The Internet is a Beautiful Thing
Last year, Comic Conventional Jennifer introduced me to the ultra-groovy web-comic Troys-Bucket.com. After reading every last strip, I wandered through their links page. It was there that I stumbled across a nifty little portfolio site called Artplaymix.com.

Immediately struck by how wonderfully fluid the art was, I decided to review the site. Since then, I've become better acquainted with both the people and the work of Artplaymix. The following interview is Newmoanyeah's way of helping everyone else become better acquainted with Heather McCollum (webmistress and Photoshop coloring goddess extraordinaire) and Jason Martin (inker of Thundercats, Battle Chasers, and more).

Newmoanyeah:		What's the work process in churning out those kick-ass collaborative pieces?
Heather McCollum:		Thanks for the props ^_^. The first thing Jason and I will usually do is develop the initial concept (ie. basic character design, pose, etc.). Then we'll break out the digital camera and take lots of reference photos. After we select a photo to work with Jason begins sketching. I usually don't begin to even think of a color scheme until I see the piece completely pencilled/inked. Once Jason has completed the original it is scanned into the computer. Then I clean up the lines and color the piece in Photoshop ^_^.
Jason Martin:		That's pretty much the process except it should be noted that I'm an insane perfectionist.
Newmoanyeah:		Heather, your Photoshop coloring techniques are way smooth and I'm sure people would be interested in learning how you do it (including me). Ever consider writing a book?
Heather McCollum:		I've thought about it, but don't have the time currently... and truthfully I'm just not a good teacher. Having taught myself to use the Photoshop program, I find that my methods differ greatly from those utilized by most people... also, I don't know much of the correct terminology in so far as the PS functions go. So if I were to write a book/tutorial I'm afraid it would most likely confuse more people than it would help ^^;.
Newmoanyeah:		Jason, what would you like the whole world to know about inking/the work you do?
Jason Martin:		I don't really talk about inking that much since I find it comes naturally to me. It's also very easy to complain about being an inker. They are the unsung heroes of comic art. I am just very proud of the many different pencillers I had the opportunity to work with, every one of those guys has his own style and I had to make sure I could interpret all of them.
Newmoanyeah:		You've worked with an amazing assortment of fan-favorite pencillers. Who haven't you worked with that you're dying to?
Jason Martin:		None that I can think of. I've worked with so many great talents! I've been very fortunate.
Newmoanyeah:		At this point in time, if you had to pick a single piece of work to be known for, what would it be?
Heather McCollum:		Since I can't decide on a single illustration (I'm proud of many of them), I'm going to cheat and say that the Artplaymix.com website is the single piece of work I'd like to be known for ^_-. It incorporates all the illustrations that Jason and I are proud of, and (to me) is an ongoing work of art.
Jason Martin:		I can only second that, my tastes are always changing and the website provides an ideal place to express our artwork. [You can check out Jason's ink-work at: www.jasonmartin.net.]
Newmoanyeah:		Heather, you regularly put up wildly successly ebay auctions for commissioned art. What is the craziest/strangest/sickest request you've ever gotten?
Heather McCollum:		Believe it or not, the requests I have gotten as a result of my eBay auctions have been pretty tame! I suppose the fact that my auctions stipulate "nudity is fine so long as it's tasteful" discourages bidders who might want more explicit commissions ^_-.
Newmoanyeah:		Star Wars or Star Trek?
Heather McCollum:		Both please!
Jason Martin:		They both have their merits and faults. Star Wars on the big screen is one of my earliest and fondest memories. I enjoy classic Trek and Next Generation as well.
Newmoanyeah:		If you could be any superhero(ine), who would you be and why?
Heather McCollum:		Sydney Savage! She's smart, sexy, carries a whip, wrestles crocs, and looks awesome in a leather catsuit ^_-.
Jason Martin:		The first time I met Heather she was dressed as Sydney Savage! Superheroes aren't really my thing. If I had to choose, it would be a character like Spiderman or Batman. Classic problem solvers. Though he's not a superhero, I really like the character Ryousuke Takahashi of Initial D.
Newmoanyeah:		What should we expect next from Jason and Heather either as Artplaymix or individually? Any creator-owned projects on the horizon?
Heather McCollum:		Jason and I have several projects in the works at the moment that I can't talk about (yet ^_-). We'll hopefully have something to share by the end of 2003. Aside from my work with Jason, I am currently doing some color work for small press covers. Also I have had some interesting offers regarding my own pencil/ink work that I am curious to pursue.
Jason Martin:		Just keep checking in on the website, we will announce it there as soon as we can!

Thanks!
In addition to being incredibly talented, Heather and Jason are both good eggs. Bigtime thanks to both of them for spending the time to answer somes questions for us. The Internet really is a beautiful thing... particularly when it comes to Artplaymix!