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Q&A with Kevin Liell
Last weekend I got a
chance to sit down and touch base with local Star Wars artist Kevin
Liell during his appearance at this year's Super Megafest here in
Boston. Kevin is fresh off the opening of the "Art Strikes Back"
exhibit here in Boston that featured artwork influenced by the Star
Wars saga. During our brief interview we discussed topics ranging
from how he first got into art to what it's like working in the Star
Wars universe.
TJ: Kevin, how old
were you when you first realized you wanted to pursue a career as an
artist?
KL: I've always been
intensively into drawing. I think I first got into thinking about a
career in it when I was probably in my late teens, but I've been
drawing probably since May 1977.
TJ: Did you attend
art school and if so, where and what did you major in?
KL: Yes I did. I
went to the University of Connecticut and majored in Fine Art. I
received my graduate degree, which is my art degree in 2005. I was
in the Army for a number of years before that.
TJ: Is being a
professional artist your primary job or do you have another job as
well?
KL: I am an Art
Director and a Graphic Designer and that is my primary, professional
job. I've been doing more and more Star Wars work lately and things
are building up. I'm doing work for Topps now, sketch cards. I've
also got artwork coming out with Star Wars Galaxy 5. I believe my
deadline is in January and I think the cards come out in February or
March of 2010.
TJ: How and when did
you first become associated with Star Wars and LucasFilm?
KL: I became
associated with LucasFilm...the first thing I actually did for
LucasFilm was I did a trivia contest at ComicCon a couple of years
back. I was trying to get in as an artist and it's really hard to
get in. There's 10,000 artists and they only need about 90, that's
just the way it is. It's not just about being good, a lot of these
guys are just fantastic and it's just who you know when you get down
to it. One of the things I started doing was getting to know certain
people and finding out what they needed. One of the things I knew
they needed was events at New York ComicCon so I started doing
trivia contests and stuff like that. Then I got to know Steve
Sandsweet and he was probably the greatest help. He led me towards
Topps and interviews for other stuff.
TJ: Any current or
future projects we can look forward to?
KL: Well I learned
just this year at Comic Con that if you say too much before
something comes out you get into trouble with LucasFilm. We had an
incident with the comic book I've been writing with Anthony Forrest.
A little too much information came out which was more or less my
fault cause I gave a disk to a tent guy which had a faux cover for
our just proposed comic book and it annoyed the right people I think
at Dark Horse and I don't think they liked it so much.
RAPID FIRE:
TJ: Okay, I have a
series of rapid fire questions for you. Just fire off the first
thing that comes to mind.
KL: Okay
TJ: Favorite movie
of all time?
KL: Star Wars: A New
Hope.
TJ: Okay, well that
eliminates my need for question number 2 which was name your
favorite Star Wars movie. Next question, who is your favorite
character from the saga?
KL: For my life it's
always been Darth Vader, he's always been my favorite character. But
I just find myself gravitating to Palpatine. I just think he's such
a slime ball and I love he's slimy like that.
TJ: What's the best
thing about working in the Star Wars universe?
KL: Drawing Star
Wars. I like to do it. It's always been something I've done. Twenty
years ago you could probably find me on a park bench somewhere
drawing it. I've done it my entire life.
TJ: Worst thing
about it, if there even is one?
KL: Star Wars is a
perfect thing and there is nothing wrong with it. Ooh, killing Darth
Maul in the Phantom Menace. That was, that should not have been done
and he's (actor Ray Park) here today and it's a great character, but
sometimes we just have to lose things.
TJ: Describe
yourself in five words or less.
KL: (Laughing) Very
important tall person.
TJ: What would you
say to George Lucas if you had the chance?
KL: I was asked this
question just a couple of minutes ago and I'll give you the exact
same answer. Make (episodes) 7, 8, & 9.
TJ: Very good.
Alright Kevin, thanks a lot for taking the time. We appreciate it.
KL: Thank you.
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