Now his high school habit has become a horror hit, with his new zombie-themed comic book `Refraction' to be released tomorrow at Latrobe Regional Gallery.

The book release culminates five years of research and work that was inspired by Ian's long-standing love of traditional horror films.

``I have probably been doing art all my life, but in about high school I started taking it a bit more seriously and realised I had something going on,'' Ian said.

``I remember the teacher telling me to stop drawing but I haven't.

``I've always been with a paintbrush, pen or texta in hand.

``I now work as a fitter and turner so I can get the money and time to do the arts without any interruptions.''

Ian said his job had also provided technical knowledge that was used in the design of his comic.

``The engineering experience from fitting has helped me with the comic art,'' he said.

``Before I started working I was not sure how to get organised, the design and math have to be correct,'' he said.

According to Ian, Refraction is the second part of a trilogy of comics and movies he wants to create.

``I've already storyboarded the first film and it was almost a comic. I decided I may as well turn it (Refraction) into an actual (comic) product,'' he said.

``I want it to be a trilogy of films, it's a long term thing and I'm not sure if I want to do animation, computer animation or use actors.''

Ian said he was interested in the old classics.

``Not just the scare or the fright, but the actual horrifics of what happens when society gets wiped out by a plague,'' Ian said.

``I have tried to get a hold of obscure things like vampires and zombies and combined them together.''

Ian said Refraction was for anyone with a general interest in the arts, who understood the principles of Picasso's cubism and comics.

``It's combined old samurai painting (styles), cubism, comic and storyboard (design) together,'' he said.

Ian said he had no professional training in the arts other than his high school experience, preferring to spend time producing art over studying.

He has since returned to Trafalgar High School where he was taught to help with a community project with Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) students.

Ian is now working with the students to design art panels for Priestly Park in Traralgon.

``I was pretty much of a rat-bag of a kid, so I'm sort of paying my dues for the time I took off them (teachers),'' he said.

The release of the comic also coincides with the release of the Young Ambassador's 2008 ``ARTrocity zine'' which is also taking place at the gallery.

Refraction will be launched at 6pm at Latrobe Regional Gallery and will be on display until 17 August. The launch will also feature music, displays of fire-twirling and martial arts.