PLANET CHOCKO – art/music/movies/beyond » An Interview with Ray Sumser

An Interview with Ray Sumser

July 21st, 2012 by chocko

Ryan Sumser and Characternity (photos by chocko)

I was doing my San Diego Comic Con shuffle and was walking across the pedestrian bridge connecting PETCO Park and the Convention Center when I randomly stumbled upon an artist at work. The piece he was working on blew me away…it was huge, ambitious and featured nearly 3000 cartoon and comic book characters. He volunteered to point out any character I could think of and sure enough, he pointed Stimpy out of the crazy lineup. I thought I stumped him with The Herculoids…nope! Here is an interview I did with Ray Sumser…cartoonist and fan-boy extraordinaire! His stuff rocks and check out the links below if you’re interested in purchasing anything. Thanks to Ray for taking the time out for doing this Q+A and good luck on your move to New York City!

Tell us about the cartoon piece involving all those characters. What inspired such madness?
That’s the Characternity. It’s a 3′ by 6′ line drawing in which I attempt to capture the entire cartoon universe. It is a follow up to my pieces the Comicosm (2009) and the Cartoonuum (2011). I have always drawn characters and from very early on, I wanted to see adventures where characters from different stories interacted (think of Sonic racing the Roadrunner!) I aim to create an imaginary space where all characters from all narratives coexist. What a strange and interesting room that would be to walk in to.

What has the feedback been on that particular project?
People like it. I was talking to a Neurologist the other day who said that every bit of information exists in your brain at a specific location, connected to every other bit by the neurons. To cause the viewer, then, to leap through their synapses to different memories and experiences is a fun thing to watch. I get to see a lot of faces light up when I show these pieces. Lots of people are deeply invested in specific pop narratives and it’s an absolute joy to witness their discovery of a cherished, detested or long-lost character.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background in art.
I was born in Maryland, grew up in Northern California, went to the Rhode Island School of Design for Film and Paint, spent three years at the Tannery Arts Center in Santa Cruz and the past year in San Francisco. Now I am moving to the Lower East Side of New York City, this week. I have drawn my whole life and have been pursuing an increasing number of media in the past few years.

To what extent are you involved in comics and cartoons?
I think of myself as an outsider, mostly because I totally am. I don’t even go inside at Comic-Con. So ultimately I’m a fan-boy. But it’s a longterm goal and dream to spend time working in the Comics industry, and surely the world of Animation. I’ll die an elated death if they ever let me contribute even a line to issue #1000 of the Amazing Spider-Man.

So, all that being said, at age six I was drawing comic book covers for a series I made up called “Mars 200,” and I drew and published my first full comic in eighth grade (a run of 20 at Kinkos with help from my Mom). I am still always drawing and I do freelance animation along with my Video work. I’m developing a couple of comic strips for an online marketing company right now.

What was the weirdest thing you experienced at Comic Con?
Everything is weird at Comic-Con. I had a pretty unreal moment though. I just so happened to stumble on to the Hyrule Symphony playing a concert behind the convention center on Thursday night. A Link to the Past is my favorite game of all time so that flet pretty lucky. Then, during intermission I took a walk through the Marriot lobby and randomly bumped in to and met Stan Lee. What a moment. I was walking on air.

Who do you consider your heroes and inspiration when it comes to art?
My Mom and Dad, first. Without their help I wouldn’t get to be me and their support and encouragement is a so central foundation for my art. Heroes, broadly: Picasso and Disney. Pollock, Haring, Warhol, Van Gogh. Kurt Vonnegut. I love Stan Lee. Kevin Smith. Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell. Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab. Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos.

Do you like listening to music when creating your art and if so, what bands get the most play?
Yes, music is crucial to my process. Sometimes I really need to turn off the voice in my head and get my hands and body moving. High pitch and fast paced. Favorites are the Punch Brothers, the Eels, the Doves, the Strokes, the Talking Heads – I guess anything with ‘the’ in front of it. The Velvet Underground. The Fugees.

What do you enjoy doing outside of drawing, painting and photography?
Anything creative… I’ve been playing Ukulele for about three years now. I love to write, shoot movies, sing, act, sculpt, organize, bike, climb hills and meet girls.

Tell us about your future projects.
I’m actually at a bit of a jumping off point right now. I had my last big Solo Show in San Francisco last month and Comic-Con was my sort of last stop before going back East. I am going to New York City and I’ll just have to see what happens to me there…. I know I’ve got to do a color version of the Characternity pretty soon and I’m beginning to see a film project on the Horizon.

I’m always posting updates on my facebook accounts

facebook.com/raysumser
facebook.com/raysumserart

(photos below courtesy of Ray Sumser)