Bored Panda also reached out to Paul with some questions! First, we asked the artist if there were any series of works we should be looking forward to, and here's what Woods revealed to us, "I don't have an upcoming specific series. However, I am currently working on putting together a book. It's early days but it'll be a collection of my first Insert Brain Here comics as well as some new ones that haven't been published before. I've been doing the comic now for about 15 years, I never expected it to evolve and develop as much as it has.
It started out as something to pass the time and make my friends laugh and is now featured in many newspapers and magazines worldwide. I've also had my work featured on greeting cards, blogs, and websites. Even though it's been going for 15 years, I still think it has retained its original feel and humor."
We also asked Paul, if perhaps he had a favorite comic of his, and he was quick to share his thoughts!
"My favorite comic is probably the fish with the drinking problem, which I have attached so you can see it by clicking here. I think this was one of the first (if not the first) Insert Brain Here comic that I had published. I'm proud of it because people still find it funny even after all these years. It's timeless."
Artists are always looking for ways to improve or perhaps even try something new, we asked Woods if he had a specific art genre he'd love to try.
"I would perhaps like to do a graphic novel one day, possibly using some of the characters from the Insert Brain Here comic. I could definitely see chickens, zombies, sharks, and vampires working together in some storyline."
Speaking of art, we were wondering if Paul had any tips to share with those of you who might be just starting out in the field.
"To artists starting off with their own comic I would tell them to keep at it and have fun. If you're not making yourself laugh whilst doing it, then what's the point? A lot of artists think that if they don't get syndicated like the big comics, Garfield, Calvin & Hobbes, The Far Side, etc. then they have failed. However, with the rise of social media and the internet, you can create and publish from your own home and connect with hundreds of thousands of artists worldwide. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, it's your work and not everything should be about making money or how many social media followers one has."
When we look at a piece of art, what happens is that we usually perceive some sort of emotion, whether it's positive or negative is entirely up to us, but in the end, the artist still has achieved a certain goal - a reaction. We asked Woods to share with us what he'd like for people to take away when looking at his comics.
"I created my comics to make people laugh. I think if I'm still able to do that after 15 plus years, then I'm doing okay. I always try to create comics that are short and to the point that someone can read them, have a quick chuckle and move on, much like when I was a kid reading the comics in the newspaper. I bounce a lot of ideas off my wife and kids. We'll be out somewhere and I'll suddenly say something like, 'How about this, a chicken is watching a movie and...' If I get a groan and a chuckle then I know it's a good idea."
For some people, art is not only a hobby, but something way more, and it seems that Paul certainly has his own goals he wants (or hopes) to accomplish when it comes to his comics.
"One day I would like to do a book showcasing my earlier cartoons and some new ones that have never been published. I think my work has really come a long way since I was drawing them in my tiny apartment in London. Even after 15 plus years, I still hand-draw my comics - pencil on paper and then scan them into a computer to add color and shading. I have resisted moving to more modern art methods such as using a drawing tablet or adding too many effects. For me it has always been about using a standard pencil and paper, sometimes I will sketch ideas on notepads, the back of envelopes, napkins, etc."
Most creators tend to receive some type of comments about their work pretty much every day, but sometimes some of them stand out more so than others.
"I remember in London when I first sent a collection of my early comics off to be published in one of the big city newspapers. I was definitely being a bit overzealous but the editor called me a few days later. He explained that unfortunately, they weren't able to use them as they had contracts with syndicated professional cartoonists, however, I remember the editor was in hysterics on the phone saying how much he loved my comics and how much they made him laugh. That has always stuck with me and it's a great example of taking a positive out of a negative."
Lastly, we were curious to find out if Paul had any other hobbies besides making art.
"I don't have too much time for other hobbies with 3 small children. However, when I get the time, I love playing and listening to music (I play drums) and watching B-grade horror films."
