Mad Scientist

Artist Bio

Heavily influenced by his love of comic books and cartoons, Michael Loscalzo has been drawing since childhood.

Currently, Michael lives in Long Island, New York and works as a Graphic Designer.

JA: Please tell us about your art:
As a child my parents were pretty strict regarding the things I was exposed to, particularly television. So I spent a lot of time with my comic book collection, which was permitted because it involved “reading”. I always enjoyed drawing and trying to duplicate the artwork that helped to tell the stories of my favorite heroes. So, I guess it’s not too surprising that a lot of my work resembles comic book art. I studied illustration and graphic design in college, but there is always more to learn.

JA: Before starting a new design, what’s the most important thing for an artist to consider?
Well, when you’re designing for a client there are many things to consider, such as budget, target audience and so on. But when you’re designing for yourself, the only thing to consider is the satisfaction of your own creative desires.

JA: Do your designs start with pencil on paper or straight on the computer?
Many of my designs begin with a quick sketch, which is then scanned and completed using various design software (primarily Adobe Illustrator). A sketch for the “mad scientist” tee can be seen here: http://www.billythespacekid.com/images/illo_ms_sketch.jpg

JA: How do you know when a design is finished?
One of my college professors told our class that you should “live with your work” even after you feel that it’s completed. So, I’ve got a bulletin board in my apartment where I hang all of my most recent projects. More often than not, I’ll think of a way to improve something, or a way to avoid future mistakes. There’s always the risk of over-working a piece and ruining it, but thankfully in the age of computers, we’ve always got Ctrl + Z.

JA: Where do you go for inspiration?
As I mentioned earlier, I’m often inspired by comic book art. But, now that I own a functional television I also love to watch as many cartoons as possible. I often find myself inspired by the high quality of work produced by these artists. I’m hoping to reach that level one day.

JA: Please name some of your favorite artists.
I admire a lot of artists throughout history. When I was a student I loved learning about the artwork of Baroque era painters, especially Caravaggio. Of course I admire a lot of comic book artists including Cameron Stewart, Mike Allred, James Steranko and Paul Pope, just to name a few.

JA: Is there anything you’d like to promote?
I’m currently illustrating a series of books written by MaryLouise Blond for speech pathologists and educators with special-needs students. Please check my website http://www.billythespacekid.com in 2011 for more details.