Isaac of Hero Spy: I was inspired by your 52 Cover Art, how would you rate your experience w/ 52?

J.G. Jones: Doing the 52 covers has been absolutely the most fun I have had drawing comics for all these years. I get to just focus on coming up with a couple of great images a week instead of trying to draw a couple of pages full of images per day. Also, the editors have been pretty open to letting me run wild on the covers, which suits my schizophrenic approach to art perfectly.

Hero Spy: When did you start to draw, was it before you could walk like most great artists?
Nah, I learned to walk first. In fact, my folks taught me to walk by waiving a six pack of crayolas just out of reach. That began my lifelong love of six packs.

I remember drawing in first grade. I had a competition with this other kid in my class who looked just like Eddie Munster. We usually drew monsters. I can remember a whole series of boxing ring pictures pitting different monsters against one another: Wolfman vs the Mummy; Dracula vs Frankestein.

I didn’t have any real art training until junior high, when my older brother and I went to the YMCA for painting class. They made us do little acrylic paintings of vases with flowers and fruit and stuff. It was dull as watching paint dry, which I did. Luckily, it was acrylic paint, so it dried rather quickly.
My high school didn’t have any art classes of any kind, but I would draw pictures to give to girls, especially cheerleaders. My folks found a little private art school that I would go to two days a week after the regular school day. I learned watercolor technique and did a lot of pencil and charcoal work. The basics, for the most part.
I got two pointless art degrees in college before heading off to Big Bad NYC to try my hand at the fine arts world. That my a sure path to poverty, so I ended up drawing comics.

Hero Spy: I am always interested to know what tools of the trade that you would use to do a sketch?

J.G. Jones: I draw with a lot of different materials. I keep a sketchbook and jot down ideas with a mechanical pencil and whatever pen I have at hand. I also do small sketches for my covers on which I add some watercolor. It makes it easier for the editors to visualize what the finished product will look like. I also send the color sketches to colorist if necessary so he can see what I was thinking.

Hero Spy: For your paintings, what medium would you use mostly?

J.G. Jones: My comic paintings are almost exclusively watercolor. I have done a couple of oil paintings for comics covers now and again, but then you have issues with the drying time. I have also done acrylic covers, but it’s just a battle for me to make that medium work. Watercolor is sort of my default medium.

Hero Spy: How long does it take for you to complete a piece like the Booster Gold Picture or Wonder Women?

J.G. Jones: Those are two totally different processes. The 52 covers are all penciled and inked and then I add the values with gray watercolor tones. Alex Sinclair then gets a scan of the art and my color notes. He puts his color magic on the art with his immense photoshop skills.
For the Wonder Woman covers, those were straight up watercolor paintings, where the whole thing was done by hand.

Hero Spy: Can you give me one? Just kidding you don’t have too…but it be nice

J.G. Jones: Hmm, sure…here’s one that fell behind the toilet. It’s a bit mussed, but hey, well just call those stains Modern Art. I am a failed painter, after all.

Hero Spy: Would you consider yourself to be a great artist?

J.G. Jones: Hahahaha! Yeah. Right.
I am my own worst critic, and I am almost never satisfied with my own work. On the rare occasion that I do something that I really love, I am always surprised that I made it.

Hero Spy: Do you use any kind of references’ when you do your pages? Like a model or photos?

J.G. Jones: All of the above. I often shoot photos of friends and family for reference. Also, Google is an artist’s best friend, especially for location shots and stuff like that.
I have to say, though, that I laugh at guys who don’t hide their sources very well. Sometimes you’ll see a cover and say to yourself, “Didn’t I just see that girl on the cover of last month’s Maxim?” Weak.

Hero Spy: What other characters from the comics would you like to work on?

J.G. Jones: I would like to write my own comics. I have a backlog of stories, but they are not superhero oriented, and I am keeping so busy with work that will actually pay my mortgage, that I’m a little hesitant to go out and do creator owned books that would sell about 300 copies and insure that my next home is a cardboard box under the overpass.

Hero Spy: Is there any character that you just don’t care for, Perhaps it’s just boring to draw or just tedious.

J.G. Jones: Those are really just too numerous to list. I find a lot of comics boring or uninteresting. That’s why I only draw mini series every few years. It’s a lot of work, so I try to pick an interesting project with a quality writer. I have to find project that hold my interest.

Hero Spy: Do you do any commission work? If so what was the most Fun.

J.G. Jones: I rarely do commission work. It takes time away from home repairs and baseball.

Hero Spy: How do you spend your free time?

J.G. Jones: What the hell is this free time and where do I find some?

Hero Spy: Your colored pieces, you do them your self and if so what do you use mostly, I use crayons myself.

J.G. Jones: I like writing in the snow. You really want me to say what I use for that? It is impressive, if I may be immodest.

Hero Spy: You’re Codename Knockout Pieces that must have been fun to do?

J.G. Jones: Yeah, those were a hell of a lot of fun. There were few rules on that series, so I got to go hog wild.

Hero Spy: What do you have in the horizon?

J.G. Jones: Geoff Johns and I are doing All Star Batgirl.

I always ask these questions at the end of my interviews:

Hero Spy: What is your favorite snack or food?

J.G. Jones: Fresh, pink babies in a basalmic demi-glaze. It’s a little extra work, but boy, is it worth it!

Hero Spy: What is your favorite TV Show? (I love Heroes!!!!!!!!)

J.G. Jones: I don’t think that I really have one. I watch a lot of sports. I watch the History Channel and movies. I don’t really have a weekly show that I keep up with. I have not seen Heroes.