I have come to the conclusion that Detroit Tradecraft as an organization, needs to publicize and support the efforts of our members and their individual companies and collaborations. So I will restart our blog with different interview sessions with our members. One of our primary members is Mark Dudley and I wanted to interview him since many in Detroit Tradecraft still don’t know his company, Imaginos Workshop, well.
I had planned on doing an interview with Mark Dudley, one of the Principles of Imaginos Workshop prior to the group’s celebration of their successful Kickstarter campaign, for their comic sampler project- Imaginos Plus. This campaign is actually the middle of a desire Mark Dudley has been pursuing for years. In the 90’s Mark was a key member with another group of artists, known as Drunkenstyle. Like many of of the groups and collaborations who pursued comics in the 90’s and 2000’s, they eventually closed house as a company. However, Mark has never stopped working or collaborating with individuals and groups. Mark was always just looking for the right mix.
So given Mark Dudley’s refreshed excitement for his new group- I decided to talk to him and find out more:
DTC: How do you describe Mark Dudley?
MD: hmmm
thats a good one
I like to think of myself as a guy who is in the moment.
I like what I am seeing out here these days and like to stay a part of things.
I would like to be a direct line from the past to the future
DTC: So, do you consider yourself a renaissance man or a driven individual?
MD: I think I am bit of both. I like to know my craft, but don't like to lose. I’m a good sport, don't get me wrong. But, like Star Trek’s ,Jim Kirk, I don't believe in the “No-Win” scenario.
DTC: How long have you been associated with this comic/graphic arts game?
MD: Professionally, I have been in the game about 20 years
I have been drawing all my life, though.
DTC: Do you think there is still room for veterans in comics and entertainment; or is this a young mans game?
MD:If you talk about ideas; to me it seems like these young guys are loosing a step. They have all flash, no substance. So, we Vets, are actually holding up the Cathedral right now...
DTC: What is Imaginos Workshop?
MD: Imaginos Workshop, and we call it a workshop for this reason, is a think tank.
It’s a creative idea generator that works in Comics, Films and Television.
We package pitches. We doing everything; from interpreting and building story to finishing concept art. We want to work hand-in hand with a client, such that he or she is fully armed during any pitch meeting. We are working on a video game with a client right now.
DTC: Is Imaginos a main focus of your time, as a creator, or will Drunkenstyle come back?
MD: Drunkenstyle never really left; we just stopped working as an official business.
It grew beyond that to become an idea, a mantra:
“Each man, one way;
each horse, one stance;
each church, one Buddha;
each master to his own technique.”
We still all work on projects together; but Imaginos Workshop is my principle part of the “Drunkenstyle Equation” these days
DTC: What are you ultimate goals for your crew at Imaginos Workshop and yourself?
MD: To create cool stuff and push the boundaries of what it means to connect our ideas with the audience.
DTC: Do you ever think you will be satisfied?
MD: Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa??!!! That’s a good one!
DTC: I though you would think so.
MD: No, I don’t think so. As long as I can challenge myself, no.
DTC: That’s all I have for this interview.
We will be watching to see the progress of Imaginos Workshop and Mark Dudley in the future. We at Detroit Tradecraft will always be in their corner....
Story and image by C . P. Jackson/ President Detroit Tradecraft
