Interview – Walter Trono
Who is Walter Trono?
Born in 1987, he’s an Italian comic artist and illustrator. Creator of the sci-fi series Testa o Croce published by It Comics. He also works for Sergio Bonelli Editore on the fantasy series Dragonero. He worked for several publishers (Star Comics, Aurea Editoriale, IDW Publishing) as a penciler, inker and complete author. We got a chance to meet up in Herceg Novi during Hercegnovski strip festival this year, and let me assure you he is an Italian you should keep your eyes on.
What made you want to pursue a career as a comic artist?
The interest, and then love towards comics, developed during my attendance of the Art school, as a direct evolution from my passion towards drawing since I was born. After I obtained my diploma from the Art School, in 2006 I decided to move to Rome to enroll into the Comic department at the International comic school, which lasts three years; and after that I started working as a comic artist. I appreciate comic as a medium due to the diversity in genres and constant evolution, which are the factors that made this art available to everyone, from the last century till today. To answer your question concretely, what made me want to become a comic artist is essentially the desire to tell stories through drawings.
On some of your previous work you were working as an artist only, on Testa o Croce you are the author and artist. In your perspective which is harder and which do you prefer?
Both are necessary aspects of the same work; I am a comic artist above all, and that is what I have worked on longer and for which I am more recognized on the professional scene. The desire for telling my own ideology and vision of the outside world made me start my way as an author. My approach to writing has only recently emerged, I did not get to him before I faced Testa o Croce (Head or Tails), so having less experience as a writer, writing is more difficult than drawing. I would say that I have no preference, both are satisfying parts of my profession.
How does your ”standard work day” look like?
My work is always preceded and accompanied by listening to music, especially hard rock. I begin in the morning, responding to business emails and messages on social networks, following the awakening with a cup of white coffee. After that, depending on the commitments that I have that day and deadlines, I decide whether to ink one page or pen draw a new page; I divide my day into two parts, alternating drawing and inking, with a minimum of working eight hours a day.
Do you prefer working standard or digital?
I always unite digital drawing and traditional techniques. For Dragonero and Testa o Croce, I create sketches and pen digitally, drawing with a graphic tablet in Photoshop, which I then print in pale color on a smooth cardboard 240 gr / m2, defining drawing with crayons 0.05, brushpen and chisel-tip markers, adding detail and chiaroscuro.
Which authors and comics influence you the most?
The trio of authors who most influence my way of working is Frank Cho, Paul Eleuteri Serpieri and Adam Hughes, but I follow with pleasure some comics by Terry Dodson, J.G. Jones, Paulo Siqueira, Alessandro Bocci. As a reader, I prefer the more graphic novels and French authors.
What are you current on-going projects?
While number 41 of Dragonero is on the Italian newsstands at the moment, and in the comic shops the first episode of Testa o Croce is available, I’m in the studio working on inking of the other episode of the Testa o Croce, on which I had the support of Thomas Pistoia on the script, and drawing and inking of the fifth Dragonero issue (note* Walter previously worked on issues 14, 22, 23, 41), story by Luca Enoch.
Walter, thank you for your time and keep on rocking!
Walter is very active on social networks and you can find out more about him and his work (festivals, projects, commissions, original artwork) on the following links:
Offical website: https://waltertrono.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/waltertronoart/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/waltertrono
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waltertronoart/
Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Mauditrono
Notes:
One of Walter’s first works is available in Serbian, Secret number 3, published by Padora. Veseli četvrtak is also working on Dragonero, and Walter is set to be in their edition, Dragonero – Knjiga 4. (Hurry up Veseli četvrtak!)
A special thanks to Walter, for taking time to do this interview. Also, thanks to Mirna, for doing part of the translation from Italian.