Jock Looks Back On His Career So Far For New Art Book

09/21/2016 03:26 pm EDT

Part of the natural progression within the comic book industry is the maturation of artists. It can be hard to look back and pinpoint the exact moment when an artist went from hot newcomer to master but the artist who is known as Jock - the visual force behind comics like The Losers, Green Arrow: Year One, and Wytches – was recently forced to come to that realization about his own work as part of the process of putting together The Art of Jock -- a new art book from Insight Editions and Mondo.

Jock has said that he grew up tracing and learning to imitate the art of the masters working on 2000 AD, and he still isn't used to being the one used as a reference. In added in a recent interview with ComicBook.com that it has taken a period of acclimation in going from the tutored to the teacher.

"It is strange when other people say they've been influenced by my work," Jock said. "I met an artist I love called Sam Wolfe Connoly at MondoCon in Austin last year, and he told me he used to trace my The Losers pages in high school!

"It was the weirdest thing…I still feel like I'm starting out in many ways, but putting this book together has made me realize maybe I'm not."

The Art of Jock was first pitched to the artist, whose real name Mark Sampson, two years ago.

He was hesitant.

"I actually thought the time might not be right," he said, "but then Mondo called and asked if they could produce it I jumped at the chance. I work with them a lot, and their quality control is second to none. I knew that, at the very least, it would be a great looking book production wise!"

With that decision began the process of choosing which of Jock's work – a range that includes comics, posters, and concept art for films – should be included in The Art of Jock began.

"I realized just how much work I've amassed," Jock said. "There was a lot that we left out that easily could have found a place in the book.

"It was a combination of things. Definitely choosing some of my more popular work - in the comics section, for example, there's The Losers, Green Arrow: Year One, Wytches etc - but there was also the opportunity for me to include pieces I'm proud of, and show the sketches and the behind the scenes goings on too. It was written by my DC Vertigo editor Will Dennis, so we inevitably covered stuff that only we had access to.

"But also, this is pretty much the first time Mondo posters have properly been reprinted in a book," he said. "So I was keen to include a lot of posters. And we have acetate overlays showing the inks, and gatefolds for the larger posters. It's a beautifully put together book."

Jock has worked on film projects as well, most notably with Dredd and Ex Machina writer Alex Garland, but he said the movie concept art pieces were almost left out of the book entirely.

"This will be the first time a lot of this stuff has been printed, so I'm happy we did decide to include it," he said. "I'm very proud of the work we did on Ava from Ex Machina for example, and there's a big section on that. And Dredd of course too.

"Design work for movies has a very different purpose to say, comic book work, so they demand different approaches. The film work is far more painterly and the breadth of the image tends to be far more expansive, which we get into in the book. It's a big part of my working life so we tried to show all aspects."

In fact, as Jock explains, even though he's worked on some of the most iconic characters in comics, it's the more personal work, the work of his own creation, that is the most fulfilling...though he doesn't balk at the opportunity to draw some of those icons from time to time.

"The 'creator owned' comic projects like Wytches or an original film like Ex Machina is definitely most rewarding, but I still love getting a chance to draw characters I grew up reading," he said. "I could draw Batman forever, for example. And we're just talking about me doing a little more Dredd for 2000 AD too, so looking forward to that."

While he's a prolific artist, testimonials included in The Art of Jock note that Jock is also a family man, which may the role he is most proud of.

Maintaining a balance between work and family life is important, though not always easy.

"Like everything, it's a balance," Jock said. "I don't really pull all-nighters like I used to do when I was starting out anymore — I try and work 'normal' work hours, but when I have deadlines it can be very consuming. But I always know there's an endgame. When that final page is sent off, a certain amount of normality returns. But yeah, I try and give equal value to work and family time - when I was starting out I'd drop everything and just work, but I don't think that's good for you as the years go by. You can still give a project the proper attention and have a life outside of it."

Now that he's finished taking stock of his work so far, Jock is moving forward with career much as he always has.

"I really don't have a game plan," he said. "I try and take on projects that are interesting and been lucky to have had a lot of varied things come my way."

Jock does add that he may branch out into new forms.

"I'd love to write some more - a lot of my favorite creators are writer/artists - and I'd actually love to direct something," he said. "While working with Alex Garland on Dredd, I realized that so much of what I had learned in comics applies to film. Visual storytelling, basically. But also lighting, acting, blocking a scene… and I enjoy being around people and collaborating. So yeah, that'd be something I'd be interested in pursuing."

As for those young artists learning the craft by tracing and imitating his work, Jock has some simple advice.

"Persistence, persistence, persistence," he said. "That's the only advice I ever give. If you're honest with yourself and feel like you can do it and you have something, just keep going and it will find a home."

Additional preview pages from The Art of Jock can be seen in the gallery below. The Art of Jock went on sale Sept. 20, 2016.

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