So after having a complete throw away piece amass nearly 7,000 notes, gaining nearly 2,000 new followers, and being asked more questions than I could ever have time to respond to…I decided that the best way to handle all of this is to do a quick little Q & A to tie up any possible loose ends. And yes, unfortunately the entirety of this list is based on real questions asked to me by (apparently) real people.
Who are you?
My name is Matthew Woodson, I am a Chicago based illustrator. People seem to insist of referring to me as “Ghostco” when it is in fact just the name of my website and not anything I would actually ever refer to myself as. I grew up far away from here in a place where I seemed to attract a whole lot of burs, snake bites, poison ivy, ticks, and new pets. I attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where I learned close to nothing about anything. I have been represented by the wonderful and talented Christine Cavallomagno since 2006, and will probably continue to be until one of us dies.
How do you make your work?
Anymore 80% of my work is done in india ink with watercolor brushes on Bristol vellum and then scanned into photoshop where I apply “separations” of color. When I am feeling lazy or need to do something quickly, I use Manga Studio EX 4 instead of drawing on paper. I do NOT use vectors, nor do I use Adobe Illustrator. If you have read this blog for any amount of time, you will know that my attempts in learning Illustrator were ill-fated….mainly due to the fact that I am an idiot and mentally stuck in 1998. All of the textures and antiqued paper I use in my work are either made by hand or found and then scanned in personally. I am physically incapable of drawing cars and/or dogs.
Your colors are great! How did you go about acquiring your palette?
In reality, I hate using color. When I started out illustrating I never ever used colors, but because of client demands and whatnot I quickly realized that color was something I had to utilize. So in the end I try and use as little color as possible, or mute the hell out of what colors I do use. I guess it has kind of developed into a style, when really I am just stubborn.
Do you use reference?
This is a question I get asked a whole lot. And yes, like every artist I use reference. But the real question is what do you mean by “reference”? 30% of the time I draw from live models or from mirrors (I have a very elaborate way of setting up mirrors in my studio, not to mention Apple’s Photo Booth is a god-send). 30% of the time I draw from photos taken by myself or friends. Very rarely do I use found photos, and when I do it is only for personal work or practice. The remaining 40% of the time I just draw from my head. I spent the majority of my “art” education taking figure drawing and anatomy classes and studying the masters. Knowledge of the human anatomy and figure drawing is an essential part of the work I do, and I would be pretty helpless without it. And as stupid as it sounds, after nearly 20 years of owning it “How To Draw The Marvel Way” is still one of the most helpful books I have ever read.
You seem to be reluctant to be a well known artist. What’s the deal? Do you hate having fans?
Eh, it’s more to do with a huge lack of self-confidence. Most of the time I just draw things, send them out by their respective deadlines, and never hear about them or see them again. I tend to forget that…well, there is an audience of people that see my work. And not only that, people LIKE my work….which is still something that after 15 years of posting work online I am getting use to. And honestly, I think that for the most part ignoring the fact that I have an audience helps my work. It leads me to really critique myself and try and grow as an artist internally instead of trying to appease any certain group.
Then there is also the “professional” side of it. I used to post a lot of tutorials and process stuff online. After seeing a handful of artists pop up on the internet that’s work looked remarkably like mine, I quickly realized that posting about how I do my work may not have been the best idea in the world. Because really the more people that are doing work that looks like mine, the less jobs I will get in the long run. It may sound prickish, but hey…a fella’s got to watch out for himself.
Do you plan on doing any more comics in the future?
Comics will always be on the horizon for me. And while I don’t have anything in the works, I have plenty of ideas floating around. Unfortunately, it’s hard for me to keep financially afloat on comic work alone….and since I am one hell of a slow drawer, it is rare that I can take on multiple projects at a time. So in other words; never say never, but I wouldn’t count on anything soon.
What inspires your work?
This is a silly question, and one that I have answered many times.
Why is all of your work so creepy and sad?
Probably because I am a pretty creepy and sad sort of guy.
Why don’t you ever draw dudes?
Dudes are gross.
Do you take commissions?
Unfortunately I am not taking commissions right now. My time is poorly spent as it is, the last thing I need is more distractions. The commissions that have been mentioned on this blog are for the most part from 2008. If that isn’t indication enough, it takes me a hell of a long time to get around to finishing things that don’t have deadlines attached to them.
Will you design a tattoo for me / can I use one of your pieces for a tattoo?
No I will not, and no you can not. Instead of trying to convince some schmuck on the internet to design a tattoo for you, why don’t you ask an actual tattoo artist to do it? They are by far some of the most talented artists working today.
Are you still tattooing?
No, and I don’t plan on doing it again anytime in the near future. It was definitely a learning experience and something I am glad I got to explore….but for right now, it’s just not in the cards.
Do you sell original work?
I do. I frequently rotate the pieces on my Big Cartel account.
Do you sell prints of your work?
I do that too! The wonderful folks over at Thumbtack Press have done a great job with prints of my work for years.
Do you ever show work in galleries?
Art school kind of made me hate the whole idea of “galleries”. Since working professionally as an illustrator I have only shown work in gallery environments twice. It is not something I particularly enjoy doing, and rarely benefits me. Though again, it’s the sort of thing that if the right thing comes alone I would jump at the chance.
Do you do collaborations?
I would if I had a reason to.
What’s this secret project you have been talking about for so long?
When did the use of the word “secret” lose it’s meaning?
Is this your only blog?
No, I also have an inspiration tumblr called With Hands And Hair. And there may be some other secret ones hidden around if you look carefully enough.
Why did you name your blog “The Canary”?
It is in reference to coal miner’s canaries. The idea of sending something down into the depths to see if it makes it out alive or not. I think that that is a pretty good analogy for any artist’s personal blog or journal.
What is “With Hands And Hair” in reference to? You have been using that forever!
They are lyrics taken from Smog’s song “Morality”. How 16 year-old-girl of me.
Do you have a day-job?
For any of you that have read this blog for any amount of time, it should be painfully apparent that I am completely and inexcusably socially inept. I have not had a day-job for a very very long time, and at this point I am probably incapable of having one. I sleep 4 hours a night, chain smoke at my desk, only wear pants when I have to (which is rarely), and am horrified of enclosed spaces such as trains, buses, cars, elevators, rotating doors, offices, bathroom stalls, etc. I am not made for the modern world.
What do you do in your free time?
I read a lot of books and comics. I play a lot of ridiculous video games. I pretend like I can play instruments. I chain-smoke and drink a lot of espresso. I rarely remember to eat, and have nearly forgotten how to sleep. So basically I live the life of a 14 year old boy with a death-wish.
How old are you?
Old enough to know better. I was born in August of 83. Guess the century, and you can do the math.
What sort of music do you listen to?
The kind that your grandaddy is too young to remember.
You talk about video games a lot. What is your favorite?
It is hard to chose just one. But Super Metroid, Yoshi’s Island, Spider-man 2, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and Red Dead Redemption are in good competition.
You seem to be covered in tattoos. Who does your work?
I am quickly running out of space. The majority of my work has been done by Esther Garcia and Stephanie Brown. Both wonderful artists and great friends based here in Chicago.
You complain a lot about being single. Why don’t you do something about that?
Honestly, my work is the most important thing in my life. That may be selfish and arrogant, but it’s the truth. Drawing is both my hobby and my job, and takes up a majority of my waking hours. It is a hard thing to work a relationship in among 20 hour days locked away in my studio. And really, if I didn’t complain about being single I probably wouldn’t have all that much to talk about (or draw about for that matter).
Did I see you on a dating website?
No, that was my handsomer twin brother who died in a boating accident in 74’. I keep his dating profile open in memoriam.
Can I make you dinner sometime?
As long as it is fried-chicken and does not include drugs, fingernails, or period-blood. Oh, and if I can eat it alone, that would be a plus too.
Remember that one time I saw you at that one bar and you acted like you didn’t want to talk to me?
I hardly want to talk to my friends. You can’t expect me to want to talk to creeps from the internet.
Do you want to fight?
I carry a switch-blade, and can almost guarantee I am bigger than you. Chances are you probably wouldn’t want to fight me.
What is the “snaggletoothed beast” you mention from time to time?
He’s supposed to be a dog, but really I don’t know what the hell he is.
You swear a lot and talk about stupid shit that no one cares about all the time. Why are you so candid in your blog?
I write how I talk, though I probably censor myself a bit when I am writing this blog. While I am sure that my general misanthropy and snarkiness towards the world as a whole is so terribly charming, I doubt anyone wants to hear me talk about “the cunt in front of me at McDonalds” or “the lady rapist who for some ridiculous fucking reason thought my mustache was supposed to be ironic.” I am an asshole and a prick and inexcusably rude to the majority of the world, and I am well aware of it.
The fact of the matter is, this is an art blog…and really, I don’t like talking about art. So I fill it up with stupid shit about Legend of Zelda and dumb demoralizing conversations I have with my friends. But hey, you’re still reading it.
—
So as ridiculous as this whole thing was, I hope I was able to answer at least a question or two. All of your support means the world to me, no matter how bad I am at showing it. As often as I lock myself away inside my apartment and live on take out and deliveries for days on end, it is good to know that there is someone out there from time to time.
