Tim Probert, the author and illustrator of the fantasy graphic novel series Lightfall, has finally found his artistic voice. Probert's journey began with a BFA in painting from Boston University, where he honed his skills in drawing the human figure and color theory. He then ventured into the world of book illustration, starting with the scratch-and-sniff book New York, Phew York, which helped him gain recognition and land a job at Macmillan Publishers. Probert's influences include Hayao Miyazaki, whose unique storytelling and detailed drawings have left a lasting impact on his work. He also credits Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet series for introducing him to the diverse world of comics and Jeff Smith's Bone series for inspiring him to tell sweeping, epic stories through comics. Probert's background in animation, particularly his work at Nathan Love, has also greatly influenced his illustration style. He learned valuable skills such as storyboarding, character design, and environment painting, which have helped him create detailed and visually appealing illustrations for Lightfall. Probert's current focus is on completing the Lightfall series, which he has been working on for several years. He has a clear vision for the series, but the writing and illustration process is a challenging and time-consuming endeavor, typically taking around 18 months per book. Probert's artistic style has evolved over time, moving away from trying to mimic other illustrators' styles and embracing his own unique approach. He believes that his background in animation has helped him develop a more efficient and effective illustration style, allowing him to create detailed and visually appealing artwork for Lightfall. As Probert looks ahead, he is already planning his post-Lightfall projects and exploring new ideas. He is eager to continue pushing the boundaries of his art and creating captivating stories for his readers.
