(Self-portrait from Taylor's new art book
BODY BY TAYLOR)
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LesbianPersonals: In your Amerotica comic series, how many of the elements are you responsible for? Writing, drawing, coloring?
KEVIN TAYLOR: I'm responsible for the writing, drawing, painting, cover, book and logo design. And up until this series, I also did the lettering. My writing developed along with my drawing, although, being a visual artist, I taught myself to tell stories with pictures and adding dialog where appropriate to move the story along.
LesbianPersonals: How long have you and Girl, Jaleira, been "involved"? How has she evolved. Are there still stories to be told or is there still chemistry between you and the Girl?
TAYLOR: Before GIRL: The Second Coming, Girl was established in a four issue series titled THE GIRL (NBM published the books as a collection titled GIRL), followed by a special one-shot issue titled GIRL:The Rule of Darkness (also republished through NBM). These five books introduced Girl - named Jaleira for The Second Coming - and how she acquired her special powers.
LesbianPersonals: I haven't seen the original series -- anything before this Second Coming series in fact -- was that all black and white?
TAYLOR: Yes, the original GIRL series was in black and white -- the first four in pen and ink, and The Rule of Darkness was painted in black and white.
LesbianPersonals: You said that for earlier stories you were reacting to her looks. I found that really interesting. Could you talk about what you mean by that a little bit?
TAYLOR: I've been involved with Jaleira since before my first 2-issue series called MODEL BY DAY. Our relationship evolved from someone I didn't know to someone I know very well due to the passage of time and learning more about---everything. There may be more stories to tell, but I'll have to wait and see how we both develop. As for our chemistry--it's like fire and gasoline.
LesbianPersonals: In the full page color shot of her that starts Chapter 1 in Volume One of the Second Coming, I can see how a single picture could contain enough personality to generate a whole plot. Is that an earlier image or was it something that you just penned for that issue.
TAYLOR: Simply put, whenever we see someone we find physically appealing, we assign certain attributes to them -- "she or he must be like this or that". That's what I thought when I saw the girl on the street that inspired my character, except I took it further and imagined what a girl who looked like she did would do to keep her looks and how far she would go. Then I developed a character and situations around the presumptions I had about her. Hopefully, over the years I've made her more interesting beyond her appearance.
LesbianPersonals: Is that an earlier image or was it something that you just penned for that issue?
TAYLOR: That's an original image done for that issue, just like every image in the series. I've done enough paintings of Jaleira and written her stories for so long that her personal nuances will come through in my portraits of her.
LesbianPersonals: I definitely notice the textures are different in volume 3 from volume 1 -- is that a response to new tools or what?
TAYLOR: Each book takes a long time to finish; from the writing of each page to the last page of painting takes more than nine months, including post production and checking the proofs. And book three took even longer! Working on a book alone from start to finish is tough. I never try to paint the same way twice and, because of that, I improve with each book, which explains the differences with each book. I use the same materials but, over time, I figure out better and different ways to use and combine them. In other words, I get better with each book.
LesbianPersonals: Your penetration shots are hot in volume 3 -- the glistening skin with the lighting, the body parts looking more real and colorful and all. What went into that evolution?
(sex "with clothes on")
TAYLOR: I pay attention. It's my job to be observant. I've learned how to get the feeling of flesh on flesh interaction, which is what I see missing in most books in general, and that's because nowadays artists are learning to draw people alone. The lighting and flesh tones I add helps with the impact. I've gotten so I haven't needed photo reference for any of the books because I've gotten the feeling for painting sexual contact.
LesbianPersonals: So girl is a successful night club owner and incidentally a sorceress who time travels. In one episode, she goes back to witness (first-hand) the Salem witch trials, and in another she witnesses the crucifixion. It's obvious why the witch trials are appealing. What interested you in placing her at the crucifixion? Did you have an interest in drawing or referencing the limitless canon of Biblical art?
TAYLOR: It's interesting that the Salem witch trials would seem more appealing than the moment that created our entire calendar, and provides the point that historical reference is based. Religion provides such interesting plot points, and I've used it in all of my books. The most interesting is the fact that a man calling himself Christ walked the earth and his death spawned the most powerful religion in the world. I thought it would be fun to imagine a modern person like Jaleira experiencing that day with all she knows about the outcome and how it might affect her.
LesbianPersonals: If you could jump into the comic strip and be some of the characters, who would you like to be and why?
(just plain hungry)
TAYLOR: I don't think I'd like being any of my characters because I know them too well. They may have some fun, but they all provide their own problems and I know the kind of troubles they attract. I have enough trouble getting through reality and I guess there are parts of myself in my characters. Maybe someday someone will create me and imagine living my life.
LesbianPersonals: :)
LesbianPersonals: Do you model your characters after composite people, are they collections of your favorite body shapes and parts? Do you enjoy working with models?
TAYLOR: I don't model my characters after anyone. I consider the type of character I'm doing and give him or her a certain body type. I enjoy working with models, but doing a graphic novel takes so long that I don't have time to go through the rigors of a model shoot. When I'm able to do model shoots, it's usually for large scale paintings or personal portraits.
LesbianPersonals: What are the hottest things about sex and sex art for you?
TAYLOR: Foreplay, for both.
LesbianPersonals: In one of your intros you talked about how Girl was driving you crazy. What are the difficult parts of writing a comic character like the Girl? Do comic writers suffer the analog to "writers block"?
TAYLOR: By "driving me crazy", that's just how it goes when you've been with someone for a long time, getting used to them. GIRL is my most famous character and I enjoy doing stories with her, but the difficulty is the time it takes to do each stage of a book. By the time each book is done I need a break from her. Writers aren't the only creators to suffer from blockages; composers, musicians and painters all go through it. There are few things as frustrating as a blank canvas or illustration board staring back at you and not knowing what should be on it. But we work through it.
LesbianPersonals: I had my eye on Kasmir through Volumes Two and three, where did he come from -- artistically speaking?
TAYLOR: In the girl series, there are always mysterious characters on the edges of the story. Kasmir was the first new character I thought of for The Second Coming, other than La, Jaleira's sister. I needed him to be directly involved with Jaleira, so I had to make him a hottie. It was fun figuring out where to insert him (no pun intended) into the story so as to keep him interesting but not give away too much too soon.
LesbianPersonals: By the end of Volume 3, that nasty hottie heats up the plot -- with Jaleira's sexy mom, no less -- and suddenly the series ends. That's cruel. Is there going to be a Second Coming 4? If so, how will the art evolve? What new themes might you try? And will the Kasmir/mom/mob plot be developed?
TAYLOR: Yes, it would be cruel if that were the end of the story, and it would be easier for me if it were. It would mean I could get to bed at a decent hour, among other things. However, there will be a fourth and final volume to the series. As far as the art work, I'll work a little differently and it'll be the best art in the series. As for the plot -- you don't really expect me to tell you that, do you? But, not to worry -- all of the twists and turns will be tied up. Or will they?
LesbianPersonals: What projects are you working on now?
TAYLOR: Besides the fourth volume of Second Coming [yay!], I'm doing private commissions and developing projects for after the last book of the series.
LesbianPersonals: In the perfect world, what directions would you like to take your art work?
TAYLOR: I'd like to have some projects done in 3d animation. But since my computer skills have only advanced to saving pictures on a disc, I'd need someone to help develop my work into 3d format. And I wouldn't count out Disney-at least the artists. I know of quite a few Disney artists who would love to take a break from drawing furry critters and talking fish and jump onto a project animating unreal sex scenes with incredible guys and girls that Mr. Disney never imagined. Maybe we can thaw him out and show him.
You can find Taylor's work at:
nbmpublishing.com
blacklacestudios.com
lancetooks.com
paintedanvil.com
serendipityartsales.com
linsner.com
lacupula.com
