Based in Portland, Oregon, Peter Glanting is an illustrator and UX designer who writes about the intersection of humor and mental health.
His fascination with engravings, wood block prints, hatching, and linear halftone shine through in his own work, which instantly struck us as something special. He holds a B.A. in English from the University of California at Davis, and an M.F.A. in Comics from the California College of the Arts.
Today, Peter has been kind enough to share his insight on working with comics, art tips, and some exciting projects on the horizon. We hope you enjoy!
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You are a talented artist with an impressive portfolio of work, including individual illustrations as well as comics that you have both illustrated and written. How does it feel to work with and balance these two mediums?
I think the two really compliment each other. My illustration is a great way to exercise ideas in a purely visual medium, whereas comics can explore some of those ideas in more directly and in more detail. Sometimes it’s nice to be direct as with comics, and sometimes it’s nice to be a little more oblique with pure illustration.
What most inspires your work in general, both illustrated and written?
Broadly speaking I draw inspiration from two sources: humor and mental health. I’m very passionate about both. Humor has been an integral part of my life and it’s how I process the everyday. Mental health has also been something I’ve dealt with and I’m very interested in demystifying and destigmatizing it. Additionally, I’m really into marine life like lobsters and octopuses, which are both sort of a motif in my life. I’m also fascinated by old technology, particularly from the early twentieth century, like film cameras and old cars.
What comics specifically have most affected your own style or direction as a comic artist/writer, and why?
The work of comic artist Dash Shaw has been very inspirational to me, particularly his comic Bottomless Bellybutton. The interpersonal relationships he writes are nuanced and rich, and his ability to render sound and motion is unique. I also like Forming by Jesse Moynihan, who writes about the mythological beginning of humanity with very relatable characters who use contemporary language.
You hold a B.A in English and an M.F.A in Comics. How much do you feel these degrees prepared you (or didn’t) for the career you have built? What do you feel the pros and cons are of pursuing a university degree for your chosen path?
I think my degrees both helped me in some ways: In undergrad, I worked hard on my ability to write and process complex ideas. In grad school, I honed my comics-making process and worked hard on my illustration abilities. I also made lifelong friends at CCA (my alma mater). I think the pros of getting a university degree are that you are getting an education that you simply cannot get elsewhere. I think the con is obvious: cost. I’ll get on my soapbox here and say that education should be free, or at least there should be student loan forgiveness.
Beyond studying in university, what was the journey into creating your own comics like for you?
I’ve drawn my whole life but there are a few pivotal points in my drawing life that are worth calling out: When I was 19, I started taking medication for OCD, and as I started to get my OCD symptoms under control, I started drawing more, I think because I had more mental energy available. Another point came when I decided to draw my comic Delicate Adventures, a comic about culturally significant figures drawn as eggs. I did this comic for 12 years and it helped me grow as an artist. Finally, discovering brush pens was a huge shift in how I draw.
Do you have any advice for those who might be interested in pursuing a career in creating their own comics?
I have 3 pieces of advice for those considering pursuing a career in comics: 1.Don’t wait for the right moment to start on your comic, because there will never be a perfect moment, and comics take a long time. Now is the right time to start. 2. Don’t rely on comics for an income. Comics is a hard market to be in, and not relying on it for your income will allow you to take more chances.Personally, having a “day job” has allowed me to appreciate comics more, and to be perfectly honest makes me less bitter. 3. Have life experience because that will inform your comics and make them better.
What is it like contributing your illustrations to comics or books that others have written, and how do you determine if a project is something you want to be a part of? Any tips for illustrators looking to work alongside writers to bring a project to life, or vice versa?
I love working with others’ material. I’m not as close to the material and there’s a certain level of objectivity that comes from that. What makes a project successful is the working relationship that you have with your writer. When I illustrated Going Remote with Adam, we had a great process; he’d write something, then we’d discuss, make edits, and put it into a form that’s ideal for comics. I find it really important to work with someone who is flexible, who can let the illustrator take chances and make choices. You can be the best writer in the world, but if you’re unwilling to let your illustrator do their job, your comic will be subpar and the process will be miserable. My advice for folks who want to work with writers is to do a small project with someone before committing to a larger project. Also, detail your process to them at the outset of the project so there are no surprises.
What tools do you most often use to create your illustrations, and what has drawn you to that method?
I’ve gone through various tools in my life. I used to be all in on technical pens, specifically Microns. Then I graduated to brush pens (Bimoji, Kuretake, Pentel). I also used to do a lot of ink wash. Today I draw almost exclusively digitally in Procreate (my favorite pen is the brush pen Syrup).
What are your goals for your creative practice moving forward? Are there any particular projects you have in mind that you are excited to bring to life?
I have a few things in the hopper. I recently finished my graphic novel Glorious, which is a dark comedy about a trio of miscreants living and working in the film industry. I’m planning on launching a Kickstarter for it this summer. I have also been writing comics about mental health and I want to make a graphic novel about my experiences dealing with mental health and the healthcare system. I’m also putting more products into my online store, including tshirts that I illustrate and print myself.
Finally, what media/music/miscellany have you been loving lately?
I just finished relistening to the sci-fi improv podcast Mission to Zyxx. It’s a deftly told sci-fi story with a lot of production value, and it’s very funny. I’m also watching the very not funny but still very good The Last of Us on HBO. As far as music, I’ve been looking for more New Wave and synthpop music to listen to.
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