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By Hannah Pittard A self-described unpolished teacher, Savannah College of Art and Design sequential artist-in-residence Mark Schultz supplements his so-called lack of polish with “perspective and energy from the professional world.” Born in 1955 near Philadelphia, Schultz said he discovered comics and classic adventure films at age six. Influenced in his teens by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, Frank Frazetta, Roy Krenkel and Al Williamson, Schultz seemed destined for a life in comics. “I grew up loving comics and very interested in pursuing cartooning and illustration as a career,” he said. “But when I attended college — in the mid ’70s, a time when the comics medium was not as appreciated as it is now — I moved away from that goal and focused more on a ‘fine art’ approach to my work.” After nearly a decade of repressing his desire to tell stories, Schultz submitted an eight-page “Xenozoic” introductory tale to Kitchen Sink Press. “Xenozioc Tales” went on to become Schultz’s calling card, garnering critical praise and commercial success. It was adapted in 1993, under the name “Cadillacs and Dinosaurs,” to a CBS television animated series with associated product merchandising. According to Schultz, “Xenozioc Tales” is a science fantasy adventure with an ecological subtext. “It’s set centuries in our future, after our world and its populations have been devastated by a series of natural cataclysms,” he said. “The scattered remainder of the human race is confronted by the return of all manner of prehistoric beasts, and they struggle to survive day to day. Some of my characters like it that way, and other look forward to engineering the return of human dominance, and there you’ve got much of the conflict.” Schultz is quick to point out that his success has not been without its drawbacks. “The first couple of years were rough: I was producing ‘Xenozoic Tales’ slower than I wished I could, and it takes a while to build up a readership and the associated revenue stream … You’ve got to want it more than the next guy, and you have to be prepared to sacrifice other aspects of your life to get it. No one slides into a professional comics career on talent alone.” According to Schultz, success is determined by a number of things, not the least of which is passion for the work, which he said allows for the necessary drive to push past what the average person is doing. “Also, an ability to be totally and brutally honest with yourself: The best creators I know are always very self-critical; are always fighting to improve their abilities.” As demanding as the work might be for Schultz, the satisfaction is even greater. “Hands down, creating, writing and drawing my own comic, “Xenozoic Tales,” [is the best job I’ve ever had],” he said. “It’s my personal forum for communicating my loves and interests and concerns to a broad readership.” Schultz’ professional awards include the Haxtur Award for Best Cover Artist and Voter’s Favorite in 2001; the Haxtur Award for Best Artist in 2000; the Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art Silver Award in the comics category from Spectrum 4 in 1997; various Harvey Awards in 1996, 1992, 1991 and 1989; the Inkpot award for Outstanding Achievement in the Comic Arts in 1993; and the Eisner Award for Best Artist in 1992 and for best Black and White Series in 1990. Schultz will give a workshop focusing on his storytelling and inking techniques as they pertain to both sequential art and to traditional illustration on May 8, 1 p.m., at the Oglethorpe House ballroom, 201 W. Oglethorpe Ave. |
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