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This is an interview I did with Psycho Circus Comic Artist, Kevin Conrad. Read This and Be Inspired! Tia

Tia: As a child, at what age did you realize that you had an interest in art? And, what age did family and friends recognize the fact that you had a natural talent as an artist?
Kevin: My earliest memories of drawing are of boring my friends to tears because that's all I wanted to do, probably I was around 4 years old. I remember drawing all of the Halloween decorations for my second grade class, I think that's probably when it hit home with my family, that, as you say, I had a 'natural talent as an artist'.

Tia: What was the first drawing or piece you remember doing that influenced your future as a comic book artist?
Kevin: I was eleven years old, I still have the picture. It's on my site in one of my message posts Here. I stopped over my best friend's and he was copying a picture out of a Marvel comic. I thought to myself - 'I can do better than that', and promptly sat down and drew a pic of Iron Man from one of his comics. That's all it took, I was hooked, we drew heroes, made our own comics, you name it. From that point on, I knew I wanted to end up in comics.

Tia: Did you lean towards the study of art while growing up? What special classes or schools did you attend to develop your skills?
Kevin: I've been drawing all of my life, my high school art instructors structured an advanced program for me because of my commitment to art. I was talented sure, but I wasn't the most talented. I have to say I probably was the most committed though. In my senior year, I had my final 3 required courses and then 5 periods of art! I also have a 2 year degree in applied science with a major in commercial art.

Tia: Do you play any musical instrument? As a KISS fan, did you or do you ever wear KISS makeup?
Kevin: Yeah, I've played the drums off and on since high school. I had a band that actually got good enough to play out for a brief period in the 80's. I still have them, and jam once in a while with a few of the neighbors, I have a couple of cousins who want to get together and start jamming, I'm looking forward to that! They know a bunch of Kiss tunes!
Yeah, I dressed up as Paul Stanley for Halloween back in '79, the pic is on my website. Unfortunately, I picked probably the gayest costume he ever wore - the Dynasty outfit!

Tia: What was your first KISS album or tape? What was your impression of KISS and their music?
Kevin: Kiss Alive! In vinyl. The same friend who I started drawing heroes with turned me on to them. He bought the album and played it for me. My first impression was mixed. I didn't quite know what to make of them. After hearing it a few times though, I was sucked in for life! I couldn't get enough of them and I probably turned more of my friends off of them due to my insatiable need to have anything and everything Kiss. By the way, my friend who so obviously impacted my future is a letter carrier and no longer listens to Kiss - go figure!

Tia: Who was your favorite member of KISS as a young fan? Later, as the Psycho Circus comic artist, and when you had the opportunity to meet members of the band, did you maintain the same favorite member?
Kevin: My favorite was always a toss up between Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. Paul always seemed to be surrounded by beautiful women and Gene just had the coolest, bad ass look. I've always been a fan of the same things as Gene - comics and horror movies, OLD horror movies. I never got to meet the band while doing the comic, I did get great seats for the Psycho Circus tour though. I met Gene, Paul, Bruce and Eric Carr during the Crazy Nights tour, I won the KISS PLATINUM EXPRESS CARD from my local radio station and I was able to use it 3 or 4 times during that tour. I met Ace at a local club during the BAD BOYS tour with Peter Criss. That was when I was working on Spawn. Sean Delaney was a good friend of one of the colorists on Spawn and he hooked me up with Sean, who then hooked me up with Ace's management. I'd have to say hands down, Eric Carr was and is my favorite member of Kiss, he saved their asses in the early 80's and he was a great guy. Probably one of the most powerful drummers I can think of. I got to talk to him for quite a while back stage at one of those Crazy Nights shows. Original members, I'd say probably Paul now, he just seems more serious about the music than Gene.

Tia: When did you draw your very first KISS piece? Can you describe it?
Kevin: It's probably the piece that's on my website - Here - I was 15 when I drew it, there are also a few more up there as well.

Tia: How did you get selected to be the Psycho Circus artist?
Kevin: Todd McFarlane knew I was a huge Kiss fan and he was gearing up to do the book. I got asked, and I jumped at it!

Tia: While working on the Psycho Circus series, how much freedom did you have to create the characters and apply them to the plot?
Kevin: Well, that was pretty much the penciler's job, I did throw in plenty of 'Easter Eggs' for the fans though. Things that would mean nothing to average comic reader, but everything in the world to a Kiss fan.

Tia: Will you tell what the process is to create just one page of a comic book? How long does it take to create one comic page? How long does it take on average to develop the art used in one issue?
Kevin: Generally, from story to pencils, to inks, to colors to letters, you have 4 - 5 weeks to complete an issue. The process goes in just that order. The penciler gets the script, pencils a page, sends it to the inker then it goes to the colorist then letterer. Aside from story and letters each stage takes generally a day. The inkers deadline for a complete book is usually around a week after the penciler and the colorist is usually a week after the inks. Some good examples of Pencils to Inks of some KPC pages can be seen - Here

Tia: Which issue of the Psycho Circus series did you enjoy working on? Why?
Kevin: I would say any and every issue I worked on with Clayton Crain. The guy was the coolest, I had a lot of freedom as an inker to change things - re work things. The one that probably is closest to my heart is the last issue. I co-penciled the cover with Clayton and he inked it. I penciled that cover the morning of my Mom's wake.

Tia: Were their any comps or perks for doing the Psycho Circus series? If so, what kind of things did you get or get to do?
Kevin: Well, the biggest perk for me is that I'm now enshrined in the halls of KISSTORY forever! How cool is that? I was invited to be a guest at a couple of NY Kiss Expos as well.

Tia: What are your current projects? Do you have any plans or have you been considered to do further KISS related work in the future?
Kevin: First and foremost, I just finished penciling my first full length comic, called Jazan Wild's Carnival Of Souls. It has a definite KPC flavor to it, and you can buy it at your local comic book shop come Halloween. By the time this interview goes live, you will be able to order it directly at my site, or go directly to the publisher and order it - There .
I'm also working for Top Cow and Marvel inking a bunch of stuff.

Tia: One last thing; can KISS fans purchase autographed prints or originals of your works? Where can these be viewed?
Kevin: My sites a mess right now, but I do have prints available for purchase as well as orginal art (including a handful of KPC pages). I do commissions as well.

[Visit Kevin Here]