Interview with Artist Glen Hanson

Glen Hanson is an internationally acclaimed illustrator, art director and writer. You may know Glen best from his internationally syndicated comic Chelsea Boys and the G-Man series. Glen also illustrated the new SUNSILK Shampoo "Brunettes vs. Blondes" ad campaign. Now, Glen sketches out his life for us here at Gay Life in this interview.

Are the characters in Chelsea Boys based on actual people or did you let your imagination run wild?

The Chelsea Boys characters sprang from the imaginations of co-creator Allan Neuwirth and myself. Nathan, Soiree and Sky reflect aspects of our own personalities as well as guys we have met/friends/gay urban archetypes, etc.

I'm assuming you drew a lot as a child. Did you ever think your drawings would one day grace print, screens and gift boxes everywhere?

Yes, all I did was draw when I was a boy while my mother pestered me to go outside and play. All I ever imagined was working in animation, TV shows or features. Everything else I've done since has been beyond what I'd imagined!

Talent: Are people born with it or is it nurtured?

Technical stuff you can learn; talent ya gotta be born with!

What's the most difficult project you've ever worked on?

Probably the animated series Spy Groove. I was storyboarding, designing characters and art directing a whole crew of artists. I wore way too many hats on that one!

Many of the boys in your G-Man series are covered in ink. Do you have any tattoos?

I don't have any tattoos myself, but if I got any they would go on my butt, head or maybe hand.

What's the one scenario you refuse to draw?

Republican. Pretty much any other subject matter is cool with me.

You're working on an animated version of Chelsea Boys. What do I have to do to get a character based on me?

Unfortunately, our plans to animate Chelsea Boys have been put on hold. But if it ever does happen, I promise to work you in as a character somewhere. How do you feel about being Sky's love slave?

I can work with that...

Connect the dots with Glen's award-winning illustrations at glenhanson.com