Q: How do you pronounce your last name? 
A: Deh heh SOOS 

Q: What nationality are you? 
A: Puerto Rican 

Q: Where do you work out of? 
A: I work out of my home office in Indiana.  Currently named Studio Capsule. 

Q: "Studio Capsule"?  Isn't that a Dragonball reference? 
A: In a way; yes.  The use of the word 'capsule' is an homage to the two mangas that inspired me to start drawing comics in manga style, Dragonball and Akira.  Two books that were given to me by a high school art classmate back in 1982.  You had the Capsule Gang in Akira and Capsule Corp in Dragonball.  It sounded better than Studio Akira. 

Q: Why the infrequent updates? 
A: Priorities.  Paying work comes first.  This may come as a surprise to some, artists do have bills and need to eat too.  Since I don't make a single dime off of this website there's no fiery desire to crank out work for this site. 

"Well, why can other artists get a lot of work up on their site?" 

Maybe their art is not in huge demand and they have more time to update, and/or they refuse to work for 'the man'.  That's all fine and dandy but in the real world, once you stop living with your parents, one needs currency to keep themselves from living out of a cardboard box. 

Then there's time.  With paying jobs every so often knocking on my door, and going to many conventions,  there's very little time to sit and doodle other stuff. 

This year I've been getting better with the updates and would like to update more often. 

Q: What was your first published work? 
A: Back in mid 80's, when anime fandom was just a small blip on the entertainment radar screen and manga inspired artists were just a hand full, I did spot illustrations and covers for a great anime fanzine called The Rose that was available through the snail mail before the internet became huge. 

I received my first paid work in the year 1990 with Antarctic Press' comic anthology Mangazine.  I did a short manga story called The Solutioners.  My 'amerimanga' style work has been in circulation for just over fifteen years.  Some, pro artists from both Japan and the US, have gone as far as to call me the very first American to draw authentic manga style work. 

Q: Why not a tutorial page on how to draw? 
A: I'm very protective of my work and would rather not reveal my secrets or inspirations.  Unless you are one of the lucky ones who go to cons and attend one of my 'how to' panels.

Q: Can you teach me how to draw? 
A: I'm sorry, no.  It is a very time consuming hobby or job for even just one person. 

Q: What do you use to draw with? 
A: For penciling I use a Rotring Tikky special 0.3 mechanical pencil and 'H' hardness for lead.  For inking I use Micron Pigmas 005 or 01.  Rapidograph/Koh-I-Noor for inking straight lines and borders.  For coloring I currently use Photoshop 5. 

Q: I got a project idea and I'd like you to draw for it.  Will you be willing to work for little or nothing? 
A: Thanks but no thanks.   I'm booked with other personal projects that will last me all this year that will make me money.  Unless you are very serious and do have the huge budget that can afford to hire an artist, then I'm willing to take a look.  Lately these sorts of project offers aren't worth investing my time.  Life's too short working too hard for next to nothing. 

Q: I have a project idea with a huge budget and I'd like you to draw for it.  What do you charge for work? 
A: You are the ones who do this for a living.  Don't you know your own budget or how much to pay? 

This is such a joke and I know why big companies ask you to do this.  Most artists aren't unionized and you know we will undercut ourselves so you'll pocket the difference. Only you know what you're budgeted for so don't be afraid to give me a price.  Believe me, I'll let you know if I think it's too low.  I've worked solely in comic books, so no matter what you offer me it will always be better pay. 

I do own a copy of the Graphic Artists Guild Handbook of Pricing and Ethical Guidelines and I like to follow it within reason.  And I highly recommend this book for all artists who want to make this a full-time business.  Don't let big companies cheat you out of what you're really worth. 

Q: Do you take commissions anymore? 
A: Hardly ever either through the internet or at conventions.  Every once in a while I'll post an original image up for bid on Ebay.  Keep an eye on the main page for future announcements. 

Q: Will you post my artwork on your site? 
A: Sorry.  Can't.  I don't have a lot of room to post art files. 

Q: Will you review my art work? 
A: Can't as well.  Its a time thing. 

Q: Can you send me a file of your art but without the text that's all over it? 
A: There's a good reason why text is all over it.  This request only opens a door to art thievery.  Asking for a clear image file is almost like asking the artist to send the original hand drawn image through snail mail in hopes that he or she will get it back.  It's rude to ask unless the artists is willing to part with it for a price. 

Q: Do you sell your artbook anymore? 
A: Ai Candy Deluxe is out of stock.  I'm looking at doing a second printing.  I'll make an announcement on the front page when more become available. 

Q: Will you be selling more stuff? 
A: Will do. 

Q: What do you plan to sell? 
A: My self-created doujinshis, portfolios, posters, calendars, t-shirts, and so on. 

Q: Are you that freakingly awesome hentai artist, Moe Jave, who works for that cool adults only website titled "Slipshine" who writes and illustrates Monster Knockers and Garage Kit 10 on a monthly basis? 
A:  For the googleth time, no. 

Q: Can I use your art on my site? 
A: Thanks but I'd rather you did not use my stuff.  Some have gone to not giving me credit, altered, or manipulated my art in order to fit their website needs.  Its wrong, illegal and I will not tolerate it.  If you do like the work here and want others to enjoy my stuff, a simple link back to www.robertdejesus.com is all I really ask. 

Q: Why don't you ever attend ***** Con? 
A: Either they are too far, not cost effective, or the con won't invite us. 

If you want me to attend a particular convention, a simple letter writing to the con staff will hopefully get them to fly me out there.  I'm a pretty easy guest to get along with.  I hardly make any demands.  All I usually ask for is a room, and a table with electricity for the entire weekend.  

Q: Will you put my site in your links page? 
A: I will trade links if your site fits any of the categories there.  Here are sites that I simply will not accept: 

Blogs- Online diaries, live journals or whatever they're called these days.   People who come here are  interested in seeing hand draw images.  Not what you just ate for breakfast, what a jerk boss you have to deal with at your job or how your parent or guardian falsely accused you for microwaving a Pokemon action figure. 

Personal Bios- They're nice but... feh.  This almost falls in the No Blogs category.  

Porn sites-  I'll accept a site with just slight nudity but nothing truly blatant that may get me ejected from Yahoo geocities.  

Lack of updates-  If you do apply to any of my categories but haven't touched your own site in over... a year and a half , even five or six months,  I highly doubt you'll make the list. 

Image sites- First off, I can't tell you how illegal it is to post images scanned from artbooks,doujinshis,  portfolios or video captures you yourself do not own the rights to. 

If at anytime I feel you haven't reciprocated the generosity of our link trade, your site will be deleted from my site. 

Q: Will you be adding more questions to your F.A.Q.? 
A: Yes.