Space Pops

I would first like to thank Eliza for being my first “interviewee.” I just recently started following Eliza on twitter and found out that she writes and draws her own daily comic strip called “Space Pops.” I read through quite a few of her most recent strips and loved them and asked her if I could do a write up for my blog and she graciously agreed. I was thinking that I would try and do one of these “Interview” type posts each week, I think it would be fun, and I like to promote people who are working on things that they are passionate about. Now on with the interview!!!

1. How long have you been drawing and writing your Space Pops comic strip?

I started posting daily cartoons at www.SpacePops.com on May 1, 2009.  I did a website redesign in early October ‘09, and uploaded archives back to 8/31.

2. Why did you choose to use children as your characters?

Children live in a hopeful time of life when it feels like anything is possible.  And that feeling of unlimited possibility is a big part of what inspires me to write this comic strip.

3. Are you inspired by anyone in particular? (Other artists or writers or anyone)

Charles Schulz’s ‘Peanuts’ is a huge inspiration.  He had total mastery of the craft, and he was also a great writer.  Clearly the most influential daily cartoonist of the 20^th century.

As far as fine art, I really like Philip Guston’s paintings, especially the cartoony style he developed toward the end of his career.

4. Do you draw and write Space Pops for fun, is it a job or both?

I’ve decided to make ‘Space Pops’ my job, and it is becoming more fun now that I’m getting a handle on the whole process.  I was quite clueless in the beginning, and had to pretty much learn everything about cartooning on my own through trial and error.

5. If Space pops is a side gig what is your day job?

I work full-time at a law firm.

6. How did you start Space Pops, did it come from personal experiences?

I attended The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I got a BFA in drawing and painting in ‘02.  But after I graduated, it wasn’t easy/practical to do large paintings like I had been, so I did smaller paintings and ink drawings in my free time instead.  Then I had this idea to do a daily cartoon loosely based on me and my friends growing up – and I came up with a few characters that were in their early teens.  Over the next five years, the characters got a bit younger, and in ‘07 I made an attempt at launching the cartoon online.  This is what they looked like then: www.ElizaT.com

I quickly realized I needed more time to improve my drawing and writing, so I went back to work.  Finally last spring I was confident enough in the drawing and writing to try again.  Here is a rerun in the Calgary Beacon showing how the cartoon looked early last summer: http://www.calgarybeacon.com/2010/01/todays-space-pops-jan-7/

The cartoon started out being about my personal experience, but as it developed, it has become more about the human experience: the things that everybody feels and experiences as fellow human-beings on this planet.

7. Do you dabble in other mediums? (painting, sculpting, etc.)

I did some black and white photography in high school, and still enjoy taking photos.  I also did a lot of ceramics in high school and college, but I haven’t since.  I’m a painter at heart – so I can’t wait to get my own studio, and make big oil paintings again.  Once I do, I will post pictures of them on my portfolio blog at http://elizat.com

8. Do you see yourself still drawing and writing Space Pop 5, 10, 15, 20 years from now?

I definitely see myself making ‘Space Pops’ for another 10 years at least.  It’s hard for me to imagine what I will be like 10 years from now – I’m so unlike the way I was 10 years ago.  If I still have the passion for it then that I do now, it will continue.  You will have to ask me again then!

9. Do you have a favorite character? (To draw or to write for)

I like them all for different reasons, so it’s impossible to just pick one.  Visually, I think Electra, Cloe and Cooper are the cutest right now.  And Sean, Alvin and Sadie have more introspection and inner conflict, which makes them interesting that way.  But my ultimate goal is to have them all be very cute with dynamic, multi-layered personalities.

10. Are the characters in Space Pops based off of friends or family?

Each character had a starting point that was close to a person or a few people that I know or have known, but they’ve gone through so many revisions and evolutions that in their current form, it is impossible to attribute them directly.

11. If you weren’t doing Space Pops what do you think you would be doing instead?

That’s hard to imagine.  I would probably be doing big paintings – which is something I would like to do in the future.

12. Do you already have other characters or comic strips besides Space Pops?

I did some silly stuff when I was a kid, and during my college years, but nothing else.

13. Do you have plans to start other characters or comic strips?

No.  In Space Pops I have a few peripheral characters that we only see/hear about like superstar Mandy Benton, clothing designer Marcel Fumini, and Sean’s grandfather ‘Gramps’.  So I may occasionally bring those kinds of new characters into the strip – but you won’t see them directly.

14. How long does it take to do a Space Pops comic from start to finish?

The drawings take between 3-4 hours.  I start with a pencil sketch, then the lettering in pen, drawing with brush and ink, white correction fluid, scan into the computer, some clean-up in Photoshop, and then color.  They used to take a lot longer, but switching to brush and ink has really helped make the drawing go faster.

Writing is more complicated.  I’m actually taking time off from posting new cartoons right now to work on the writing (I will be back March 8^th).  I have a ‘silent’ partner who gives me advice on my writing, and the overall direction of the comic strip.  In addition to writing new material, we’re doing some major ‘house-cleaning’ by going through a few hundred of my old cartoon ideas that were either really bad, or no longer fit into the comic strip, and gleaning whatever useful bits we can from them before throwing them away.  Some of my earlier ideas were so crazy/wacky that I’m going to keep them for fun – I will post them to my Facebook fan page in the near future, which will be hilarious to see.

15. How did i do as a interviewer?

Great job!  I enjoyed answering your questions.  Sometimes it’s nice to pause and reflect on what’s been done and where you want to go.  Thanks for interviewing me!

Space Pops Character Bios

Alvin is obsessed with outer space.  He wants to work for NASA, and hopes to be an astronaut on the first manned mission to Mars.  A born skeptic, he often drives his friends crazy with his “logical” thought process and quirky perspective.

Cloe is the dutiful mother to her sock monkey, Mr. Bobo. She carries her furry little friend with her almost everywhere she goes.  Most of her time is spent disciplining her naughty monkey and driving herself crazy in her efforts to domesticate him.

Cooper is known to lounge around in front of his television with a big bowl of snacks watching movies.  He likes to ponder paranormal events, and discuss the possible existence of aliens and swamp monsters with his friends, often at the most inappropriate moments.

Electra is a sassy ‘celebrity in training’. She believes fame and fortune are just around the corner.  She constantly obsesses over her favorite movie star Mandy Benton, the latest Hollywood gossip, and finding new ways to make Sean pay special attention to her.

Sean is a determined kid who idolizes General George Washington.  He is always cooking up scenarios where he and his “army” will destroy the enemy and take over the world.  But his megalomaniacal plans are often interrupted by Electra and her sneaky romantic schemes.

Sadie is a self-professed seeker of serenity.  She spends much time drinking tea and meditating in her quest to find inner peace, but often explodes in frustration at her failed attempts to reach a higher level of spiritual enlightenment.

Space Pops Facebook Fan Page

Follow Eliza on Twitter

Check out the latest Space Pops comic strip

Filed Under: Promos

Tags: art, cartoons, comedy, comic, comic strip, design, entertainment, funny, humor, interview, life lessons, Pictures, promo, space pops, web comic