Blast from the past! The first promo postcard I ever sent out to art directors. I drew it when I was still a student.
Over the last couple years I’ve gotten a lot of email from art students. Some of them just ask for advice on breaking into the illustration business, some of them ask if they can interview me for artist research assignments they’re doing in class. I myself have only actually been done with school for a few years now. I’m not super famous and I haven’t published any big books or anything (yet), so I’m always surprised when students want to do presentations on my work or think I might know all the secrets to success in the illustration world. I’m still struggling.
On the other hand, I remember writing to a lot of illustrators who were just a few years older than me for advice (I still do that), and I definitely remember having to do research and interview projects on working artists. If you dig far enough into my email inbox, you’ll probably find an interview with Kazu Kibuishi, who was nice enough to answer a bunch of questions and send me some books and posters to show off in class back when I was still a student. Talking to people who have been at it for a couple years longer than myself has been enormously beneficial to my career. The internet makes it really easy to communicate with and learn from other illustrators and cartoonists. It’s something I’ll always be thankful for! So I’m always happy to talk to students or illustrators who are just starting out, even if I still feel like I’m only half a step ahead of them.
Anyways, I was recently interviewed by an illustration student at SCAD, Liz Hallock, for a class assignment. She gave me permission to share the interview here. I hope others will find it interesting or helpful!
What are your methods of working? What are your favorite medias to use?
I mostly work with ink and watercolors. I do a lot of digital work too, but ink and watercolors are my favorite. There’s nothing quite as thrilling as putting ink on paper.
What is your personal style? When did you finally realize your personal style?
My personal style… I suppose most people would say that it’s loose and cartoony. I don’t really shoot for a particular style when I’m drawing, I just try to have fun and let the lines do their own thing. I really like drawing ugly, bumpy, hairy things. Even when I draw things like flowers or cute girls, I make them look pretty gross. I think making images that don’t look too labored over is very important. You lose the life and energy of a drawing if you refine it too much. Having fun while drawing is extra important. If you’re having fun, it’ll show in your work. I’m not really sure when I settled into my style… I think it’s the same style I drew in when I was 3 years old, it’s just evolved and (hopefully) improved.
Did you attend school? If so, where?
I did. I majored in illustration at Daemen College, which is in Buffalo, NY.
Do any of your family members work in the art field?
My mother is a doll maker, so she designs and sews tons and tons of dolls, which I think is pretty artistic. Both of my younger brothers are extremely musical and one of them writes a lot of fiction and used to draw comics too. The other brother is really into photography.
Who are some of your clients?
I’ve illustrated for King Magazine, Ani Difranco/Righteous Babe Records, Cosmic Pictures, Baltimore Magazine, Boston’s Weekly Dig, bp Magazine, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Moo Cow Fan Club Magazine, New Reliable Press, Top Shelf Comics, and tons of bands. And a bunch of other clients.
What are some of your current projects you are working on?
Right now I’m working on a big fat comic book. I hope to have it done sometime in the next hundred years. If it takes longer than that I’ll be very sad.
What or who are some of your best influences?
A million things have influenced my work over the years. Growing up, I think everything Jim Henson did had a big impact on me and the way I drew. Newspaper comics like The Far Side. Cartoons like Ren and Stimpy. These days the big ones would be illustrators and cartoonists like Ben Shahn, Ronald Searle, Andre Francois, Joann Sfar, Gipi… Films have influenced my work a lot too, especially my comics. Movies like Delicatessen, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Shining, pretty much anything by Alfred Hitchcock. The biggest influences have probably been illustrator/cartoonist friends of mine.
Your opinion on the current illustration market?
It’s awful! I was doing really well last year, but I can count the number of jobs I’ve had in 2009 on one hand. I had a big deal to illustrate a series of children’s books fall through earlier this year as a result of the economic situation. I’ve had a few other big opportunities seemingly slip through my fingers recently. It’s been a tough year.
Was it hard to break into the market? how did you go about it?
The difficult thing is that it takes a long time. You’ve got to be determined and you’ve got to be patient. I started sending postcards out to art directors and promoting my website pretty heavily online as soon as I finished college. Eight or nine months went by before any illustration work found it’s way into my inbox. And then the first assignment I was offered ended up falling through and not happening. Things did pick up eventually and I was getting work on a pretty regular basis, but things came screeching to a halt about a year ago when the economy crapped the bed.. I’m hoping things will pick up again soon, but It wouldn’t shock me at all if it happened very slowly, almost as if I were starting at square one again. Anyways, I mostly went about breaking into the market by sending out postcards to as many art directors as possible. I updated my website on a regular basis and used the down time to bulk up my portfolio. Relentless promotion, determination and patience are important.
I’ve been told that it’s possible to work anywhere in the world as an illustrator. is this true?
It is true. I currently live in Syracuse, which if you don’t know, is a small city in the middle of New York state. There isn’t much going on here, but I can survive on a lot less money than if I were someplace like New York City or LA. I’ve worked with clients all over the country, all from the comfort of my extremely affordable apartment in upstate New York.
Where’s the best place to start?
I always tell people to aim for editorial work when they’re starting out. That’s where I’ve had the most luck. Newspapers and magazines are typically more willing to give new illustrators a chance. Once you’ve got a bunch of editorial clients under your belt, the bigger fish might be a little more willing to bite.
Are you happy with how your career/ life has gone so far?
I suppose that for someone who’s only been at it for a few years, I’ve had a decent amount of success. I still feel like I’m really struggling, but I’ve got friends who are still waiting for that first job to fall into their lap. I get really bummed out sometimes because I’ve had a few really big opportunities that have come my way and then not worked out, but the fact that I’ve even had these big offers in the first place means I must be doing something right. I’m still pretty young, so hopefully the future will bring some good things.
