Authors create amazing stories, entire worlds, and epic characters all from their imaginations, but without a great cover artist able to capture our vision, many books would be lost in the millions of others that are out there.
It is the artists job to bring our story to life in a single image. Something incredible and striking that will pull the reader in, that will make them pause in their scrolling and want to read more about it.
This summer, Uncomfortably Dark will be highlighting those amazing artists and illustrators that do so very much for our books but are often overlooked. Miguel Amaro is our first interview to kick off our Summer Series!
Miguel is an illustrator and artist working in Owego, New York. He does traditional and digital mediums, and is greatly inspired by Todd Mcfarlane, Stan Winston, Bernie Wrightson, Frank Frazetta, as well as the natural world. He loves to create original monstrous, at times grotesque creatures, combining real and fantastical beasts.
Art is his passion and the way he puts his thoughts and feelings into the world and hopes that as art helps him communicate and process his own mental health struggles, that his art can reach others, inspire them to process these things in a creative way, and help them not feel so alone.
Check out his work and his interview below!
Did you always want to be an artist?
No. I wanted to be a paleontologist before I even knew what that was. But, I’ve been drawing since I could hold a pencil. In pre-school, I remember being asked what I wanted to be when I grew up and I said, “I want to find dinosaur bones.”
When did you first begin to draw and when did you start drawing horror pieces?
I started drawing probably at the age of 2. My grandma and grandpa would give me paper and a pen to keep me busy and out of trouble. Otherwise, I was digging holes all over the place. As far as I can remember, my first horror piece was a monster I drew back in elementary school. I drew Godzilla burning my house down. Godzilla and other classic Universal Monsters were big inspirations for me, leading me to get into other kinds of horror.
What is your favorite thing about being an artist and what are your favorite mediums to work with?
Being a “God.” I create creatures and worlds from my mind and breathe life into them on paper. Life can be very chaotic, especially in my house growing up. So making my own worlds and being in total control of them was and is my escape. My favorite mediums to work with are pen and ink and watercolor. For me, watercolor is easier to control than other paint. Black and white pen and ink has a very classic, old-school feel, and it's what I’ve been doing all my life and reminds me of the early black and white films that inspired me. I like the grittiness.
Do you do any interior illustrations for the book or movie industry currently?
Yes! Right now I am working on interior pages and illustrations with my friend, and awesome horror author Tommy Clark, master of splatter-punk, for our upcoming Curses magazine. I’m doing comic pages for short stories of his he has adapted, and he is writing short stories based on some of my illustrations.
If you could work with any author, creator, or movie director, who would it be and what would be the project?
I always wanted to work with Stan Winston and create a new design of Predator or Alien, or some new genetically modified dinosaur for a Jurassic Park film. I also love Todd McFarlane and Jim Lee, so working with them would be awesome. I would love to create monster designs with Guillermo Del Torro. Really anything with him.
What advice would you give to other artists?
Do what you love, do what makes you happy. Because once you stop enjoying what you create, then it just becomes another job. Also learn the basics - human anatomy. And build your mental library, learn your poses, memorize muscles and bones. Learn animal anatomy and how they move. Draw from life.
Where do you hope to see yourself in five years with regards to your artwork?
Hopefully, working in the comic or film industry. Ideally for Todd McFarlane at Image Comics or working with Guillermo Del Torro.
What are some of your favorite pieces or projects that you have done so far?
A lot of my more personal artwork I do are probably some of my favorite pieces right now. One called Gaia, and my first big scarecrow I did are particular favorites.
What are your thoughts, if any, on the use of A.I. generated art images?
Fuck it. Or, if you can’t publish the F word, I hate A.I. “art.” It COULD be a tool, but people are abusing it, and I think we’re better off without it. Nothing really good comes from A.I..
What is your favorite thing about being in/a part of/or a fan of the Horror industry?
Honestly being able to meet other fans of the horror industry. other creators, authors, artists, actors, anyone that loves this industry. Everyone I have met so far has been very kind and I have made some very strong friendships with some of them, especially Tommy I mentioned earlier with our collaborations.
What other services do you offer clients?
I do commission work; I pretty much do whatever people ask of me. I love challenges. But I will never paint another damn bird.
What current projects are in the works that you would like to mention?
The Curses Magazine with Thomas R. Clark, I’m really excited about this one. It has been a challenge, but I am learning a ton about the process. The stories Tommy is writing are great. I love how he brings in history with the newer age. I am also always working on new creatures and side projects. I have a slowly coming along tarot deck I’m working on. I only have a few cards done so far, but it's a fun little relaxing project to destress with.
Just Some of Miguel's Amazing Artwork!!
THANK YOU, MIGUEL AMARO, FOR ALL YOU DO!