EXCLUSIVE!!!!

 

LUCA SALVAGNO

 

Luca Salvagno, born on July 4, 1962, in Chioggia, in the province of Venice, Italy, began publishing in the Italian magazine Messaggero dei Ragazzi in 1988. In the same year he also started publishing comics and illustrations, including for children's books. In 1996 Luca started working with cartoonist Benito Jacovitti as a colorist for Benito's comic strip Cocco Bill. Luca taught drawing at the Pietro Selvatico Art Institute in Padua, Italy from 2005 to 2012. Since 2012, he has been teaching part-time drawing and painting at the Liceo Artistico Antonio Corradini in Este (in the province of Padua) in Italy. Perry struck up a conversation with Luca Salvagno because of an interview for the Internet site.

 

001.How did you end up as a colorist with cartoonist Benito Jacovitti?

       In 1996 I started as a colorist with Benito Jacovitti for his comic Cocco Bill. His previous colorist, Alfonso Castellari, had to interrupt his collaboration

       for health reasons. Alfonso and Benito have worked together since the beginning of Cocco Bill in 1957. Benito passed away in 1997, so unfortunately

       I have rarely worked with him. Still, it was a dream come true for me. From an early age I loved Benito's work and I was eager to help him in one way

       or another.

002.Can you explain the process of making a comic book album together with Benito Jacovitti?

       He had a special way of telling me as a colorist which colors to use and where. Benito wrote the necessary numbers on the back of the inked page in

       pencil. He always used a limited number of colors, no more than fifteen. But he was so good at it, it never seemed so few colors. Then I erased the

       numbers in pencil and colored it on the light table with whatever clear inks he wanted.

003.At what point in your career are you most proud and/or have the best memories?

       I am very satisfied with my entire career. During that time I met great colleagues and interesting editors. I've made stories with very different styles.

       That's why I have no idea how to make a choice from all this.

004.Which price or award from your career are you most proud of and/or do you have the best memories of?

       The most important prize for me has always been the work itself. Being able to keep doing the job is a real reward in itself.

005.If you had to name both a agreement and a major difference in character trait between yourself and Coco Bill, what would it be?

       Cocco Bill is short-tempered and has a "peperino" character. Sometimes I'm just moody. While I've chosen never to use weapons, he uses them quite

       often. Even if he only does this "for a good cause". Like Cocco Bill, I love chamomile tea myself.

006.Which cartoon character you draw is your favorite?

       The comic and the eponymous character Cocco Bill has given me so many opportunities. I was able to travel so much for it and met a lot of people

       through it. But if I had to choose, I would go for the cartoon character Pinocchio Maltese from the comic album Rebuòboli. This is purely because this

       is my most recent cartoon character that I have drawn.

007.What can we expect from you in the future in terms of work?

       I keep making new albums from the comic strip Cocco Bill. In fact, I'm currently working on an album. I will also continue to teach at the Liceo Artistico

       Antonio Corradini in Este in Italy.

 

Interview: Perry Krootjes