By David LoTempio

Stephen Forman Jr., better known by his artistic alias Prolific Paulie, is a Buffalo-based painter, cartoonist and storyteller whose work lives at the intersection of tradition and innovation, faith and imagination. His art is currently on display at the Welcoming Spaces exhibition at the Burchfield Penney Art Center (through July 27), but it’s his independently published comic Shovel Guy that’s been quietly building a devoted fanbase.

I sat down with Paulie to talk about his love of comics and fine art, the role of faith in his work and the surprising story behind a superhero armed with nothing more than a snow shovel.

A Storytelling Spirit

From the start, Paulie knew he was meant to create.

“We all draw when we’re young,” he said. “It’s one of the first ways we communicate. The difference is who stops and who keeps going.”

Paulie didn’t stop — thanks in part to supportive parents and a personal drive to master his craft.

“As a kid, I used to say I wanted to be a ‘master artist,’ whatever that meant,” he said, laughing.

That early ambition led him to study the greats — from Golden Age illustrators like Rockwell and Leyendecker to Renaissance sculptors like Bernini and Michelangelo.

“It’s all about capturing energy,” Paulie explained. “Whether it’s a Renaissance sculpture frozen in motion or a manga panel exploding with force, it’s the same goal: expressing life, spirit, motion and meaning.”

But storytelling, not just technique, became his true calling.

“Characters are key,” he said. “But it’s not just about people. Backgrounds, settings — those can be characters too. The best stories carry meaning. That’s what I want to do.”

Shovel Guy: A Comic Born in the Snow

Shovel Guy, Paulie’s debut comic, began not as a grand concept but as a small, persistent idea — one born from shoveling his parents’ massive driveway.

“It was just me out there thinking, ‘There should be a superhero for this,’” he recalled. “Somebody who shows up with a shovel and helps people out.”

That ordinary experience blossomed into a comic book story — part satire, part tribute to Buffalo winters, part parable. Shovel Guy follows a man who uses his shovel to help others in a snowbound, Buffalo-adjacent city. Along the way, he meets a mysterious antagonist: a buffalo.

“It’s not literally Buffalo,” Paulie said, “but it’s inspired by it. You have to confront the storm, earn the respect of the winter — and the buffalo.”

While it’s humorous on the surface, the story is layered with deeper meaning.

“I think of the buffalo as a symbol of the struggle,” Paulie explained. “The cold, the hardship, even fear. But you don’t fight to destroy it — you meet it, and maybe learn to survive together.”

The comic also reflects Paulie’s faith, which subtly shapes what he includes—and leaves out. “You’ll notice there’s no gore, no profanity. I don’t want to normalize that,” he said. “Faith isn’t about preaching, it’s about the values behind your choices as a creator—what you elevate, and how you resolve conflict.”

Tools of the Trade: Ballpoint Pens and Bravery

One of the most striking things about Shovel Guy is its medium: ballpoint pen. Not digital. Not even traditional ink brushes.

“Most people think it’s done in Procreate,” Paulie said. “But I did all the line work in pen — just plain ballpoint.”

His journey through mediums started with Copic markers and colored pencils, mimicking the tools of YouTube artists he admired. But those methods took too long, and lacked the expressiveness he craved. Inspired by artists like Nicholas V. Sanchez, Paulie turned to ballpoint.

“It’s fast, responsive, and surprisingly versatile. Plus, it’s accessible. You don’t need fancy tools to make great art.”

He started the pages with light blue ink for underdrawings—hoping the lines wouldn’t show when scanned.

“Spoiler alert: they showed,” he said, laughing. “It didn’t work like ‘photo blue,’ but hey, that’s part of the process.”

After scanning the pages, Paulie used Procreate for digital painting — adding color and polish while retaining the warmth of his traditional lines. The entire process was self-driven and self-taught.

“I had to figure everything out,” he said. “From formatting to printing to distribution. I went through it all — mistakes and all. But you only learn by doing.”

The Minimum Viable Comic

Paulie credits much of his momentum to a concept he found online: the Minimum Viable Story, an idea popularized by YouTuber Jake Parker. The principle is simple—don’t wait until your magnum opus is ready. Start with a small, complete story. Execute it. Learn from it. Repeat.

“Shovel Guy was my minimum viable story,” he said. “I’ve got stories I’ve been holding onto since I was a kid. But I needed to get one finished, printed, sold and seen. That experience — getting feedback, working with local shops, hearing from readers — that’s priceless. You don’t get that by keeping your ideas in a notebook.”

What’s Next?

So what comes after Shovel Guy? Paulie is already thinking about a follow-up.

“Originally it was going to be a one-and-done. But now? I’ve got ideas. I’d like to explore deeper themes — maybe faith in a post-apocalyptic world. Something in the vein of Mad Max or Blade Runner.”

He’s not in a rush to make something huge. He’s focused on steady growth, and helping other artists find their voice, too. His YouTube channel is filled with practical advice and creative encouragement.

“Draw what you want to draw—right now,” he says. “Then step back and reflect on what you need to work on. But start. That’s the most important thing.”

Paulie doesn’t have an online shop yet, but local comic shops like Gutter Pop Comics at 1421 Hertel Ave. carry Shovel Guy, and a free digital version is available as a teaser. More importantly, he hopes his work inspires others to pick up a pen and get started.

“You don’t need permission,” he said. “Just do it. The reward is the process.”

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