This week’s artist’s spotlight features Chrissie Zullo, whose kickass portraits of women depict the strong and the beautiful in equal measure.
The Artist’s Spotlight is a Hypable weekly feature that will focus on someone who has caught our attention for fandom-related art, whether it be drawings, songs, crafts, or more! Every week you can expect a new talented artist we think you should be aware of!
Hypable: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Chrissie: Sure thing, my name is Chrissie Zullo. I currently work for DC comics creating covers on Fables: The Wolf Among Us, and I have previously worked on other titles such as Fables, Cinderella, Life with Archie, Hack/Slash, Creepy, Madame Xanadu, Womanthology, and more. I have a growing collection of all things Yeti.
What first interested you in art?
I’ve always wanted to draw for a living. Growing up, I wanted to be a Disney animator, and in high school I got more into comics and manga, and then in college I focused on art as a career.
How would you describe your style?
I think my style is whimsical and colorful; it’s also sort of a blend of American and Japanese comics, which are born big influences.
You draw a lot of amazing kickass women. Did that happen by accident (perhaps they’re easier to draw for you?) or was that a calculated decision to lean more toward the female form?
Haha thanks! It’s definitely my “go-to,” or what I get commissioned to draw the most. I just think it’s important to portray girls as beautiful and strong, and sometimes in comics I just found them so over the top in terms of being sexy, which to me was kind of a turnoff. I draw them as if she was someone I would want to be like: beautiful, smart and strong.
What are some of your favorite things about going to conventions?
Definitely the travel, and then getting to geek out. I’m a huge nerd at heart, so I get to meet a lot of my heroes at these shows, get inspired, and see a lot of the country at the same time. I also love meeting new people, and enjoy just talking art to people who stop by my table.
Do you have any fun stories to share about interacting with people who are fans of your work?
Haha, most people are just really cool and easy to talk to. A lot of times young girls will come up and show me their sketchbook and how they have been drawing, or that they follow me on this social media site, and now they also want to work as an artist one day. That is something really rewarding to experience.
What are some of your favorite characters to draw?
Right now I love the new SpiderGwen and Batgirl; I just love their new designs!
Which artists have inspired you the most?
I have so many, but some of my top favorite artists are James Jean, Adam Hughes, Travis Charest, Phil Noto, Chris Bacchalo, and a lot of Japanese manga artists, as well as a 100 more probably.
What advice would you give to other artists?
Draw every day. There is always something to learn and something to improve upon. Your 1,000th drawing will be better than your first.
What’s your ultimate goal as an artist?
I take it day by day, and am just happy that I can make a living off of art. I just hope to keep creating and keep growing, and see where that takes me.
You can check out Chrissie’s beautifully amazing artwork on DeviantART, as well as follow her on Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
