KERRY CALLEN - MAY REQUIRE CONTENT

Now before you check out the following interview between me and my pal Callen, I'd like to impart some advice onto you first. Kerry can be a man's name as well as a woman's name. OK. You got that, folks? Good. We can all relax now. And read what my mate Kerry said to be only the other day, not so long after I mistook him for a her. Ops! My bad. 


Kerry Callen on Amazon


1) What are your own origins, Kerry? Plus what path did you take in life before you got to where you are today?   I grew up in a very rural area, before the internet and most video games. The school I attended, 15 miles away, didn't offer any art classes. The only "art" I was exposed to came in the form of old comic books, old Mad magazines and Sunday comics. I drew my own versions of comics, and such, for fun.

I eventually went to college where I took art classes, but I think my true art preferences were inspired by my early years. I've been lucky enough to work in the design field all my career. I feel my love of "storytelling" has been a plus. It's an important element in creating strong advertising images, book covers, greeting cards, etc.

2) How did your ‘May Contain Content’ blogsite come in existence? It’s ‘secret origin’ as it were.   I had worked on my comic "Halo and Sprocket" for a couple of years. I loved doing it, but doing it on a regular schedule was becoming more and more difficult.

You see, I have a neck injury from my childhood that wouldn't allow me to work an 8 hour "day job" and then work several hours more the same night. I decided to put Halo and Sprocket on hiatus, but I knew I still wanted to create work.

I decided to start a blog, just for fun. It would have no deadlines and I could do whatever struck me at the moment. I had planned on doing it for only a year or so, but I'm finding it hard to stop. I keep thinking of things I want to draw and share! I've done it for over five years now. I keep thinking I need to change the name of it. I named it when I had no idea of what I would be doing on it.

3) In your own words how would you describe your comic book, ‘Halo and Sprocket’? And what inspired you to create it?   It's a look at life through three radically different points of view. One character is an angel, the other is a robot. They're friends who live with a young, single girl. She supplies the "real life" point-of-view, which never matches up with theirs. It's a humor book. Really, if you just read the first 8 page story, you'll get a good feel of what the entire series is like.

I created it because I had a TON of ideas with no home. This seemed liked a great avenue to say whatever I wanted about life. Every viewpoint would be represented. If I ever find the time, I'd love to do "Halo and Sprocket: The Ultimate Collection", by putting all the work in one collection and fixing a few small details that I could improve upon. Maybe throw in a new story or two.

4) What theme tune taken from pop culture would you assign to your style of art?   Here's a little secret I've never shared with anyone. I often listen to Bee Gees music while working. Most of America wrote them off after they become victims of their own success. I agree they overplayed the falsetto thing, but I would still assign "Too Much Heaven" to my Halo and Sprocket work.

5) If you could get a celebrity – either living or dead – to promote your wares, who would you choose, and why would you want to choose this particular person?   Oh, I don't know. Demetri Martin perhaps? I find him hilarious. Wait! I have a new answer. What celebrities would I like to promote my wares? All of them. Ha!

6) Without sounding like a total git, I have to say that your super-hero parodies are the best I've ever seen on the net. What prompted you to create such a strip? Plus what type of feedback have you received from your followers?   First of all, thank you! As I mentioned earlier, the only art I was exposed to as a kid was comics and Mads, so this type of thing comes very naturally to me.

Sadly, something in me has been hardwired that way. I've gotten great feedback from people. I consistently get request to make prints of my work, but if it contain someone else's character.

I won't do it. I'm merely sharing something on my blog I drew for fun. I do think some of my work is firmly in legal parody territory, such as my "Oops Woman". I plan to think of more of that kind of thing.

7) Could you give us a brief rundown on some of your more commercial work?   I work for a major greeting card company. I was an artist for many years, but now I manage artists. I will also occasionally do freelance art if I think the job would be interesting.

I'm currently working on a 160 comic book in my spare time. I may present it as a web comic. I'm undecided, and probably won't decide until I'm about halfway finished with it.

It's 100% written, but I'm only on page 30 of drawing it. I'm thoroughly enjoying the process. It's my take on iconic monsters; vampires, werewolves, zombies, ghosts, etc.

I'm very happy with the story and dialog.

8) Taking into consideration your previous answer, what would you say you've learnt the most from being an artist?   There are many things in life that you won't know how to do until you start doing it. It's true for creating complex art. It's true for a lot of non-art situations too. Don't let unfamiliarity stop you from trying something. You can figure it out as you go.

Granted, it isn't true for some things. Such as using explosives or performing surgery. But it is true for many other things.

9) If you had a motto, what do you think it would be?   "If you can't make a good impression, just make an impression". Unfortunately, I think I may accidentally live by that motto. So scratch that. How about...  "People who are easily amused, are amused more often".

Ha! I couldn't have put it better myself, Kerry. Don't you agree, dear readers? Yeah! Then what are you waiting for? You know what you have to do. Check out Mister Callens's website today. Go on. Click-Click. Trust me. You won't be sorry if you did.