Hire This Woman: Artist Paulina Ganucheau

In the overwhelmingly male comic book industry, it has been a challenge for some editors and readers to see the ever growing number of talented women currently trying to make a name for themselves. With that in mind, ComicsAlliance offers Hire This Woman, a recurring feature designed for comics readers as well as editors and other professionals, where we shine the spotlight on a female comics pro on the ascendance. Some of these women will be at the very beginning of their careers, while others will be more experienced but not yet “household names.”

Paulina Ganucheau's art has been featured on covers for IDW Publishing and BOOM! Studios, and contributed to the Adventure Time: Pixel Princesses graphic novel. Ganucheau has a ton of projects in the works at the moment, including coloring a comic for Monkeybrain and developing an original project called Zodiac Starforce. We spoke with her about her work.

ComicsAlliance: Which is your preferred form of creative output?

Paulina Ganucheau: I really like creating and finishing a page from layouts to colors. Definitely the most satisfying, doing it all. Although in the future, I would be open to having an inker or colorist!

CA: Do you work on paper or digitally?  Why?

PG: Both! Lately I've been doing my thumbnails and development sketches on paper. Then I bring them into Photoshop for fine tuning. Inking I always do in Manga Studio.

CA: What’s your background/training?

PG: As with most other humans on this planet, I began drawing in my infancy. I continued developing that through grade school and middle school. I taught myself Photoshop and received my first digital tablet in high school. That was a huge turning point. Digital coloring was a revelation for me. Then I attended the Savannah College of Art and Design for my BFA. I majored in sequential art with a minor in storyboarding. I graduated in 2010 and although I'm no longer in school, I'm still learning and honing my skills every single day.

CA: How would you describe your creative style?

PG: Hmmm, this is a toughie. Simple, colorful, fun, and precise I would say. I'm a stickler for draftsmanship in my own work.

CA: What projects have you worked on in the past?

PG: I usually have a wide range of jobs, so I've been doing a lot of different things. A few children's books, lots of illustrations and some graphic design jobs are some aspects of my past work. I was part of the comics anthology Wild Ocean (which comes out soon!). I do a lot of illustration work for Big Planet Comics. I did a few covers for IDW and BOOM!, including a cover for the Skips Regular Show comic. I was also a penciller on the Adventure Time graphic novel Pixel Princesses.

CA: What are you currently working on?

PG: I'm doing some developmental concept work for the upcoming ipad game Thunderbeam. I'm currently the colorist on the Monkeybrain book The Double Life of Miranda Turner. I've also been developing a comic called Zodiac Starforce with my good friend Kevin Panetta. There's a few other big things in the works, but I have to keep them on the down low. Secrets! You'll see some stuff for them hopefully soon!

CA: Approximately how long does it take you to draw a 20-page issue?

PG: Depends if I'm doing the entire book on my own or if I'm part of a team. I've done a rather large chunk of pencils over preexisting layouts in two weeks before. I can do a 100% finished page in about a day I would say, maybe more if I parcel out each step over multiple pages at a time.

CA: What is your dream project?

PG: Definitely a creator-owned series with magic/sci-fi, humor and a great female cast. There's honestly nothing I want more than to draw some awesome ladies. If they had a touch of super powers or magic that would be a bonus too.

CA: Who are some comic creators that inspire you?

PG: So many! Cory Walker, Becky Cloonan, Cameron Stewart, Naoko Takeuchi, Madeleine Flores, Natasha Allegri, Alessandro Barbucci, Amy Reeder, David Lafuente, Kate Beaton, Brooke Allen, Stuart Immonen, Jordie Bellaire, I could go on forever.

CA: What are some comics that have inspired you either growing up or as an adult?

PG: My first exposure to comics was thanks to my older brother. He kept a big bin of comics under his bed. Lots of Spawn, binders of collectible Marvel cards, and that line of Nintendo comics that came out in the '90s (I loved those). As I got older, I started seeking out my own favorites. I was all about Sailor Moon, anything CLAMP, Akira, etc., mostly manga creators for years and years. It wasn't until college that I got back into Western comics. Now I have so many favorites, including many of the comics I loved growing up.

CA: What’s your ideal professional environment?

PG: My current situation isn't so bad. I work out of my home, but ideally I would love to have my own office or studio space. That would be so fun. I would cover the walls with inspiring art and images. Also color. Color everywhere. I love color.

CA: What do you most want our readers and industry professionals to know about your work?

PG: To know how much love and attention I put into my work. To be engaged by it or perhaps see themselves in it. I adore drawing and creating. My work makes me happy, so hopefully it can make you happy to!

CA: How can editors and readers keep up with your work and find your contact information?

PG: The best way would be my Tumblr or my Twitter. It lists my contact info and I ramble on there almost daily, but I also have a website at paulinaganucheau.com.

If there is a woman you’d like to recommend or if you’d like to be included in a future installment of this feature, drop us a line at comicsalliance-at-gmail-dot-com with "Hire This Woman" in the subject line.