Tim Townsend
Artist | Professional | Varied

United States

FAQ's:

1) I am a professional and Ive been working for MARVEL COMICS (as well as DC, IMAGE, and many others) for the last 19 years. No, I do not want to work on your self-published project for free....even though its likely the "best idea EV-ER".

2) I do ALL of my inks BY HAND. I do NOT ink digitally...at all....never. And no, I do NOT have anything against digital inking.

3) My tools of the trade in terms of inking are a WINDSOR NEWTON SERIES 7 #2 brush (about 75%), a HUNT 102 CROW QUILL NIB (about 20%), technical pens and other assorted items(5%), and KOH-I-NOOR 3080 waterproof drawing ink.

4) I rarely take on commission work due to my typically crazy schedule but dont be afraid to ask. Every once in a blue moon I can squeeze one in.

5) I am currently working on WOLVERINE and the X-MEN.

6) For those of you wanting to know "how to get work in comics", here's the straight answer. Spend many years learning how to draw from life. Go to school (not a requirement to get hired but the best way to learn the skill-sets youll need to become good enough to get hired). Once you're grounded in the basics of anatomy, form, lighting, etc. you can begin to study the art form of sequential story-telling. Just being able to draw a neat pin-up doesn't mean a thing. You have to be able to tell a story. Youll also have to be able to do this all in a timely manner. Deadlines rule this business. Once you're there the final obstacle is simple. YOU HAVE TO BE BETTER THAN ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE VYING FOR THE SAME WORK. You'll be competing with seasoned professionals as well as new-comers. You have to stand out from the pack. No one cares if your work is "good for you". No one cares if you were the best artist in High School. They only care if your work is better than the rest and that its marketable. The big companies don't take samples any more which means you'll have to travel to conventions and meet with editors for portfolio reviews. Be nice, listen, don't get defensive if they tell you your work has problems, and don't smell bad. Know that everyone has a "killer idea that they've been working on for years" and that no one is likely to care about yours until you've established some professional credibility. Know that the odds are against you ever breaking in and that it takes a lot of time, patience, and diligence to weather the gauntlet. Only the strong survive. I think that about covers it!

7) I'm no longer doing on-line critiques. I get asked at least 15 times a day. They take too much time and I have work and a family to attend to. I'll most likely do an open call for portfolio reviews here on D.A. a couple of times a year. I hope you understand.

8) Before asking questions about things such as projects Ive worked on, who I've worked with, if I have any pencil-to-ink samples, do I do anything besides ink, etc, be sure you look through my WHOLE galley, not just the first page. I have almost 350 gallery deviations and many of the answers to questions such a these can be found therein.

Current Residence: Orlando, Florida
Operating System: OS X
Favourite cartoon character: Hellboy