F.A.Q.
IS THERE A PRINTED VERSION OF LEGENDS OF THE WEST?
No, there is not a printed version of Legend of the West yet but it is certainly my goal for the future.
WHERE CAN I BUY LEGENDS OF THE WEST GRAPHIC NOVEL?
Right now Legends of the West volume 1 is available to read for free on my website onedogcomics.com
and nowhere else.
WHEN LEGENDS OF THE WEST PAGES GET POST ON THE WEBSITE?
I would start post two pages a week very soon.
IS VOLUME 1 COMPLETED OR AM I STILL WORKING ON IT?
Legend of the West volume 1 is completed. This means that I am done with all the sketching, inking and toning. At the moment I’m in the editing phase of the pages.
IS THERE A SECOND VOLUME?
Yes! There are actually several volumes, but I haven’t completed them yet.
IS MY ART WORK DIGITALLY OR HAND CREATED?
All my artworks are drawn by hand from the sketches to the final drawings. I ink, color, and I apply screen stones by hand.I use Photoshop to edit and insert the text and speech balloons. I don’t have anything against digital artwork, it’s just that I am from another generation, I learned to draw everything by hand and I like to do it the way I know. Back in the old days we were drawing by hand even the lettering! Photoshop was so new that only big graphic studios used it. I grow up without a computer (so now you know that I’m not a millennium!) and it comes naturally draw by hand for me.
WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO FINISH MY WEBSITE AND WORKING ON THE GRAPHIC NOVEL?
It takes me long time because I have a full time job plus I’m going to college and I have a family. So my little spare time I dedicate to the creation of my site and graphic novel. Wish I could have more time to work on but at the moment I’ve to treat my art like a hobby and not like a real job. Dreams don’t pay the bills!
WOULD I CHARGE TO READ MY GRAPHIC NOVEL?
Obviously I’d like to get pay one day but it is too early to charge for something that is completely unknown. In the future I would charge a little to read it and also I have a plan to build an online store on my website and sell products related to my graphic novel.
WHY DIDN’T I SUBMIT LEGENDS OF THE WEST PLOT AND ARTWORK TO A PUBLISHER?
I thought about it and for many years too. One of the reasons I moved from Milan to Los Angeles was looking for a publisher interested in my graphic novel and work for them. This is pretty much every comic’s artist dream. First time I came to Los Angeles, I showed up with my portfolio to Tokyo Pop asking (I barely spoke English) for an editor to check my artwork. I was so naive and crazy back them…Anyhow, this is a long story and I might tell it one day (on request). After what happened back in Los Angeles I thought to submit my story to major and smaller publishers. I did a lot research about it. However, many artists have several issues about submissions to publishers. One major issue is that if you are nobody they don’t even look at your staff. Publish a novel or comic is very expensive and not many publishers are willing to invest money and time on an unknown artist even if the artist is talented for the simple reason that they don’t know if he can create a profit for them. I don’t say it is impossible, but it is really hard and honestly I’m seeing more and more artists self-publishing now day and doing pretty good. Internet changed the game. Now anyone can create for cheap a website, post their products, and art without the middleman. It’s not easy, and it takes time and dedication but it is not impossible. So I decide to give it a try.
WHAT ARE MY GOALS FOR THE FUTURE?
My goals for the future are publish Legends of the West and be able to grow as self-publisher artist. I really wish to work as artist and make a living. Earning money doing what you love to do is everyone dream. My highest and ambitious goal is create an animated series of Legends of the West, but I have long way to go to get there.
