It’s our pleasure to welcome artist Colin Arthurs of Col Art to talk Star Wars and art.
FT: Could you please share your earliest experiences of Star Wars fandom?
CA: My earliest Star Wars memory goes back to a family holiday in Torquay in 1980. I remember walking past the Odeon cinema and seeing the iconic The Empire Strikes Back poster with Vader stretching out his hand, the TIE Bombers swooping upwards, and the running Stormtroopers. Honestly, I was only about 6 and I’d not heard of Star Wars.
Later that year, back home, I remember being taken into a Toymaster shop in the Ards shopping centre. Most likely to buy some Lego. I remember a floor to ceiling display of figures and ships. I still had no idea what Star Wars was, but I knew I wanted a figure. Much agonising later I settled on an Imperial Snowtrooper. From that point on there was no turning back.
FT: Do you have a favourite amongst the Star Wars movies or TV series?
CA: I’m a child of the original trilogy generation, but out of them all Return of the Jedi still holds firm as my favourite. Probably because it was the only one of the originals I got to see on the big screen. Again it was Torquay cinema, July ’83. I saw it with my Dad and managed to sneak in my R2 and C-3P0 figures too.
FT: Disney recently announced Ahsoka: Season 2, and with other Star Wars features to follow, is there anything which piques your interest?
CA: Honestly, I’m happy to watch anything Star Wars. Growing up we had the original trilogy, but until VHS was widely available, we had to make do with any bit of Star Wars we could get. I do recall watching the Droids and Ewoks cartoons, and still have a soft spot for the Ewoks movies. To have so much choice now of what to watch is almost overwhelming. I’ve enjoyed some series more than others, but the trailer for the upcoming Acolyte show has me intrigued.
FT: How did you begin your relationship with art?
CA: Apparently I’ve been happy to draw since I was very young. I’ve always enjoyed art and combined with growing up with 70s and 80s animation, books, and comics, it’s just something I never grew out of. In primary school I enjoyed copying art from comics and still have some photos of my bedroom from around 1983/84 with the walls covered in mostly transformers posters and drawings.
FT: What is your preferred art media?
CA: My preferences have changed over the years. In secondary school I was primarily using watercolour and acrylics. By the end of my university days I was burned out a bit and kind of took about 10 years off. Then one night, I decided to go to the supermarket and buy pens and a sketch pad. I drew a not so great biker scout cartoon and just like the toys, never looked back. Now my main medium is Promarkers and Fineliners, they’re kind of like posh felt tip pens.
FT: You have produced Star Wars art for Topps Cards, could you tell us about this experience?
CA: My friend Marsha (Parkins) had drawn for them and I asked her how to get involved. She advised submitting examples to illustrate what I could do, then it was sit and wait. My first set of cards were the second series for The Last Jedi. Quite a challenge to draw so small and having to adapt my style to suit. To be honest, it took several sets before I felt I was hitting the mark I wanted.
FT: You have produced various forms of Star Wars art, such as characters, vintage action figures, and cartoons. Could you tell us about these subject forms and if you have a favourite amongst these?
CA: I think the cartoons are my favourite, whether it’s an interpretation of a toy figure, or coming up with what I hope is an amusing situation. Comics and cartoons were what I was drawn to as a kid, so they’re a natural go to. I enjoy pushing myself a bit too, and its fun to develop styles, sometimes even change them completely. For me it helps keep my mind fresh, so I still enjoy trying to do more ‘realistic’ pieces too.
FT: How would you describe your art styles?
CA: Honestly, I just call them my cartoon and toy styles. The cartoons have gone through a lot of change over the years and I seem to have settled for now on a stylised, larger head version. The toy style I think has two different versions, one is a more delicate style, the other more solid and blocked.
FT: Are there any previous art styles you would like to re-visit?
CA: Recently I was asked to work on some pieces using a style I’d not tried in a number of years so that was a nice challenge. Trying to get back into a different mind’s eye, seeing the figures, and translating them onto paper. I may have to try more. It’s also been a while since I worked on sketch cards, so maybe trying those again could be a fun challenge.
FT: Are there other art styles you hope to hone within your skillset?
CA: There are a number of artists out there I admire and know I could never do what they’re doing, but the environment is big enough for us all, and it’s great to see such variety. I’ve dabbled a little in acrylics recently and have considered trying those, or watercolours to do more work.
FT: What’s your thought process when beginning a new art project?
CA: Sometimes I have an idea where I’d like to combine a number of figures in a particular group. Others, as my friend Marsha will agree, are little absurd notions that blind side you at random times, and you feel compelled to note them down. Sometimes I’ll scribble down a thumbnail picture on a scrap of paper, others I’ll just have an interest in drawing a particular character. For group cartoon scenes, I often like to add little extras to give it more life, and not just seem like a school photo. Once I know what I want to do I can work out the size I need to use, most often its A5 or A4. Recently I’ve pushed myself to do A3 size pieces.
FT: On average, once committed to a subject, dependent on the style being used, how much time does it take from inception to completing a piece of art?
CA: Time can vary a lot. An A5 piece can sometimes be completed quite quickly, especially if it’s a character I know. A4 groups, and especially if I have to research a character or situation, can take several hours tweaking composition, and making sure details are right. A3 believe it or not, doesn’t always take the longest, the A4 toy versions tend to take longest due to their need for accuracy.
FT: What would be your dream achievement in the art world, and what would this mean to you?
CA: At the moment, having had the opportunity to draw for official Star Wars products was a real achievement goal. I honestly don’t know where I’d like my art to go. It still makes me smile that there’s people out there who enjoy what I do. Before COVID I was humbled to be asked twice to appear as a guest at the Enniskillen Comic Fest and Omagh Comic Fest. Both excellent events focusing on the comic world, and I got to meet some of my childhood heroes. It would be a real treat to attend more conventions. One other achievement I’m very proud of, even though its only local, is being asked to draw pieces twice now for our local air ambulance charity.
FT: Do you have any advice for budding artists?
CA: Anything I say will probably sound corny but just keep drawing. If you enjoy drawing, colouring, painting, or whatever way you like to create, keep at it. I’d also say push yourself to try other mediums and other styles. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. I’ve spent hours on pieces and scrapped them because they weren’t right, then just started over. I would also say to look at a lot of sources, such as comics, children’s books, art books, cartoons, TV, galleries, exhibitions. Always looking, always absorbing.
FT: Star Wars forms a healthy portion of your portfolio, could you tell us which other franchises you enjoy working with?
CA: I enjoying trying pieces based on shows that influenced me as a kid. Anything from Chorlton and the Wheelies, to Rhubarb and Custard. Wombles, Terrahawks, music icons, Ghostbusters, Transformers, Doctor Who, He-Man, pretty much anything.
FT: Are you currently working on any projects?
CA: I’m just about to start work on an A4 cartoon of the the last 17 Star wars figures. Hopefully some ‘toy’ style pieces too.
FT: Where can your art work be viewed?
CA: I’m on Instagram and X as Bare Skull Art and Design.
FT: Do you produce artwork by commission?
CA: I do, if that’s what someone wants. Recently I’ve been mixing up some Star Wars pieces and personalising them by cartooning people into costumes and vehicles.
FT: Many thanks Colin for sharing your experience with us, and we look forward to experiencing your future artistic adventures.
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