With San Diego Comic Con 2019 right around the corner, Livio Ramondelli sat down with us to talk about the con. Ramondelli has done extensive work on “The Transformers” and IDW Publishing, his work is ultra-detailed and captures each character with so much richness and emotion.
What are you expectations for SDCC this year?
Catching up with great friends and fans, and a complete lack of healthy eating and sleeping for five days.
What makes SDCC so special?
It’s the biggest show of the year, and the spectacle both at the con and in downtown San Diego around it is unmatched. It’s also a local show for me, so I get to see all of my local close friends as well as my visiting friends from around the globe.
What’s your typical SDCC day like?
My day begins around 9 am, always lacking enough sleep from the night before. I then head right to the con, and I’m in Artist Alley all day (unless I’m on a panel or signing at a booth somewhere). I’m there until 7 pm, and then it’s time for dinner somewhere in the Gaslamp before grabbing drinks with the legions of friends in town for the show. And then the cycle basically repeats the next day.
What exclusives are you bringing this year?
I’ll have some brand new Transformers and Star Wars prints, as well as doing commissions for people.
What were your early influences?
My early influences were pretty varied. Studying the Star Wars movies, looking at comic artists like Jim Lee, Erik Larsen, and Alex Ross. There’s really too many to name.
Your work is incredibly detailed, how long does an average piece take you?
It depends on the piece! But generally, a finished digital painting with a background takes around 8 hours, usually spread over a couple of days.
Any secret San Diego spots you recommend people check out?
Hell no! I want to keep the secret spots I know about a total secret since San Diego becomes a madhouse during SDCC and I like those quiet areas.
What’s the worst about SDCC?
The show is stressful because you’re dealing with so many people over so many days. And then at night, the networking and catching up with visiting friends is very fun but also very tiring.
What’s your favorite SDCC memory?
Probably when Guilermo Del Toro walked up to my table at Artist Alley and took my card. That was very special and he was incredibly kind.
Where can we find you after SDCC?
You can find me on Instagram at LivioRamondelli, as well as Twitter at the same name.
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