Meet Douglas Cushnie & Dustin Garcia | Writer & Illustrator of new graphic novel “Walo: A Central American Odyssey”

We had the good fortune of connecting with Douglas Cushnie & Dustin Garcia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Douglas & Dustin, what are you inspired by?
Douglas: I think I draw most of my inspiration from learning something new or being exposed to new things and new people and new places, or even discovering new things about myself. I feel like when I gain new knowledge, it creates an intense desire in me to utilize it in some way and/or to share that knowledge with other people, whether through my art, or just conversation. And on the other hand, I feel like most people I interact with are an incredible source of different kinds of knowledge as well. So I learn new things from them, and this sort of ‘addictive’ cycle continues.

Dustin: My work is primarily inspired by cultural history. I feel that the more you discover about your past, the more relevant it becomes towards the present. It has enabled me to discover new perspectives of reality, and what art is inspired by those experiences. It has also granted me a higher understanding of many different community experiences, and continues to influence the stories to which I want to tell.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Douglas: I’m probably a bit of a ‘jack-of-all-trades, master of none’ when it comes to art. I have a pretty short attention span, and generally don’t like doing the same thing over again. In the last few years I’ve fluctuated a lot between screenwriting, film directing, shooting, editing, and now comic writing/creation, and doing all of those things in wildly different genres and formats. I’ve been told it’s important to develop a certain style for yourself, and to focus your energy on one thing, but at the end of the day, that’s just marketing advice. For me personally, and for my own well-being, I’ve always liked being adaptable and malleable, especially in a world and an entertainment industry where there’s a lot of waiting around and it’s hard to find work doing just one thing (like directing films). And I like for each new project that I work on to contain a new set of challenges to learn from, rather than trying to perfect something I’ve already done before. This new graphic novel project, “Walo” is a perfect example of stepping outside my comfort zone, but it’s also a story that’s super familiar and personal to me, and one I’ve been trying to tell for about 6+ years now– first as a movie, and now as a graphic novel. What I’ve learned through that process is how important it is to be open to new things and to let your story gravitate in a path of least resistance to whatever medium suits it best. A good story is a good story regardless of whether it’s a movie, a comic book, or spoken words around a campfire. The important part is that you tell it.

Dustin: My work primarily explores philosophical and spiritual explorations through a surrealist lens. I try to challenge myself and my readers by presenting visual narratives that balance the conventional and experimental. I feel that my work transcends cultural barriers because of this balance, and enables a wider audience to discover my work. It has been the support of my community that I have been able to endure all the obstacles that can stand before an independent artist. In particular, the Zine community has been the most supportive for the work that I do, and has granted me the oppurtunity to share my art to an audience unknown to me at the time. The main lesson I have learned is that it is important to honor one’s creative integrity, and to always pursue your dreams with passion before popularity, and to never underestimate the power of community. This current project, “Walo” is something that has had the most personal impact in my career, and is one I am very excited to share. The graphic novel has challenged me as an artist, and most importantly granted me the opportunity to reconnect with my ancestral roots in Nicaragua in ways history books could not. It has been an honor to reconnect and collaborate with a community that has been so distant to me in my youth. Most importantly, producing this graphic novel has given me the opportunity to give back to my ancestors in the way I know best: creativity.

Our Kickstarter campaign is live, and runs until Thursday, April 29. Help us get this story made and score some cool rewards in the process: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cushnie/walo-a-central-american-odyssey-vol-1

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Douglas: I really like the hiking and climbing on the outskirts of LA— places like Malibu are known for beaches but the hikes are even better, especially after it rains and the countryside is green and there’s streams and waterfalls running. LA is just generally a more beautiful place when it rains. There’s a little plant shop on the side of the highway near Solstice Canyon there too that sells homegrown succulents, super cheap, and will pot them for you for free. Speaking of plants, the Huntington Library and Botanical Garden in Pasadena is an amazing place, and worth checking out once in your life. Other than that, LA proper is mostly great for its food: Late night al pastor at Leo’s Tacos, breakfast burritos at Tacos Villa Corona in Atwater, the pupusa shops in Pico-Union and East LA, Attari Sandwiches and Persian pastries and ice cream in Vestvood, tamale shops in East Compton, street fruit vendors everywhere. Basically every corner in LA has amazing food spots. There are only like 2-3 good pizza places (Lamonica’s, DeSano, and maybe Garage?), which is a major flaw in LA’s infrastructure, but those couple ones are good enough to pass.

Dustin: I would certainly take my friends down to my favorite sandwich spot in Culver City called “Sorrento’s Deli” first, and spend the rest of the day driving and hiking up in Topanga Canyon.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Douglas: My life would have been totally different if I’d never visited Nicaragua as a teenager— the country and my relationships with people in the country have entirely shaped my life and basically given me a secondary identity. Even my career in film was originally motivated and inspired by wanting to tell stories about Nicaragua, which is why it’s so fun to get back to that with this comic. So more than anyone else, I really have my high school teacher, Mrs. Omaña, to thank for bringing me on that first trip to the country. It sounds a bit dramatic to say that one person changed your life, and doesn’t necessarily mean that your life would have been bad otherwise. But sometimes people can have that effect on us in a subtle way, and I’m very grateful to her, and many, many others in my life, for inviting me into those kinds of privileged spaces that allowed me to grow as a person. I’d also love to shout out my good buddy Walder. This project obviously wouldn’t exist without its titular character and his real-life adventures, and he and all my other Nica friends continue to contribute an enormous amount to the authenticity and voice of this story. ¡Que viva Nicaragua jodido!

Dustin: First off, shout out to the Latinx Comics Arts Festival. They had a terrific virtual festival this year, and I was proud to be involved with it. Second, shout out to my mentor JT Steiny. When I struggled with getting my creative confidence back post-grad school, it was he who taught me the path of DIY publishing through zine festivals. Lastly, shout out to my abuela Celina. She sacrificed everything from her home country of Nicaragua so her family would have a chance in this world. It is because of her I was born here in LA, and granted the opportunity to pursue my love for art.

Website: walocomic.com

Instagram: WaloComic

Twitter: WaloComic

Image Credits
Dustin Garcia and River Tikwi Garza