fleskpublications.com / News / Interviews / Mark Schultz Interview 2006

Journalist, Bill Baker, conducted an interview with Flesk Publications publisher John Fleskes. The interview is featured in Baker's Dozen at the World Famous Comics web site. Baker and Fleskes talk about Flesk's company direction, backlist titles, and future projects. Below is an excerpt from the interview, courtesy of World Famous Comics. To jump to Bill Bakers introduction and the full interview, click here.

The Fine Art of Making Fine Art Books
John Fleskes on Flesk Publications' 2006 Releases and Backlist

 

Bill Baker: While doing research for this interview, I realized that your company had recently changed in a couple of fairly significant ways. First, you decided to include books on contemporary artists in your catalogue and, second, it seems that you've also decided to publish at least one book written by someone else. Why don't we deal with these in chronological order? What lead to Flesk Publications doing the Mark Schultz book last year, and the Steve Rude volume you've got in the works?

John Fleskes: I enjoy good art, regardless of the time period, or genre. My three books, one on Franklin Booth and the two volume Joseph Clement Coll titles, were a result of my passion for their artwork, not to create a company that focused on the Golden Age of pen and ink illustration. As I weighed my options as to which artist to focus my energies on next, I selected Steve Rude.

The reason for my decision is twofold. One, I personally am passionate about Steve's artwork (I would not get involved with an artist if I did not enjoy their artwork, even if I thought the book would be a hot seller), and second, I did not want to create a company label of being tied to one genre. I want my company to represent great art. Whether that is Franklin Booth or Mark Schultz, it's the same to me, excellent art. I will place much of my focus on the fields of illustration and comics, since I enjoy them both. But, I will not be limited to them either. I hope to surprise people with my publishing ventures and not limit myself. As long as I continue to have the support of the public, by buying Flesk Publications titles, I will continue to educate them through high quality collections.

To get to your questions about Mark Schultz, I've known Mark for a few years now. I've always admired Mark as both a writer and illustrator, and now since I have been able to get to know him on a personal level, a gentleman. I think what's brought us together is we both do not have limits in the areas we would like to expand in. We share a certain set of ideals and beliefs. His career has traveled through comics, illustration, writing novels, and more. Mark was also looking to retain a certain amount of control in his work, which I am not only willing to give, but encourage. We talk in great detail about the design of the book and the way the artwork should be reproduced. Through this process the end result is one we are both extremely happy with. And that is our first goal, to satisfy ourselves.

Working with Mark also fits into my business plan of expanding upon the types of books I publish. I hope those who have supported me in the past, trust my judgment and are willing to come along for the ride and explore different areas of art.

In case anyone is worried, although the title is not ready to announce, a new pen and ink book will be out in 2007.

BB: Well, how about the James Bama: American Realist book by Brian M. Kane? Why do a book on this particular artist, and--more importantly for our purposes--why not do your own book on Bama? Why publish a book built by another writer, however good they might be, when you are a great writer, yourself?

For the rest of the interview visit Bill Baker's Baker's Dozen column at the World Famous Comics web site here.