Founder/Creative Director Frank Torres Cover Artist Interview by Khoa Ha Layout Design by Frank Torres Contributor Jair Santana
1850 Magazine, Issue 3
Release Date: April 2013 Cover Artwork: Michael Darque
Special Thanks to Michael Darque, Michelle Orozco, Gene Guynn, Sheila Vilchis, Richard Alexander, Christian “LV“ Leyva, Calavera, American Barbershop, Chapter 1: The Modern Local, Santa Ana Downtown Inc, and everyone who has supported 1850 Magazine since day one. Art Submissions info@1850mag.com Published by Eternal HQ info@eternalhq.com 1 (714) 257-5EHQ [347] Advertising Sales 1850 Magazine info@1850mag.com 1 (714) 576-6MAG [624] ©1850 Magazine www.1850mag.com 2013 All Rights Reserved
03 Welcome to the Darque Side Michael Darque
14 Richard Alexander Photography
09 Michelle Orozco Artwork
15 Christian “LV“ Leyva Photography
11 Gene Guynn Photography
16 Calavera Artwork
13 Sheila Vilchis Artwork
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Interview by Khoa Ha - Photos/Art courtesy of Michael Darque
Michael Darque, is a professional illustrator & designer, and published comic book artist & inker. Michael has been a graphic design instructor for over twelve years. 1850: What was the most fucked up thing you did when you were younger that you wish you didn’t do but you don’t regret doing it because it made you who you are today? DARQUE: The most f-ed up thing I did as a child...? Hmmm when I was around 5 or 6 I used to defecate in the number 9 hole at the golf course next to my mom’s house then waited around to watch the victim’s reactions, I did a lot of funny dumb things but that’s the first thing that comes to mind. 1850: What did you want to be when you were a kid? Maybe a professional sand castle builder? DARQUE: I did want to play football as a kid. That dream ended in Pop Warner football, 6th grade, when I intercepted the football and saw the entire offensive line b-lining towards me and said “hell no” and instinctively threw the ball straight up in the air and walked off the field, never played again. Not sure if that was really stupid or really smart? All I knew was that’s probably gonna hurt. I don’t know if there are professional sand castle builders making a living at it, but I did enjoy doing it. I think I was around 10-12 years old during
that phase; I did win first prize at the only sand castle show I entered. At that age I was searching to develop my creative expression and if I was good at something I would get bored easily and needed more challenging things. I think I knew I wanted to do something artistic and just tried to do and learn as much about all things creative as I could.
1850: You’re a very hyper person, do you happen to have ADHD? DARQUE: My mom asked me one day, “Do you start to drive your car before you put your seatbelt on? If yes, then you have ADHD.” I don’t know if I do or not, I probably do. There really is no precise test, but my mother is usually right, damn it.
1850: Why did you decide to be a teacher? You’re like one of the coolest, chilliest, and strangest teachers ever.
DARQUE: Thanks for making me sound like Jack Black from School of Rock. I would hope a good instructor would be in there somewhere. I lucked out and the job found me. I lied one day to a local college and said I was a small design firm looking 1850: I’m guessing, well, I’m very for intern students; I just left out I was certain you’re not religious at all, working out of my garage at the time. but do you believe in some kind of The graphic design director of that God or a “divine force” that’s like school kept seeing great work by the the drive to your existence? intern students and called me one day asking if I wanted to come in for DARQUE: Not religious at all. an interview and possibly teach an Organized religion is oppression illustrator course. I interviewed the through fear and control. and I have next day and started the day after. No no belief in Jesus Christ as a son of experience, no clue what I was doing god whatsoever. It would be easier or how to teach. for me to “The older I get the easier it is to The first day, believe that funnel the angst into creativity or the director Mary was walked me into artificially harness it for design.” the class-room inseminated mid-quarter said here is your new by aliens than divine intervention. I instructor, Michael Darque, slapped think the Vatican tried to say Mary me on the back and said good luck. was a virgin for 4 or 5 more kids after I immediately froze with fear seeing Jesus too? PLEASE! all the eager students seeking inspiration from ME and bolted out “Why can’t you be more like your the door straight to the nearest trash older brother Jesus?” hhehheeh... can in the bathroom and threw up everywhere. I gathered the courage I do not believe the bible is anything went back in and just winged it. I more than stories plagiarized later found out the previous instructor from other religions passed on by was fired the week earlier and I was oppressed humans desiring some meant to just finish the quarter and control of their lives. Ironically they nothing more. Apparently they were have come full circle and oppress impressed, I taught there three more others now-GOOD TIMES!!!! If the years. I love showing the students all church and or the bible help you be a the tips and tricks I know and have no better person then so be it, good for problem sharing industry secrets. I you, but it’s not anything more than decided if I could get hired at another debate material for me. Having said college I was a real teacher; I guess that, I guess, if cornered I would say I I’m a real teacher. I’ve been an was spiritual or agnostic. I do believe instructor for over 12 years now. in life after death in some form, I just don’t know how. Reincarnation I honestly do not have any idea. I’ve maybe? If history keeps repeating always been that way. The older I get itself then maybe the same people the easier it is to funnel the angst into are the reason. Spirituality is the creativity or harness it for design. quest for knowledge; religion is the end of knowledge.
1850: Who are some artists or things that you’ve recently been inspired by that fuel your art?
Berni Wrightson, Barry Winsor Smith, and other inspirational illustrators that worked in the field.
DARQUE: Besides the female form??? Oh. Well then, it has to be comic books again (new and old ones) and the artists making them. I have all these comic boxes that constantly need feeding and I can’t stop buying them. I realize it’s a pretty silly thing to spend money on some crummy old stapled pieces of paper that have been sitting in someone’s attic for 30-60 years, and I can’t take em with me when I die, but I love em. The hunt, the find, the buy, the smell, the art, the history, the whole deal. Just so amazing and really inspirational to me.
1850: Last but not least, any advice for the confused and lost like us, barely getting our feet wet in the creative pool?
I had a short career in the comic industry back in the 90’s doing some covers, and my own 4 issue comic book series, “CRISTIAN DARK,” about a priest turned evil. I got sidetracked 20 years and I’m trying to get back into the industry again, but this time as an inker. I’ve been quite obsessed lately with researching and collecting the old comic “masters.” Neil Adams, Frazetta, Frank Miller,
DARQUE: Advice for the young creative pool, huh? Follow your gut, don’t be a tool, have an opinion, don’t wait to be told do it yourself, don’t procrastinate, do what you say you will do, never miss a deadline. It’s better to try and fail then never try at all. Make some creative unique business cards give them to everyone you meet, network with everyone, you never know where that next job or idea will come from. Everything is inspiration where ever you find it. Don’t assume traditional art and design is long gone, go back to low tech and find inspiration in the history of art and design as a tool to add to your digital element, the computer is a tool, not the only tool in the toolbox, it’s a big one but so is a pencil, a tree branch, a sponge, your fingers or anything you see.
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Michelle Orozco ancatdubh29@gmail.com
11
Gene Guynn gene@geneguynn.com
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Sheila Vilchis essvee415@gmail.com
Richard Alexander richardalexandermedia@gmail.com
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Christian “LV” Leyva lvvisions.sd@gmail.com
Calavera
seven1fourdesigns@yahoo.com