Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Celia Calle, Comics, entertainment, Graduate, Overground

Celia Calle Brings Her Fashion/Costume Design Background To Comics

Celia Calle is the new artist for Overground Comics' new series Graduate with Jon Hughes. Calle talks about her unique background in editorial and commercial art though she has always connected to comics.

IMAGINATION HILL. Some comic book readers may be seeing your name for the first time, but that is because you do not come from a comic book background. Can you tell us a little about your artistic background?

CELIA CALLE: Although not completely "first time" in comic-books, but Totally the first time! And I don't take offense to it.

I came from a "Fashion/Costume Design" background. I worked in the Fashion Industry, along side to Editorial & Commercial venues (i.e., ESPN, Penthouse Magazine & occasional Sports Ads). Because there really isn't a schooling for comic-books, prior to attending college – the next step was to get a degree in something you can learn inside/out. Animation wasn't a popular venue in the mid 90s (hence, comic-books), so the alternative was Fashion/Costume Design.

To me, I never realized my "background" was so specific until I left it. Growing up, I was always involved (or interested) in some kind of animation/comic-book story-telling (i.e., Batman Detectives was one of my favorite comic-books, as well as 60s Adam West Tv Show Batman & Batman the Animated Series by Bruce Timm); these were all a part of my life & still is. I am simply drawn to the beauty aspect of all sorts.

IH: Much of your art is featured in your book C.O.O.L. R.I.D.E.R. What are some of the projects that you are most proud of?

CC: I am proud of all my work. Why wouldn't I be? :)

Whether it's a project for Adidas, Vertigo, or Overground – they are all my babies & I love them all.
But If I MUST choose- I guess the answer would be the ones that challenges me most & pushes me onto another realm I never knew existed (or could).

BC: Jon Hughes mentioned that he had you in mind for this book because he was looking for something very different from everything else in the industry (bringing in a truly artistic aspect) and something that would inspire other artists and elevate the profile of the book. With your high artistic profile, why did you take a risk on a project like this?

CC: Modestly speaking – because anyone who is willing to give me that chance, has good taste & a great eye. •_–

Professionally speaking – Risk? What risk?

Jon was very clear what he wanted & I liked him right away.

IH: Your work on comic books in the past has previously been mostly one-off covers. What inspired you to work on your first ongoing series? What has this process been like for you?

CC: Comic-books in the mainstream industry are tricky. They have a set of rules: The Penciler, The Inker, The Colorist & then, the Cover Artist. And usually they are all in a tight-knit group (with an impossible deadline). And with most featured titles, Editors/Publishers are unlikely to take risks, especially in someone they aren't familiar with. Like I said, I never realized I'm not in this "industry", so getting to play the field sorta had me sitting (scratching my head) in the dugout.

IH: What was it about Graduate's story and the character of Natalie that really grabbed your attention and drew you toward your involvement in this book?

CC: Graduate was a whole new ball game. And stepping up to the plate was like, my own team. I get to set my own rules. It was refreshing to FINALLY get up, throw that pitch, swing that bat, & make a home run. All-the-while, make the cover. It's not something you find anymore in comic-books these days.

The fact about growing up "NOT BELONGING". Natalie is a character very much like myself. We don't know what potentials we've got and have a non-motivated attitude until someone, somewhere, kicks us from the rear.

As I got into each issue (remember, I don't know how it all pans out either, until I'm given the material), so with each issue of Graduate, I learn Natalie becomes more & more mature & there is no repeating chapters. The book grows up & gradually defines a person (in it's stages) as it would in real life. That is what grabbed my attention more than anything.

IH: The comic book industry in general is very male-dominated, so it is pretty rare to see not only a female lead character but also a female artist for a series. How did you identify with the character? Did you look to bring a feminine touch to the book?

CC: I knew this question was going to pop-up oneway or another…

Honesty? Like being "outside of the industry" – I never knew/realized it was such a male dominated field. It still surprises me today, that people make a fuss over it. Good work is good work. That's all I'm interested in. But knowing it's a female dominated read, hopefully makes it all the more less foreign to the industry, and that's fine by me. Whether you're a male or female – times may be changing, but what's sexy, hasn't. Natalie could be a gay boy for all I care. Like music, it's about one's soul & the power to project Love.

IH: What has inspired your very distinctive style in both your art and your comic book illustration? Could you tell us a little about your approach and how that influenced the feel of the story?

CC: I guess what inspired/influenced this "distinctive style" you speak of, must be from Fashion. Parsons (School of Design) had a very strict guideline about a figure & how it's created. The flow of a material, the pattern of it's grain. The entire collection as a "whole". Everything had to be connected at the seams. Growing up, that was the beauty that attracted me there in the first place. Illustrative works such as René Grau, Thierry Perez, & Tony Viramontes, were all tides to my current.

IH: How have you liked the process of working on Graduate? Do you plan on working on similar projects in the future?

CC: In short> Working on Graduate has been awesome. Jon Hughes allowed the freedom to input & he worked around it. I get to pencil, ink, color *& got cover* without being restricted.

Yes, this is only "The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship" :)

This interview was provide to Bleeding Cool by Imagination Hill.

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