If my memory is correct, I first saw the art of Charles Thurston at the Indianapolis Comic Con. I didn’t have a chance to meet him but I looked him up as soon as we got home. Ever since then, I’ve been following him on Facebook. Recently, he was selling some art in order to replace a phone. Since I was in need of a birthday present for my teenager, I asked to buy one of his watercolors. It’s really lovely.

Then I asked him a bunch of questions. He answered.

Who or what inspires you as an artist?

Growing up, it was Disney Movies and Norman Rockwell. Now, it’s still Disney but not just the movies. Im from Orlando and worked at Disney for years so the parks have always been a special source of inspiration. As well as the Pixar films. Mr. Rockwell is still awesome to me. When it comes to my own stuff, I like to say my style is whatever makes my wife and kids laugh.

 What are your favorite comic books now?

I LOVE Fables, Injustice, any of the marvel zombie books, I’ve always enjoyed the “What if” or “Elseworld” books. Anything that takes a story we already “know” and re imagines it is amazing to me.

 What did you read as a kid?

Different stuff. Mostly comics, I was BIG into TV and Movies but reading was a lot of different stuff. As I got older, after reading “Misery” I loved King. Also, I like reading series of books like the “Thursday Next” series by Jasper Ffjorde (still have 4 more to read from that) Or the “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” series by Douglas Adams. When I became a Dad, it was harder to “read” stuff so audio books have been my main source of literature for the past 5 years. Favorite Audio book: “World War Z” read by a full cast. Its sooooo good.(Close 2nd: “Peter and Max” by Bill Willingham, read by Will Wheaton) Favorite actual book: “To Kill a Mockingbird” (close 2nd is “Fight Club.” I know its an odd combo but I love those books.)

 What are your long-term goals?

(anyone else just quote Say anything in their head like me?) To continue to create family friendly art. They say if you have a job you love you’ll never work a day in your life and its true.

 Have you had any interesting experiences with fans?

I’m fortunate enough that the people who know who I am have all been totally awesome to meet and been super cool.

Where can people find your work?

In my Etsy store www.etsy.com/shop/CharlesThurston and at Shows.

Have you been able to replace your phone?

YES!! #The Struggle IsREAL I was without a phone for almost a week and its crazy how dependent we are on our phones.

What is your favorite phone app?

Probably a tie between Netflix and Hulu.

 How long have you been attending comic book conventions? Either as a fan or as an artist.

I went to my first convention in high school with friends and met Neil Gaiman. I actually had no idea who he was because at the time I hadn’t read the mastery that is “Sandman.” I actually got him to sign a copy of “Death:The High Cost of Living” for me because my friends made me stand in line with them. It wasn’t until 2011 that I went to another Con and that was Megacon here in Orlando as a guest and I was hooked. I had never heard of artist alley and thought it was for me. So the next year I got a table and have had a table every year since. I started touring out of state cons last year with two local artist friends of mine. It has been wonderful and a great way to meet a lot of great people.