In addition to his work with the Star Wars saga, Gould also lends his talents to other projects including his own comic Drekodinn, as well as the next set of artist sketch cards for Topps' upcoming The Lord of the Rings: Evolution set.
The tools of the trade for Gould might surprise some of his fans. While some artists are admittedly extremely picky about their art supplies, Gould prefers a less fussy approach.
"I'm a pretty low-tech guy when it comes to art materials," Gould laughs. "I've had a few of the other artists make fun of me for using Sharpies and Uniballs. I use what I have around me. Since 2005 really transformed my art career, I'm gradually trying new things and finding my groove as far as tools of the trade go. For hand-colored pieces like the Topps sketch cards, I use Prismacolor markers. For digital coloring, I use Photoshop. I'm pretty much self-taught with Photoshop. I've been trying to develop a coloring style that looks somewhat animated, but again, I'm picking up tricks as I go. I'm always trying to find that happy balance of quality and speed."
As an avid blogger, both on blogs.starwars.com, Artists Allied (gathering place for Lucasfilm-approved artists), and his personal web site, Gould suggests that all budding artists make an online presence if they want to get noticed in the industry.
"The Internet is the best tool an artist has these days," Gould says. "It's a fast and easy way to get your name out there. It doesn't cost a lot of money. For me, the Internet has been a big factor -- possibly the biggest factor -- in furthering my career as an artist. I've been able to network with other artists, share ideas and build a name for myself. I can't say enough about it. Set up your own website or art blog and become part of the online art community. I would also encourage budding artists to keep a good attitude, because personality goes a long way."
Even with all he's accomplished in such a short time, Gould still admits that he faces the usual challenges many artists know all too well. "Money is always a big challenge to an artist, because it's hard to turn illustration into a full-time job," Gould explains. "Long months can pass between projects and we all have bills to pay. But I've always been an optimist, and I believe that doing what you love is always going to be worth it. I really think that part of being an artist means having to experience some of the awkward stuff and make a few mistakes. I feel that I've learned a lot in the past year, both in terms of the industry and my own personal strengths and weaknesses, and it's all stuff that I couldn't have learned unless I lived through it. Over time you start to learn about people, learn about the business, and learn about yourself. The journey is what it's all about, so I don't have any regrets."
"I love the world and the characters that George Lucas created, and I'm proud to be part of it," Gould continues. "Being a Star Wars artist is one of the great achievements of my life, both on a professional and personal level. The experience is the reward."
To read more about Gould's upcoming projects, read his VIP blog and the Official Star Wars Artists Multiblog on blogs.starwars.com. To see more of Gould's work, visit his official site here.
