What are the different steps you take in creating your works? (James Moscara)

The first step is the idea - it might have been something that my mind wandered about, or something that I read. I do research on it, to get myself involved in the idea and then I start conceptualizing what message I want the artwork to convey. I try to keep pretty loose with my model poses, because I like to have things be spontaneous with my work. In some cases, though, I have something specific in mind (like Spellbound) where I know exactly what I want the model to look like.

Once I have the photography, there is a lot of time spent scanning, drawing, manipulating, color correction - lots of technical stuff in preparing the files for use in my work. Once I'm ready to start, I just bring things in, one at a time, and go to work. Creating my work involves a lot of staring and thinking. I spend a lot of time looking at the piece, from close up, to a distance all throughout the process of it's creation. I try to make sure everything is where I want it and the composition of the whole piece works. I add stuff and take away and I push the artwork beyond what I want, to make sure that I don't miss anything that I might like. I basically stare at my work until I feel that there is nothing else to do - and that gives me a sense of completion and closure. I have very few pieces of art that I wish I could go back to and rework.

Do you think you'll ever release an art book with your prints, along with information on their representation? (Mikki Moscara)

I would sure like to. I have to admit that it's a bit intimidating, only because I don't know the process of publication. I have thought about this often, especially this year being my 10th year in this medium. I have enough images in my library, so content is not an issue. However, I think that self-publishing would be quite pricey, as a book would have to be a larger format and hard-cover - a cost I can't justify without a book outlet(s) lined up to purchase it. I have designed and typeset books for clients before, so I have the ability to design the book - I just don't know the process of discussion with a publisher. Hopefully, in the near future, I can speak with someone who has had experience in publishing their own book of work and bend their hear about the process.

What is your stance on mandatory Standardized Testing in today's education system? (Daniel Francken)

I think Standardized Testing is needed, even though you can never truly gauge everyone's intelligence by using one test. I think they need to mix it up a bit, and break out of the formulaic questions that can be leanred or read about in schoolbooks. I mean, start asking these kids how many kids constitute a kickball team. How about asking them what the design differences are between BLOKS and LEGOS? And when you get to high school, throw in a few questions like 'Describe in 30 words or less how to tap a keg with a CO2-powered tap?' or 'What kind of vehicle engine has glow plugs?' - these are questions that all the brainiacs in science class couldn't answer (except maybe the Lego question).

Do you have a 'Support Our Troops' magnet on the hearse? (Tony Zamora)

I don't, actually - not on any of my vehicles. But it's not because I don't support our troops. It's because there are millions upon millions of these magnets on cars, and no one seems to know where the money made from the purchase of the magnet has gone to. Pretty scary, actually - don't take my word for it, read the article yourself here and another one here. I'm not a big fan of mass-consumerism, but I do try to do my part as a citizen by sending the people I know that are deployed stuff they need - plus it makes me feel better about knowing that the money I spent is going directly to the guys who need it.

I would like to mention that my thoughts always go out to the boys and girls defending our country in hostile areas abroad. I hope to hell you come home soon and enjoy some of that freedom that you are fighting for and that we enjoy.

If you could go back and change one thing in your life, what would it be, if anything? (Rach)

Oh I can think of a few things I'd probably change - but one thing comes to mind. Years ago when I had my gallery location, I was approached by a person to create a piece of artwork that really wasn't along the lines of the subject matter or style that I work in. However, being stressed by overhead costs of the gallery, I reluctantly took the commission simply because it paid well. Well, it was nothing short of a personal disaster. I hated it, I despised it - it wasn't me, it wasn't a reflection of my work, and I sullied my soul for having created it. The truly sad part about that piece of work is that the client LOVED it. If I could buy that piece of artwork back, I'd pay twice what I was paid. If I could change one thing in my life, that would be it.

All through life, we have to take other people's crap and do things we don't want to do, or care to do - thankfully, we get paid for it most of the time. However, my artwork is different; I like to keep that untouched by anyone other than myself. I swore after that day I would never do something that I felt went against my work, because my work is a reflection of my personality - and while I may have to agree with clients, smile with family members and shake hands with people I don't like - I refuse to let anything but my soul and instinct dictate my artwork.

My question is exactly how many times have started the fire and left with your friends and their girlfriends? (Vicki Martinez)

So many times, I can't recall. Between you, Hovland and Bruno, I'll bet it was at least once a week - you guys gave me so much material to work with!

What moves you? What inspires you to see the beauty in horror (and vice versa)? (Jenn Coker)

I have always thought that nothing is 100%. When I started doing this type of artwork, it was an outlet for me to express my disdain for love, and people who are so pie-eyed about it, they refuse to understand that love isn't usually what it's made out to be. Nobody is in 'love' without feeling hurt, suffering, uncertainty or doubt. I was insulted and angry about my own personal issues and about the world's ignorance about something blatantly marketed as feel-good lies and deceit. The endless Hallmark Card Commercial, selling love as people want it to be, not as it is.

Back then, I was pretty heavy-handed about my philosophy (obviously!). And in a way, I'm still like that, but the inspiration has changed from personal issues to more of a broader subject matter. I enjoy telling visual stories and over the years I've intermixed classic tales of characters that are usually portrayed as delicate, caring or fragile and bringing out the dark, horrific or macabre side of their character - like The Six Degrees of Aphrodite. Or, sometimes I use characters who have no emotional attributes, and breathe a little life into them - Like The Ice Maiden. I operate under the same philosophy that sometimes what you see is not what it truly is - that is the mainstay of my style of work.

Do you find any inspiration in music while working on your art, and if so what kind of genres/bands do you prefer? (Frederik Andersson)

Oddly enough, I have different kinds of music that I play for different stages of my work. I will admit, however, that my musical tastes are pretty boring and I am not really exposed to a lot of new music. Niko at Obskure Magazine used to send me a lot of CDs to check out of European stuff, but I haven't had the pleasure of listening to anything new for a long, long time. So, I end up sticking with the old reliable 80's heavy metal, intermixed with the occasional new stuff.

When I first start a piece, and doing a lot of production work (scanning, color correcting, sketching), I most exclusively listen to Disturbed. I really like those guys, and they keep me going at a stage where I'm getting everything ready for the artwork and my mind is still contemplating the composition.

While I'm working on the piece, I am almost always listening to Iron Maiden or Bruce Dickinson (lead singer of Iron Maiden). Those who know me, know that I am a HUGE Maiden fan, and so while I'm just cruising along at work, I've got Maiden going, to keep me productive.

That's it - boring, I know - but what can you expect from a guy who lives in Great Falls, Montana? This place still thinks Ricky Martin and Garth Brooks are great.

Bush or Kerry? (Ariel)

I voted for Kerry - but I'll give Bush the saving grace of speaking about Social Security. At least he's tackling a topic that has been ignored by all Presidents before him - and for that, I'll give him some credit.

What is the longest amount of time you've ever spent on one project, straight through, without a break from your work on it - and which project was it? (Alicia Pharo)

I think that claim will go to the Six Degrees of Aphrodite, even though it was six different pieces, I had spent quite some time coordinating what stories I was going to illustrate. From concept to final production, I'll be it was 9 months at least. That series was exceedingly difficult for me because it took a long time and my mind didn't really have time to deviate onto different ideas - so at times, I got frustrated or discouraged. I spend a lot of time on each piece of artwork and when it's completed, it's refreshing to move onto a different idea or illustration that I am interested in doing. With the Aphrodite series, I had a lot of other ideas, but had to finish this large project first - it was definiteily a challenge. But I managed to pull through and was happy with the end result.

If not the visual arts, how would you have creatively expressed yourself? (Jeremy Flagg)

Well, I secretly hold a desire to write, and have an epic story that I have been working on for years, and I figure it will take me many more years to complete. But I do have another outlet to be creative that doesn't involve being visual. I guess at heart, I enjoy being a storyteller - whether it's being a visual artist or a writer.

If you were falling into unending darkness and you had a knife in one hand and a needle filled with heroin in the other, which would you chose? To take the needle and have a few hours of happyness at the price of loosing the knife and the chance to end you life instead of waiting for life to end its sorry existance...or...to have death in sorrow and lonelyness without a shred of what could have been the most peaceful exsperiance of your short and dreadful life? (Deathliliy)

Well, I consider myself a realist and it's my philosophy is not to embrace escapism fantasies, so I would have to say the knife the whole way. Die with dignity and meet death with eyes open, even if it means casting aside false happiness and blissful sleep.

What type of muses inspire your artwork? What artists do you look up to? What kind of creative processes do you go through when starting a new piece? (Mike Ingrum)

You know, I really don't have anything that inspires my artwork, other than my mind wandering off and coming up with ideas and coming home and sketching poses. I know it's terribly un-artist like to use that kind of explanation, but that's really all I've got when it comes to visual ideas.

I do look to the Pre-Raphaelites for emotional inspiration, mainly because their work is so evoking and illustrative. I really enjoy John William Waterhouse (who doesn't) and I have always praised the philosophy and ethics of Bill Watterson, who created Calvin and Hobbes. He is quite remarkable and the fact that he chose his artistic creation over literally tens of millions of dollars is a testament to his integrity.

When I start a piece, I do a lot of reasearch on the subject, so I can get an idea of the details. When I used to smoke, I burned many a cigarette on my back porch, staring out into the blackness, visualizing what I was going to illustrate and how. In actuality, I spend a lot of time in quiet contemplation of what I'm going to do. I rarely sketch out anything detailed about the artwork, as I like it to be spontaneous - so while I have an idea of the pose for the work, I don't do anything beyond that, because I like the work to develop a life of it's own. It's much more fun to go into without pigeon-holing yourself into what you want it to look like in the end.

Who are your favoriate authors and what are you reading these days? (Michael Carnell)

I rarely find time to read, and when I do, it's mostly regarding my hobby topics. I read quite a bit on the assassination of John F. Kennedy, as it's a hobby of mine and the ocassional Star Trek TNG novel when I need something that's not so heavy and depressing. Lately, I have been reading up on World War 1, as I am wanting to explore oil painting on that topic.

What do you dream? (Tim Sarrels)

Rarely do I remember my dreams, and when I do, it's usually things that are not fanciful or fun. The only dreams that I seem to have recollections of are nightmares.

Which of your artworks has taken the shortest amount of time to create? (Monica)

I would say this past year's Christmas card. I had a good piece of photograph, and I just sat down and started working on it - letting the whitespace do most of the work. I'd say that I've only got 3-4 hours in that one.

Is there any idea or thought you've had for a while that you've wanted to put into art but haven't just yet for whatever reason? (Monica)

I've been wanting to paint WWI scenes, but just haven't been able to get the time to work on them. I've been researching WWI for about a year now and have some good ideas for a few paintings, but getting the time to do them is a whole 'nother story. It's going to be such a tangent from what I'm working on now, I have always been excited about it - especially since it would be something different from digital.

What will Jason Beam, the man and his works, aspire to by 2020? (Andrea Mucci)

Wow. 15 years from now. That's tough. Computer advancement in creative thinking will be so advanced, I can't even imagine how it would work. I will hopefully have the adaptive attitude that I have now, and won't look like some old fogey frowning at new technology. I'd like to think that my work will have brought me along far enough that I could be helping other artists discover their style through teaching.

As far as my work, I think that I might still be in the story-telling/illustrative style that I have now. The enjoyment of my art comes from the desire to tell a story, and I don't think that would change, no matter what medium I may be in 15 years from now. If anything, I hope that my work has gained me the notoriety to experiment with different avenues of producing these story-telling pieces - something to mix it up a bit.

I also hold out that in 15 years, I could get a universal hover-craft installation kit for the hearse.

When in the day or night do you feel you are most creative? (Fredrik Andersson)

Definitely at night. I've always worked best that way. I think because it's much easier to focus, it's dark and quiet and peaceful. Someday, I hope to be able to work at night only - but that makes it tough with clients!

Have you ever done a self portrait? (Bradley Nickell)

No. I have always struggled with the ego of doing a self-portrait. Part of me says it would be interesting to do one, the other part says it would be self-indulging. So, until I decide one way or the other, I guess it's in limbo.

When I do my work I usually get into a specific frame of mind all depending on the subject of the graphic I am doing,which reflects in the artwork. Do you get into a particular frame of mind when working on your art? And if so what kind of things do you do to get into the mindset of the artwork you are doing? Also I am very interested in learning what kind of mindset you got into and or thoughts you had when doing Jekyll and Hyde as well as The Awakening of Galatea can you give some examples? (Daneen Lands)

I don't get into a particular frame of mind (i.e. melencholy, depressed, euphoric) - but I will say that bieng disturbed when I work really aggrivates me. If you've ever seen 'The Shining' with Jack Nicholson, the way he reacts when he is interrupted pretty much sums up how I act when I am disturbed - my wife pointed that out to me the first time she watched The Shining. I despise the telephone and I never answer it, as my friends and family can attest to and forget about answering the door when I work. So, I don't get into a specific mindset, but I get intensley focused when I'm working on my art.

And with that focus, I mainly concentrate on the composition of the piece while I'm working on it. I am trying to envision the end result, even when I step away while the file is saving, I wander around thinking about what I'm doing next, or what I need to look at - I would say that I'm very production-orientated in my thoughts when working on my art.

How old are you? (Ariel)

I am 30 years old.

Do you have any pets? (Ariel)

Yes, we have a psychotic cat named Cosmo and a black lab named Zero.

Did you create this contest to torture fans like me? (Ariel)

I believe that interaction makes things much more interesting to participate in. And I've been doing just random drawings for a few months, so I thought this would be a good contest to have. But torturing some fans is alright, too.

All of your art rocks... Which is your favorite? (Ariel)

I'd have to say Jekyll and Hyde, for a variety of reasons. First, it has a lot of great emotion in the peice and I think it communicated very well what I was wanting to illustrate. Second, I had lots of planning to do for the photography, including the props and location - and that is always fun. Third, it's a limited piece and there aren't many out there - and that gives me satisfaction as an artist to know it sold out and it's an uncommon print.

What's your birthday? (Ariel)

December 20.

What sources do you use when you research a topic for your pieces? (Jason Hackmann)

If I have something specific in mind (like Bloody Mary), I usually just stick to the internet and try to cross-reference my information - but if I am working on something more broad-based - I pick up a few books on the subject (like The Mare) and then something usually sticks out while I'm perusing the book. And in some cases, I can catch a special on TV and take notes (like Autumn in Whitechapel) but that is pretty rare.

I know that you give a history of the mythology/background for most of your pieces, but how do you decide on an idea in the first place? (Jason Hackmann)

Most of the time, ideas strike me out of the blue. There really isn't any rhyme or reason. I can't tell you how many pieces I've conjured up by standing outside and smoking a cigarette. Sometimes I'll go cruise the bookstore and see if anything sparks my interest, but for the most part - they just pop in my brain. I have a pretty good method of remembering ideas: if it's a good idea, no matter what is going on in my life, I'll remember it down the road when I have time to work on it. If the idea is lame, I'll forget about it. For example: my Rapunzel piece that I've been thinking about for over a year now. I think I have a great idea and it's stuck with me all this time. And I will be shooting another model prospect this week to hopefully get it going in the next few months!

Where do you come up with these contest ideas of yours? (Ash)

I just sit and think about what would make for an interesting contest. I like the aspect of having a person be interactive with the contest, rather than just announcing a winner.

When will you make it to Hawaii, man? (Ash)

You know, I'm not sure. I have a phobia of the ocean, so I don't know. I prefer nice and sunny weather, so going to Hawaii would be pretty cool.

Do you have any superstitions relating to your creative process? (Melissa Staple)

No, not in my creative process. I'm not really superstitious except when it comes to spilling salt.

When you work on your pieces, do you prefer silence or do you have music on? (Monica)

I always have to have music on - keeps me in the mood to work. Silence is not conducive to creativity (for me, at least)

If you had breasts what would you name them? (Maria)

Bill and Ted.

Favorite class in high school? (Maria)

Art, and even more specifically, AP Art - where I had the most freedom to work on my art, and not have assignments.

Mary mary quite contrary...................where does your garden grow? (Mary Ann Storm)

I don't have a garden :(

If life's a dream, and death's a dream, and dreams are dream, what do you think is the opposite of dream? (M. David Bailey)

The answer, of course, is 42.

Would you be chewbacca or hansolo? (Rayne)

That question brought back a lot of childhood memories that I just hadn't thought about in many years - it was weird. Well, when I was a kid and my friends and I would play Star Wars. I was Han Solo, a guy named Erik was Luke, a younger friend of ours was Chewbacca and his sister was Leia. So, to conclude this long rambling trip down memory lane - I would be Han Solo.

Are there any particular songs of types of music that inspire you to create the images? If not, what music do you like anyway? (Michael)

That's a pretty good question. I never thought about that much until you mentioned it. I listen to Bruce Dickinson's 'Accident of Birth' and 'Skunkworks', just because they have this cosmic quality that really serves to inspire me. Even Bruce's 'Chemical Wedding' inspired more than one piece, for sure.

When you are creating an image based on an old story, the mare for example, and you are adding the text to it, do you ever use extracts from books or stories. For another example, if you were ever to do one based on Frankenstein, would you use extracts from the actual book, or make them up yourself? (Michael)

I used to use a lot of text in my work, and I tried to keep it obscure except to those only interested in the topic. I've moved away from that in recent years, just because I felt that I liked my work more without it in there - it seems to have a more 'artistic' quality - at least, to me. The last piece I put text into like that was 'Autumn in Whitechapel' - I stuck one of Jack the Ripper's letters in the piece.

IN some cases, I have made up the text excerpts to fit the artwork, and I can say that if I ever did a Frankenstein (which I would like to do for next Halloween, providing I have a model) I would use whatever complimented the artwork - made up or taken from the book.