Creator’s Corner: NDGO

NDGO

"Don’t kill yourselves with perfectionism." 

@Ndgo
ndgoink.com

​Bio

ATL native Alfred Stewart aka NDGO who's passion for the creation of really creative art and story-telling lead him to produce many characters and stories for various genres. Drawing since the age of four, he has over 30 years of experience in the commercial arts industry. Now retired, he is focused on his own original stories and characters that he has created over the years with new ones in the pipeline. 

Where are your from?

ATL born and raised. 

Where did you grow up?

Born in East Point and later grew up in Union City, Ga

How did your experiences affect your art?

I grew up tagging along, or being dragged along with my pops, also an artist, to work sites to paint murals, create logo designs, T-shirts, you name it. All of that helped me understand the business side of art and my father helped push me to study anatomy and design. His love for comics and sci-fi also influenced me greatly. 

What type of stories do you like to make comics about?

Generally, sci-fi, fantasy. I need both or one of those elements to keep my interest. 

Whats your process? Elaborate on how you work through your projects. How do you break up your time for your projects at different stages?

With my current story, COUNTER AGENTS, it’s a bit weird. It started as just a sandbox type of project. I planned to do it just to get back into drawing and to figure out the whole system of producing a comic. So, it is in a strange order I guess.

First of all, I have the general direction of the story in mind.

Then, I visualize it and sketch it out.

Once I get the details down, I drop lines and then I render the backgrounds. 

After that, I color the characters and add shadows and effects.

Finally, I work out the script. Lol which is usually first. 

What do you recommend to aspiring artists that you wish you had known much earlier? What would you tell yourself 20 years ago?

Don’t be ashamed or afraid of cheating. Especially, if you’re a one person studio. Design your backgrounds for multipurpose use. Every major studio cheats lol. Don’t kill yourselves with perfectionism. 

What do you love best about making comics?

Creating  new worlds

What do you wish was different about the comics industry?

I wish the US industry would let the characters grow old and die. I wish the characters didn’t have so much plot armor and were more mortal. Pass the torch. 

Which books do you recommend artists should have in their reference library? Favorite instructional material?

Any anatomy book with people with imperfect bodies. Perspective books also. I don’t have any specific books myself as I feel u can learn from just observation. Life drawing is the best. I mean Picasso paid prostitutes. No books lol. And nothing beats learning from your peers. 

Top 5 favorite artists. 

My pops is always at the top - Alvin Stewart 

Yusuke Murata - illustrator of One Punch Man

Taguchi Masayuki - illustrator of Black Joke 

I’m really digging Sanford Greene right now 
Also Shawna Mills

But the list may change by the end of the week lol

Favorite comic characters. 

By far, Thanos of Marvel lore. 
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After that Majeh from the King of Hell manga series. 

Top 5 favorite comics & graphic novels. 

Right now -

One Piece
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My Hero Academia 

The World War Hulk and Planet Hulk series
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And Fable

What type of work are you interested in doing? Now? In the future?

Primarily, comics. Maybe some motion comics in the future and of course a bit of animation. But really more of a director/producer role for animation lol. 


How can others find or purchase your work? Website, social media link, etc.

My website is  ndgoink.com where u will also find my webcomic COUNTER AGENTS.. 

@Ndgo on Instagram 

You can find me on FB, Twitter, Instagram, and at NDGOink if not just by my name. ​​​​

a snippet from my next project: ISSHO NI

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