MoA&A Interview #4: Kevin Wasden

Hello, everyone! Welcome to July, and the Month of Artist and Author Interviews here on the website!

Today’s interview features fabulous artist Kevin Wasden! Kevin illustrated my story “Counterclockwise” for the November issue of IGMS last year. He also collaborates on the incredibly awesome Hazzardous Universe books with equally incredibly awesome author Julie Wright. (Hey, I need to get Julie on here!)

And…HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

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Author or Artist?
Artist

Who are your professional role models?
James Christensen for illustration, Thomas Dewing for fine art, and Jim Henson for just about everything else.

What’s your favorite sketching weather?
Sun, rain, wind, etc . . . I like to experience them all at different times. Each inspires something different and I would hate to have too many of the same ideas and experiences.

Set your current playlist/musical device to “shuffle all” and hit PLAY. What’s the first song that comes up?
I left my ZUNE at school (I teach high school visual art), so I can’t hit shuffle right now, but I can tell you, that when I do, I hope something by Ramona Falls comes up first.

If you could win any award, which would it be?
Best Dad.

Would you rather have magical powers, or a spaceship?
Okay, that’s a tough one.  How fast can the spaceship go?  Can it travel faster than light. Do I get to travel through worm holes or some other such theoretical means? If intergalactic travel is possible, I’m all for the spaceship.  I’m curious to see what’s out there.  It would be amazing to be able to take a sketchbook and travel the stars drawing everything I could see.

What was your favorite book as a child?
The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks.  I can’t remember which I liked best, the story or the cover and interior illustrations by the Brothers Hildebrandt . . . regardless, I became absorbed in the world of Shannara for several years.  Unfortunately, I burned out on the never-ending sequels.

What thing do you wish you could go back in time and tell your 10-year-old self?
“Draw a lot more from life, read more, don’t be afraid to try acting in school plays . . . and you will survive high school.  I promise.”

What’s your favorite constellation?
Nothing too fancy.  I always like to know which direction is north, so I’m a fan of the Big Dipper because it always points me to the North Star.

What’s your favorite fairy tale?
I love Feathertop by Nathaniel Hawthorne.  I’ve always wanted to illustrate this story, at least for my own satisfaction.

What thing are you most proud of?
Professionally, I would have to say, I take greatest pride in my TECHNOSAURS and HAZZARDOUS UNIVERSE projects. TECHNOSAURS was recently picked up by Visionary Comics, and book two of the HAZZARDOUS UNIVERSE series was just released by Covenant Books.

The Colin Harvey Memorial Question: Name 3 things on your List of Things to Do Before You Die.
Hmm.  I don’t usually think that far ahead.  Let’s see . . .
1.    Make an impact on art education.
2.    Write, illustrate, and publish 4 or 5 of my own stories.
3.    See David Bowie in concert (I’m beginning to question if this one will happen, but I’m still holding onto a small flicker of hope).

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Kevin Wasden has an overactive imagination, is unable to sit through meetings without drawing, and tends to be silly at the most inopportune moments. He is an advocate of creativity in education and enjoys speaking to youth, writers, artists, and educators.  He studied illustration at Utah State University and has studied figure-drawing and painting from the exceptional figure artist, Andy Reiss, in New York City. Kevin teaches visual art at DaVinci Academy of Science and the Arts.
Website: www.kevinwasden.com
Blogkevinwasden.blogspot.com