Welcome to my personal site. I'm an artist who became a comics publisher, animator, producer and director. Besides comics and animation, I've devoted years of my working life to video games, software, and Web development. I'm happily married and have two successful sons, Ricky and Timothy. My wife Connie is an artist and organic gardener who has also had two one-woman art shows. I spent most of my life in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and as of August 2017, Connie and I are enjoying a new life in the Ozarks on a small organic farm in Eastern Oklahoma near the Arkansas border. My career really began with the January, 1973 founding of Everyman Studios in Colorado Springs, Colorado. My partners and co-founders were Darrel Anderson, Tom Haber, Rick Berry and William Kirk Kennedy (1953-2010). We painted, drew comics, did design work, produced illustrations and played chess. Soon the place became a publishing house with the advent of The Everyman Flyer, Realm, Scrabbits Reno Comics, Platinum Toad, Cascade Comix Monthly and a plethora of other small press, alternative publications. Now they're valuable collector's items. |
As the years passed, with the exception of Kirk Kennedy, the other founders of the studio drifted away, gradually replaced by younger artists. In 1981 I converted Everyman into a successful animation studio. This work continues to engage me, and as of 1994, our studio is called ARG! Cartoon Animation. I truly love what I do, and I'm passionate about sharing my knowledge with those who want to learn. The studio where I spend my days has helped over 200 artists and animators get their careers started. It's thrilling to see our former animators, technicians and interns' names in the credits of blockbuster movies and hit TV shows. In 2018 our family endured several significant life changes, including the passing of my adoptive father, Jose Santiago Romero, the untimely death of our cat Fluffy Jo and the sale of my original 1996 domain name, Artie.com. I plan to write more about these events when my schedule allows. This site isn't about my work in the ARG! Studio, or my internet startup CityStar, or even Everyman Studios, where I began my artistic collaborations. It's really about my life, reflections and creative vision. I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts and memories on this website, so thanks for visiting, and please come back soon. read more... |