether it’s comic art or fine art. all of it transports me emotionally and mentally. Also, it’s a great excuse to avoid theme parks. “sorry hun, I have to crank out this week’s comics.”
What inspired you to draw Captain TGT as you did?
My wife and I were in the middle of a pirates of the caribbean marathon here at the house and when you brought up the concept of CAPTAIN TGT I immediately thought of Captain Jack Sparrow, which in turn made me think about pirates in conjunction with this project. So I decided I would make her a Pirate Captain. It was a lot of fun to actually sketch her out and let her come to life organically. Fun project.

Michael J. Phelps (not the swimmer)
http://www.lifeon66.com
My web-comic, http://www.lifeon66.com, is a gentle and easy look at life. A solid cast of characters that you would want to know in real life. Always joking and looking for things to do. The comic is set in a town that I grew up in and the characters are loosely based on real people that I know.
Art to me, for many of my early years, was a way of life and my lively hood. Form 1969 to 1979 I was a commercial-industrial-graphic artist. Doing everything from line drawings to air brushing to photo retouching to key lining. In the studio I worked in each person was a Jack of all trades. Wasn’t too much free style and every thing we did had to be precise. Free hand drawing was never used. And all drawings were by hand. Computers were not around.
As far as drawing comics, this started at a very early age. Kindergarden. All through grade school and high school I had a sketch pad with me. And I was very fortunate to have the greatest art instructors in high school. College courses were regimented and never offered a true challenge. But any knowledge is good. I got a small break as a cartoonist in the summer of 1978. I cannot go into detail due to a H.A.P.A. agreement but I can tell you I “ghosted” for 5 days for a very famous strip My 15 minutes of fame. hahaha.
The inspiration to draw my Captain TGT the way I did was a throw-back to another strip I did, Blue Number 7. Slightly “Steam Punk” but a lot cleaner. Kinda like what Degas said about Monet’s impressionism, “Impressionism yes, but with lines.” I just saw the Captain as a big gun wielding, no nonsense type of woman. Went from there. I hope you like it.
Name: Robin Dempsey
URL: http://leylinescomic.com
Summary of your comic: The lives of three siblings are shattered by their mother’s suicide. When the riddles of Dreameater, god of Knowledge, hint at foul play, Tama, Mizha, and Zhiro must escape the coils of conspiracy and unravel the will of the gods to avert disaster. Nearly 25 years ago, their father paid dearly for peace. What price must his children pay to keep it?
What is art to you? Art is a way to express the story of self. For me, my work lets me symbolically weave bits and pieces of my own personality and struggles into a new and creative world. I grow as a person as my characters do. So I view art as a way for people to share their lives and minds with others.
What inspired you to draw Captain TGT as you did? There are so many different types of Captains that I wanted to pick a kind a little off the beaten path. Besides, powerful women in suits are sexy, and who am I to question the will of a terrifying and dangerous red-head? As long as no horse heads appear in my bed, I’m happy.
Name: Michelle van Zandt
Website URL: http://www.ginpu.us
Summary of your comic: My comic is about the battles of life on a small scale. On a large scale it’s about gods and people, and the smaller gods in between. It’s past horrible memories and moving on with your life. It has struggle and strife, and even good feelings.
As I have on my Project Wonderful Page:
Serious story, not-so-serious art. An anthro webcomic about missing memories, cloned kids and a distaste for gods. Dragons, Tressyms, and Tigers oh my! Updates EVERY Friday!
Ginpu.us is an anthro/furry webcomic. While the artwork stays in PG, the language occasionally goes to PG-13. Ginpu.us has been up and running for over 4 years now.
What is art to you?
It’s a way to express oneself. Whether it be literal and straight to the point or crytic and avant garde, Art is an expression of one’s thoughts, feelings and soul. (sound like an art snob ey?)
What inspired you to draw Captain TGT as you did?
Combination of things. I specialize in anthro art & my comics are anthro, so it just came naturally. I wanted something of a little different captain. The weapon is a jutte or jitte. Something a low ranking samurai would use to uphold the law. I felt this would also reflect my fondness of many things Japanese. The outfit is inspired by some modern day wear and outfits you would find in Shadowrun settings. Cyber-punk. This would be my fondness of things of the technological persuasion. The color & fur pattern was based off a kitten I was eying at our humane society’s website. (who I’m adopting & picking up this Saturday). Why green? Thought it would help people link it to the future, to technology. I don’t use green that much so I thought it’d be nice for a change. Poor color being left in the cold like that. XD