Featured Artist: Lloyd Dangle

My Background: I grew up in Michigan, and earned a BFA in painting and drawing from the University of Michigan Art School. Soon I threw away my classical fine art training to pursue an interest in comics. For years all my clients had names like like Weirdo, Blab, Honk! and Deadbeat. I broke into illustration at the Village Voice and for the last fifteen years my work has appeared in many publications, books, and other media. My weekly comic strip feature, Troubletown, is ten years old this winter and appears in thirty weekly newspapers nationally. I enjoy doing both illustration and comics because it keeps things interesting. When the phone rings I never know what to expect!

My Technique: First, let's talk brushes. I use only Kolinsky sables from the former Soviet Union and I like the kind with a big gas tank--because I only like to dip once or twice an hour. I used to paint my illustrations with animation paint on acetate cells, but Photoshop achieves the same results in less time, so I've gone digital. In this profession, you learn fast that the world won't stop while you wait for your paint to dry! Computerwise, I use a Power Mac 7500 that is ramped and juiced to the max. I have memory boards in places where there aren't even slots! I'm running so much power to the sucker, the Army Corps of Engineers warns me that if I ever experience a system crash the surge could black out the entire western United States.

My Involvement in the Guild: (Currently, Lloyd is the Guild's National President.) I've served as the Northern California Chapter President. Among other things, we sponsored legislation in California to reform the state's sales tax which is unfairly applied to graphic artists and photographers, and we organized the group of determined members who started Contract Monitor, and seek to turn back the tide of all-rights contracts. I'm continuing to volunteer on the Chapter Legislative Committee and the National Public Affairs Committee. Before, I was a "lone wolf" with barely the skills to manage my own hairstyle, let alone a group of people. Working with the Guild has taught me a lot, enhanced my career, and the members have provided me with much inspiration. I recommend it to everyone.

My Favorite Client story: Recently, my wife, Hae Yuon Kim, had a prospective client contact her for design services through the yellow pages. This almost never happens, so she was a bit leery. Two guys in suits, Howard and Colin, came to our office in Oakland to explain the project. They had developed a revolutionary new product: software that teaches your pet bird to talk! The company, "Birdbrain Technology," needed packaging and collateral material that would really make their product fly. They looked into several other design teams, but we came out first in the pecking order and got the job! Being a startup, they couldn't feather our nest very lucratively up front, so we gave them a schedule of fees allowing them to purchase additional usage as they go and pay us in royalties as their company grows. We're happy with the arrangement we negotiated and enjoy having a stake in the product's success. Howard invited us to his house to meet his wife, kids, and pet Cockatiel. It's not every day you get to work with a client who is absolutely thrilled with your work. This project was a lot of fun. "Polly Professor, Software for your Bird" is now in stores! It was a big hit at a major pet industry trade show, Howard and Colin have been written-up in various newspapers and featured on TV, and the Petco chain has just given them a large order...all of which means that this goose is going to lay a golden omelet for Dangle Illustration!

All artwork © 2002 Lloyd Dangle. Not to be used without permission.