What is the best thing that I love about my work? The best thing about my work is the opportunity to improve. Every time I draw a comic book I have the chance to do better than the last time. Since I typically write and draw my own stories I can be selective about where I want to focus my efforts.
What is my idea of perfect happiness? My idea of perfect happiness is a bucket of fried chicken all to myself. I’m not kidding. I often refer to fried chicken as my anti-depressant.
What is my greatest fear? My greatest fear is falling short of others’ expectations. I hold myself to a higher than normal standard so that I continue to meet deadlines and goals ahead of time. Missing the mark, to me, is unacceptable. I would never forgive myself if I did.
What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? When I’m deep into my work I can’t be bothered. I often snap at people when they try to engage me in those moments. I hate that obsessive quality about myself, but I can’t help it.
Which living persons in my profession do I most admire? Since I was a kid, Mike Mignola has been my idol. He revolutionized what it means to have a creator owned property in the field of comic books. As a comics creator myself now, it’s been a sincere joy to actually contribute to the universe he invented.
What is my greatest extravagance? I like a fresh bath towel every time I get out of the shower. If I could afford it, I’d have a brand new towel waiting for me every morning.
On what occasion would I lie? If it would help someone else out, I’d take the blame for something I didn’t do, within reason of course.
What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? I wish I were faster at drawing, so the thing I dislike most about my work is how long it takes to produce sometimes.
When and where was I the happiest, in my work? Right now. I create comic books in one form or another full time.
If I could, what would I change about myself? I should take more time off. I should relax more. If I could, I’d alter my inner drive to take it easy more often.
What is my greatest achievement in work? Arriving at the point where I can consider other comic artists my peers.
What do the words ‘The Financial Freedom to Create’ mean to me? I’ve never wanted to be rich. I only want enough money to keep my wife and I comfortable while remaining self-employed.
Where would I most like to live? I love where I live now in Longmont, Colorado. I have no plans to move, but I wouldn’t mind trying out Portland, Oregon or somewhere in the Pacific Northwest.
What is my most treasured possession? My MacBook Pro. As a freelancer, it is my lightsaber.
What is my most marked characteristic? I don’t know…my wife thinks it’s my temper.
What is my most inspirational location, in my city? Hands down my most favorite place in my town is my own backyard. It is my creative oasis and a place where I can think in peace. I like that I can hear the high school marching band down the street, we host the annual neighborhood cookout, and thanks to my wife it is sprawling with beautiful wildflowers.
What is my favourite place to eat and drink, in my city? Longspeak Pub. The folks that work there make it a point to get to know you and they treat their customers like genuine friends.
What books influenced my life and how? I read the Catcher in the Rye at an early age and that really stuck with me. Like a lot of guys, I could relate to the main character Holden Caulfield and then some. I read that book once a year or more while growing up, just too feel like there was someone else out there who got what I was going through. Since then I’ve become a fan of Jack Kerouac. His book The Subterraneans contains passages that literally bring tears to my eyes. I’ll read excerpts from it whenever I want to see the beauty of life.
Who are my favorite writers? Although I don’t necessarily agree with her views, I think Ayn Rand’s style of writing is fascinating. I find myself wincing at some of her themes, but I can’t deny that her phrasing and sentence structures suit me as a reader perfectly.
You Only Die Once. What music would I listen to on my last day? The Pixies. Specifically, I would choose the album Doolittle because I know all the lyrics to every song by heart. I wanna go out rocking!
Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? Robert E. Howard’s Conan is my fictional hero. Conan is direct, fearless, and a champion for hire. He is a violent guy, but he knows how to have a good time too. I don’t want to be him necessarily, but he’d be a lot of fun to go on an adventure with.
Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? I admire lots of people, but my real life hero is my mother. I strive to be more like her than anyone I know.
Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime? The Third Man is one of the best movies and I’m constantly surprised at how few people I know have seen it. The soundtrack alone makes the experience worthwhile.
What role plays art in my life and work? Everything I do is a form of creation. No matter how mundane, when you start at one stage and evolve it to another, it’s art. Looking at it that way, anyone can be an artist. Tying your shoes, cooking dinner, having a conversation — you start somewhere and end up somewhere else. Everything in between is artistic expression.
Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? My wife Kerri represents everything I need to be successful. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I’d totally fall apart without her. I am a better man because of her.
Whom would I like to work with in 2017? I have a long list of people I want to work with this year, but most of all I’d like to support people doing pro bono work and activism. So far 2017 has been no joke, and I want to contribute my art to the causes of compassionate, and selfless people.
Which people in my profession would i love to meet in 2017? I’d like to meet American comic book artist and writer Becky Cloonan. Not only is she a seriously talented artist, but she writes The Punisher for Marvel. She’s multi-talented and I have a lot of respect for her for that reason.
What project, in 2017, am I looking forward to working on? I art direct and contribute to an educational comic book series called Colorful History, which features stories about historical people and events from Colorado. The project gives me the chance to work with a wide variety of creators and so I always look forward to that job the most.
Where can you see me or my work in 2017? I color and letter a comic book called The Burning Metronome, which I self-publish with a good friend of mine. The hardback graphic novel will be available soon at TheBurningMetronome.com.
What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me? To me it means never doing anything that I don’t want to do. If you don’t want to do something, then it could turn out halfhearted and that’s not worth anyone’s time. I have endless passion, but only for the things I am most sincere about, so I would never set it aside.
Which creative heroes should Peter invite to tell their story? One of my creative heroes is illustrator Greg Ruth. He is an inspiration and one of the kindest, most creative people you’ll ever know. Along those same lines, Jim & Ruth Keegan are accomplished illustrators and comics creators. They are two of the most interesting people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.
How can you contact me?
The Hero's Journey 