The Art of JPDupras

All right, let me tell you a little about myself. I am based in Montréal, Canada, and graduated from college in 1998, with a degree in Graphic Arts. I've been reading (and making) comics since childhood, and by the end of high school I had decided to work in the field, and attended college to hone my skills, particularly in regards to page layouts, composition and storytelling. In '97, I got my first illustration job for a pen-and-paper role-playing game called PROVIDENCE (XID Creative) for a starting publisher based in Montréal. I kept this job throughout college.

Through the internet, I found my first comic book work, with small press and indie writers after college. I worked for free for a little while, concentrating on short stories in varied genres to gain experience and make friends. Most of these early stories were never published , but it wasn't long before I was offered paid work from independent publishers, and I've been doing comics as a living ever since. My first published work was PEACE PARTY #2 (Blue Corn Comics), a relict of the last days of the "politically correct", featuring native american superheroes. The book did poorly, and my work on PEACE PARTY #3 was (to my knowledge) never published.

I went on to other projects, including the crime comic VIOLENT LIFESTYLE (Mad American Productions), which was awarded the Xeric Foundation grant in March 2000. VIOLENT LIFESTYLE #1 was a mild success, and could have established itself as a successful indie comic book, but the publisher preferred pulling the plug for unclear reasons, leaving my artwork for two more issues of the book unpublished.

I strayed from comic books for a while, working for (among others) the web-based, award-winning publisher iHero Entertainment (back then known as Cyber Age Adventures), where I met talented writers such as Sean Taylor, Tom Waltz and Daniel Bishop, under the creative control of iHero creator Frank Fradella. Together we created the FRADELLA ADVENTURE TAROT, a deck of cards featuring the heroes and villains of the iHero universe, and the timeless symbolism of the Tarot. After some initial problems in funding, the deck was later published through U.S. Games Systems.

I then returned to comics with various new projects including PROJECT 72 (Red Sun Productions), CANNISTER (Counterclockwise Studios), GUARDIANS (Crucial Crisis Comix), FISHNET ANGEL (iHero Entertainment), and various short stories for SHOOTING STAR COMICS anthologies.

I consider myself a freelance professional, though all the work I have done so far has been for small press publishers and independents. As any of the people I've worked with will attest, I am hardworking and reliable, and never miss a deadline. I am always interested in hearing proposals for new and fascinating projects, comic book or otherwise. I am also always available for commissioned pieces.

JPDUPRAS