Eamon O’Donoghue

Where were you born? Where did you grow up?
I was born in Cork Ireland and grew up in Co. Kerry.

Schooling? Art training?
I studied art and design at Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland where I graduated in 1998. After working for various agencies including Feref of London, I decided to go freelance in 2003/04 in the hopes of making a bigger dent in the world of illustration and design.

How long have you been working professionally in comics?
I have been working professionally since 1998.

What things — both in art and otherwise — have you worked on besides comics? Are comics a full-time gig for you or part-time?
Comics consists of only a small part of my workload. I illustrate and design book covers for all the top publishers including Scholastics and Random House. I also do various illustration work for toy brands, children’s board games and packaging.

Talk about how you broke into the business –was it easy? Hard? Ups? Downs? Any interesting anecdotes? When you held your first published work in your hands, how did you feel?
I suppose my first real break came when I heard that a UK company was releasing He-man and the Masters of the Universe on DVD. I am big fan of this property and I had just started being freelance when I decided to draw what I thought would make for a good He-Man DVD cover and just sent it on to the company with the words, “this is what I can do for you if you give me the job”. They said yes and I had then proceeded to do 14 separate He-Man DVD covers which then led to Dungeons & Dragons and then Marvel brands. Within a year I was the UK’s DVD go to guy and have stayed busy since. It was quite groovey seeing my He-man art on the shelves, especially when they did an 80’s DVD section in UK HMV stores and all but Ninja Turtles had my artwork on.

Did you work as an assistant to any other artists? If so, please talk a bit about those experiences.
No, I didn’t.

How did your parents take to the idea of working in comics?
My parents only became supportive of my artistic endeavors when my Irish teacher told them I had talent as I was drawing instead of learning the native language. They are cool about it now but hazy as to what exactly it is I do!

How would you describe your workspace? Is it part of your home, or do you go “to the studio”?
I work from my apartment where part of my living area has been converted into a studio with my drawing table and two Apple Macs.

What job are you the proudest of? What’s your most embarrassing?
My Silver Surfer pieces, which are purely speculative, are my favorites. They do exactly what they are supposed to do and I am very happy with the cinematic quality to them. Oddly enough the job that started my career, the He-Man DVDs, are pieces I am now quite embarrassed about. I would love to go back and redraw them all.

What are you currently drawing? Comments on that project?
I am just about to start on a cover for all well known comic book series. I was asked to draw a piece based on a previous unpublished, though very popular, piece of my own. I am quite excited to see the feedback. Should give me some extra exposure too I hope!

Talk about your family: Parents, siblings, home situation. Are you married? Have kids? Names? Anecdotes about married life, how it relates to your busy schedule, etc. If you have kids do they understand your job? What do they say about it? Do they read comics?
No witty anecdotes about kids or wife as I have neither but I do have a girlfriend and it can be a juggling act if you get my meaning. Can’t say too much as she may read this! 😉

What projects do you hope to work on in the future?
I crave a Silver Surfer job as I know I could makes folks smile if given the chance. I would love to do a Conan book cover as well as more Masters of the Universe work

Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?
I hope to still be doing book covers, the big juicy titles would be rather nice. I would like to have at least some movie work in the can by then too.

What is the interest in comics where you live? Do friends and neighbours know you draw comics for a living? How do they react?
I am surrounded by music producers and DJ’s, so sadly I have few people to bounce creative ideas off. I have a few piers whom I talk to via skype though so that helps a bit.

What’s 1 thing you’ll always find in your refrigerator?
Mangos!

What’s your favorite food?
Japanese Curries and traditional Spanish dishes.

What are your favourite interests –Movies? Music? TV? Any hobbies? Sports?
My second love is surfing followed by snow boarding. I cannot live without music and I love my movies. Favs include, Blade Runner, The Terminator, Fifth Element and Waynes World.

Have you ever thought of writing your own stories?
Yes I have. I have been writing one in my head for the last 15 years.

Ever been in a gang?
Not really!

What’s an average day in your life like? Walk us through a typical day.
I tend to get up around 10am, work all the ways though until about 7pm. I’ll then work out and eat/give woman some attention until 10 or 11pm and then I work until 1am. At this point I usually watch some David Attenborough to unwind.

Do you have any great, unsold projects in your files that nobody’s gotten to see published?
Oooh yes!!