One of our favorite artists is making her annual trip to San Diego. Carla Wyzgala is back with her unique pin-up art, a new project with her husband, and an exclusive. Let’s catch up with the very busy Carla…
What are you looking forward to this year at San Diego Comic Con?
The fans! Every year fans blow me away with their positive energy and dedication to be there amongst the masses. Truly amazing to be a part of.
You are working on not one but two new graphic novels, what can you tell us about them?
The second installment for Hidden Door Comics, fairytale graphic novels by my sister RC Young and I, is well underway. Currently working on the pencils and soon to watercolor, but this story is longer than Blue Eyes and the Beastling, our first book, so still a long ways away from being finished.
All while also tackling Skull Masquerade, my series of watercolor paintings of ladies in animal skull masks, as a graphic novel with my husband Justin Tauch. He and I have been creating the story, character designs and script together and just about ready to start on pages very soon.
What’s the good and bad on working with your husband?
So many good things, honestly. It has been a very natural experience so far and almost feels like this story is making itself. Plot discussions seep into dinner conversations and road trips have been some of our best meetings. Justin has added much needed bad assery to this idea that I’ve been sitting on for so long, he is breathing new life into it and making it better than I ever imagined.
What Exclusives are you bringing to SDCC this year?
I have a brand new Dahlia print and sticker that will only be printed for SDCC. Im celebrating turning her into a character instead of just the cat skull print. Let’s see what’s behind the mask.
What sets SDCC apart from all the other cons?
Being a 5-day con, SDCC really becomes a community and at times feels like we are all camping out together (and some actually are!) No other con brings people together quite like this one. We are all surviving and looking out for each other.
Do you have a favorite SDCC memory?
Besides meeting art idols of mine, it would have to be the very first time I walked the show floor before open. It was this mystical forbidden beast that we couldn’t help but wander and explore. I remember feeling right then the magnitude of what was going to happen when those doors opened and ran for my life back to my table.
What’s your typical SDCC day like?
Pretty similar to a 12-hour flight… wake up super early, fight my way through massive crowds and lines before caffeine kicks in, and then sit for 12 hours with whatever food that I can fit in a backpack breathing recycled air trying not to get sick. But with much better conversation and human interaction than a flight.
What’s the best thing about SDCC and the worst thing?
The amount of people that attend this con is the best and the worst at the same time!!
Any hidden San Diego spots your recommend people check out?
Oh ya know, just Artist Alley! That’s the only spot I really get to see, hopefully it’s not hidden!
What’s next for you after San Diego Comic Con?
Hunkering down until NYCC and penciling/painting tons of pages for these books. I seriously can’t wait! The thought of getting back into a routine and producing pages of story like a machine actually sounds fantastic right about now! You can catch my progress for all things Skull Masquerade on my Patreon @carlations and progress of the next Hidden Door Comics book titled Rubeus of the Sea on our instagram page @hiddendoorcomics
