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Interview with
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Dan Cope

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Interview done by:

 
daredevil2710 and Chaminou


Universmarvel: Hi Dan, can you introduce yourself?

Dan Cope: My name is Dan Cope, most people in the hobby just call me Danno. I am 39 years old and live in Port Washington, WI (a suburb of Milwaukee), where I was born and raised. My hobbies are simple, I enjoy statues, building painting model kits, reading comics and novels, watching movies and most of all my family. I am married to a wonderful woman, Angie, and we have four children (Nathan, Augie, Brandon, and Maggie).


Universmarvel: What is your background? (Design school? Painting school? ...)

Dan Cope: I have always had an interest in art, which was my main focus through High school and College. I attended the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee where I had studied art history, drawing and fine art.


Universmarvel: Where this passion comes from? When have you been started painting?

Dan Cope: My love of building/painting model had begun at an early age. My first kit was done when I was in first grade and it was an old styrene piece based on Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean. Later, in my teenage years, a group of friends and I would get together to build 1/35th scale military dioramas and model cars, planes, and spaceships. It was not until 1992 that I had discovered the world of “Garage Kits” and began building and painting these superior sculpted works of art. At a local comic book store, I had found a number of old Horizon Models vinyl kits, but it was the Fewture “Sitting Hell” that marked my first resin kit and had from that day set my fate and love for the hobby.


Universmarvel: With what kind of tools do you like working and why?

Dan Cope: My studio is packed with numerous tools, everything from power sanders to drills, rotary tools to airbrushes, hand brushes to needle files, and much much more. I find that I use all of it and every piece of equipment is critical in working on a final piece.

With regards to painting, I use any technique that will help get me the effect I'm looking for. I would say that I am primarily an airbrush guy and my Badger Sotar 20/20 airbrush handles about 80% of my work. But I do everything from pastels to glazes, stains to washes, hand brushing and drybrushing to sponging....whatever it takes to get what I’m look to achieve.

Universmarvel: Can you explain us your work methodology?

Dan Cope: Each piece that I do is different and I try to remain true to the sculpture as best I can. The sculpture (in my opinion) is the strength of the finished statue and I want to compliment what the sculptor had given me on a 3 dimensional canvas. So, knowing this.... there are basic things that are done to every kit like the washing, sanding, casting repairs, primer, and adding paint. But I really have no standard format as to how I attack the piece. I want the sculpture to speak to me and I add color according to what I think works best.


Universmarvel: What are you different influence in term of painting?

Dan Cope: I admire many painters, everyone from Frank Frazetta to Monet. But really, I try to let nature itself inspire me most in looking for new ways to lay paint. I have many reference books on photography of both humans and animals that set my wheels in motion.

Universmarvel: And do you know some European comics books?

Dan Cope: I know of a few that I had read from England such as Judge Dread and Death’s Head, but sadly...I am very unfamiliar with many titles from across Europe.

Universmarvel: What are yours favourites sculptors?

Dan Cope: This is a tough question, there are so many talented sculptors. I can say that some of my all time favourites would include, Nirasawa, Takeya, Oniki, Martin Canale, Gabe Perna, Mark Van Tine, Alterton, Steve West, Andy Bergholtz, Tony Cipriano, and Ray Villafane. To me, it is amazing to see what they are able to create from a lump of clay or block of wax.

Universmarvel: What is your favourite paint up and the one your aren’t so proud of?

Dan Cope: Hmmmmmmmmm...I’m not sure if I do have a favourite paint up, LOL! Like I had said, I am only really adding color to a 3-D canvas.

Paint work that I’m not proud of...oh, there is plenty, but I don’t show pictures of that stuff. Smiley


Universmarvel: What types of sculpture do you prefer paint (super hero, horror, sci fi)?

Dan Cope: I most enjoy painting original design sculptures. Creatures or subjects that the sculptor has created based on nothing, but from their own imagination. It’s these types of pieces that really let me dig deep inside and be creative.

Universmarvel: On average, how long it takes you to make a full paint up?

Dan Cope: I would say the average piece takes about 1 week (depending on the casting quality). The cleaner kits/casting may be done in only a few days, but some pieces require quite a bit of work to get them paint ready. This being said, during this year of 2005, I had done:
43 Garage Kits completed (build and paint – including artciles for Kitbuilders Magazine)
37 Custom Prepaint statue/bust repaints (repaint/repair/customize)
4 painted original sculptures
16 Paint master prototypes (for pre-paint companies - all of which I had to paint multiples 2-3 of each...so would the number be 42?)

It has been a busy year.

Universmarvel: Can you tell us a little bit more about your next creations?

Dan Cope: On the garage kit side I am currently working on the building and painting of the Gore Group Little Bloody Bo sculpted by Martin Canale. Also in the works are the Howard Studios Luke on Taun Taun, 3rd Eye Design Spider-Man, Dragonfire Studios ALIEN Dragon to name a few.

For professional work, I am always busy writing “How-To” articles for Kitbuilders Magazine, but I am unsure what my next piece will be until my editor and I have a chance to discuss.

For Reel Art Studios, I will be painting the Frank Frazetta license “Snow Giants” sculpted by Tony Cipriano. I have just finished a project for Aspen Comics and I understand that more work is coming very soon from them.


Universmarvel: Have you ever tried to sculpt? If yes what was the result?

Dan Cope: I have tried my hand at sculpting several times, but I can never finish what I had started. The last piece I had attempted was a Batman bust that Gabe Perna is actually going to finish for me. More on this soon.

Universmarvel: To conclude, can you tell us few words in French?

Dan Cope: AH! Well, I have watched Dexter’s Laboratory with my children and I do know omlette du fromage.