How to Draw Month: Brian Level
Jan 04, 2017
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For How to Draw month, PREVIEWSworld talks with artist Brian Level! Brian co-created the Image Comics series Mantle (AUG150490) with writer Ed Brisson. He has worked with publishers such as Marvel, Valiant, and most recently DC Comics where he did art for the Suicide Squad Most Wanted #3: El Diablo & Killer Croc (AUG160300) mini-series.
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PREVIEWSworld: Who were your favorite artists growing up?
Brian Level: I love Mark Bagley. His Spider-Man art is what got me into comics. Him and Erik Larsen made me fall in love with the Wallcrawler. Ron Lim was big for me, but I’m not sure if it was all his art or the whole package of him with Starlin’s writing that really took me over. Art Adams pieces in the Marvel trading cards always blew my mind. I remember drawing them on full sheets of orange paper inherited from my Aunt Marlene. Very specific memory. Tim Jacobus’ work on Goosebumps covers were huge for me. And any magazine I could get ahold of that showed Giger’s Alien design work. All that stuff was hypnotic to me.
PREVIEWSworld: Were you self-taught, formally educated, or a combination of both?
Brian Level: I suppose I experienced all of that. Self-taught with encouraging public school educators. A year and a half of college education in illustration/painting. Reading a lot of books on drawing and drawing my butt off. On-the-job training as a tattooer for the past 13 years. Mentored by the under-lauded Stefano Gaudiano. Lots of peer criticism. I kinda learned from all angles.
PREVIEWSworld: Talk about your studio environment. Do you watch or listen to anything while you draw?
Brian Level: I do a lot of Skype/G-Hang calls with peers in comics. Helps keep the distraction to only talking instead of visual things like Twitter or Youtube. I’ll put on movies I’ve seen dozens of times or ones that I think will be okay but not amazing. Music too. Typically it’s mood dependent but I do a lot of punk rock and post-black metal stuff. Some hardcore in there too. I also like weird organic stuff going on. I burn candles on the reg. Weather permitting, I’ll open a window. Something about that is enjoyable and calming to me.
PREVIEWSworld: What tools do you prefer while drawing? Pencils, pens, art boards, etc.?
Brian Level: I’m not too specific and will use nearly anything. No. 2 or 4 round brushes. Hunts 102, 108, Maru, Speedball B and C nibs. Non-photo blue, 2H, and 2B leads. Zebra and Kuretake Super fine Brush Pens. PITT pens. Holy crap I could keep going. I just use Strathmore 300 Vellum Bristol for pages and Canson XL watercolor paper for commissions. And the computer.
PREVIEWSworld: Are there any books you would recommend to help with art?
Brian Level: Michael Hampton’s Figure Drawing: Design and Invention is the most helpful book I’ve ever read when addressing figure work. Stray Bullets if you want to learn how to pace a page to shock and awe audiences. Loomis’ Figure Drawing for all it’s worth is pretty comprehensive for how accessible it is and already a gold standard teaching tool.
PREVIEWSworld: Do you prefer drawing by hand, digitally, or both?
Brian Level: I like both. I always prefer by hand if time permits. But I like both. I’m a sloppy sort of guy so digital feels limiting even if it isn’t.
PREVIEWSworld: How long does it normally take to draw a page?
Brian Level: Typically if I’m going traditionally it’s about 7-10 hours. Digital usually shaves about 2 hours off of that.
PREVIEWSworld: What’s your favorite thing to draw?
Brian Level: I like fooling around with figures. Trying to give them weight and motion. I love Kirby, Miller, JRJR, Mazzucchelli, and Weeks, so those influences are always floating around in my head.
PREVIEWSworld: What's the most unique thing you've been asked to draw at a convention?
Brian Level: A commission representing Hitchcock’s Vertigo had to be one of the more challenging yet successful con sketches I’d ever done.
PREVIEWSworld: Finally, what’s the best advice you have for beginning artists?
Brian Level: Think you stink but that you’ll be great. It’ll help prepare you for a harsh critique that could change everything for the better (even if that critique is from yourself). Keep perspective. Look back at old work and progress on the reg. For Pete’s sake, draw all the damned time. Like all the time.
