CROM Update: 022 with Jason Schoonover

Blending Renaissance Inspiration with Sword and Sorcery Comics

The 22nd episode of the Crom Updates Podcast features host Kurt Brugel and guest artist Jason Schoonover discussing the completion of Schoonover's Crom Pin-up art for the Revised Edition of Crom the Barbarian Comics Collection. They start with casual conversation about the weather and its impact on their work before diving into the details of the project. Jason was inspired by panels from the Crom the Barbarian comics and a painting by Guido Cagnacci, "David Holding the Head of Goliath," which he had seen at the Columbia Museum of Art. The discussion highlights Jason's approach to blending classical art with the sword and sorcery genre of Crom the Barbarian, focusing on the similarities between the biblical story of David and Goliath and the themes of the comics.

Jason elaborates on his creative process, noting the challenge of mimicking the chiaroscuro technique and the contrasts found in Cagnacci's painting while adapting it to fit the more formidable physique of Crom versus the meek image of David. He aimed to maintain the original composition's high contrast and texture, facing technical challenges in achieving even value and texture across the background of his piece. The conversation delves into the specifics of cross-hatching, the difficulty of uniting the background cohesively across two pages, and the artistic decisions made to ensure Goliath's head blends seamlessly into the backdrop, emphasizing the nuanced use of value and the meticulous attention to detail required to replicate the effect of the original painting.

Kurt and Jason discuss the broader context of the Crom the Barbarian project, including the involvement of other artists and the transition from initial sketches to finished pieces. They share insights on collaboration and the mutual inspiration among the artists contributing to the Revised Edition, highlighting the value of community and shared enthusiasm in creative endeavors. The episode concludes with plans for the publication and distribution of the book, considering the practicalities of print-on-demand services and the anticipation of building a community around indie, black-and-white, sword and sorcery fantasy comics. This conversation not only showcases the technical and creative aspects of producing art for comics but also the importance of collaboration and mutual support among artists in bringing a project to fruition.