Illustrator Spotlight - David Warner - July 21st, 2008

Illustration for Seattle Metropolitan Magazine

Click here to visit David Warner’s Gallery.

How many years have you been a freelance illustrator?

About two years now on and off I also have a part time job to pay the bills at first I was still working full time and eventually changed roles in my job to allow me to go part time and focus more on Illustration

How reliable are you?

Hmm now there’s a question, I’d say I’m extremely reliable I work from my studio at home so I always have everything that I need to hand and if need be I’ll work into the night to get a commission done I normally turn a job around within about a week but I’ve had to do a job in 48 Hours before over the christmas period for Seattle Life Magazine which was difficult to fit in!!

Why don’t you keep a blog?

Good question, I did have one on my site a while back but the problem I find with blogs is if you tend to fit commissions around a normal day job there can be weeks when you wont have any news to post and it can make your workflow appear a little static. I also like to keep my portfolio website nice and simple in my experience art directors will tend to go straight to work section of the site as thats what they are mainly interested in. When I did run my blog my website control panel showed it was only looked at by 2 percent of the total visitors to my site. I’m thinking about changing the format of my site soon though so its based around a blog rather than being static as it is at the moment. Its easier to update and post new work that way.

In a commercial sense what can your work be applied to?

My work has been best applied to editorial work as that’s where the body of my experience lies, however I’m working on moving my style into the advertising and book illustration field at the moment as this area is more lucrative and also the briefs tend to be more challenging, I’m currently working on some self promotional pieces that re-illustrate book covers. As I’m keen to show art buyers how my style can be applied in that area. Another good way of demonstrating to potential clients that your work fits a particular field for example advertising is to pick a product and illustrate for it.

Who are your top clients?

My Top client so far has been news on the block magazine I’ve done quite a bit of work for them they come back quite regularly  and I’ve always been quite happy working with them. Arrivals and departures Magazine has to be my biggest client in terms of circulation. I believe the magazine is distributed at airports and on aircraft. I’ve also worked for John Citrus Brown Publishing which I enjoyed immensely. Greenpeace was another good one as their cause is very close to my heart.

Illustration for an article about health and safety.

Apart from illustration what other skills do you have?

Well I’m a good cook!!! seriously though I trained in fine art at Middlesex University so I can paint although its not something I’ve done for a long while now, but something I’m keen to take up again. I’ve always though it would be nice to do more painted illustrations the only drawback is it takes longer to paint something and its much harder to make corrections if a clients not happy.

What’s your favorite sandwich filling?

Now this is going to sound odd and people outside of the UK might not know what I’m talking about but I love Liver sausage and tomato. It really is the best filling there is. Basically liver sausage is made from liver and god knows what else it comes in slices and I love it. It’s also very cheap. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I cant get enough of it !! - In brown bread of course (just to be healthy).

Front cover - News on the Block

Click here to visit David Warner’s Gallery.

Illustrator Spotlight - DEKORE - August 4th, 2008

Illustrator Spotlight - DEKORE

Click here to visit DEKORE’s Gallery.

How many years have you been a freelance illustrator?

Actually, I’m just starting… I have considered myself a freelance illustrator for the last year now!

How reliable are you?

Ah ah… My police record is still empty, so I think I’m pretty trust worthy… Seriously, I don’t know, I’m always trying to do my best for the client, and sometimes it’s pretty difficult to respect a deadline, that’s why I’m used to working late at night on Sundays!

Why don’t you keep a blog?

Don’t I? Oh jeez, I’ll have to start right now!

In a commercial sense what can your work be applied too?

I reckon I have a really strong style, which is a good and a bad thing at the same time… I can’t work for everybody, but today I can say that my work could be applied to tee shirts design, advertising, illustrated books, skateboard/snowboard design…

Who are your top clients?

I would say Kidrobot, BBDO SF, Logo skateboards… Unfortunately my work with BBDO has not been published due to some “budget restriction”. But the project was really nice and I’d love to get involved in a great advertising project in the future. Before being an illustrator, advertising was my first love. :)

Illustrator Spotlight - DEKORE

Apart from illustration what other skills do you have?

I am pretty good at tearing up hard materials like chains or bike frames with my teeth! Actually it’s not a skill, but I love traveling ! This summer, I’m working with some cool guys in NYC for the next four months… That’s pretty exciting, you know, discover a city, meet new people…

What’s your favourite sandwich filling?

Can I get a chicken-salad-cheddar-radish-mustard-frank’s red hot sauce sandwich please?

Illustrator Spotlight - DEKORE

Click here to visit DEKORE’s Gallery.

Illustrator Spotlight - Frances Castle - May 30th, 2008

Illustrator Spotlight - Frances Castle

Click here to visit Frances Castle’s Gallery.

How many years have you been a freelance illustrator?

About three and half years, before that I was a 3d artist in the computer games industry.

How reliable are you?

I think I’m pretty reliable, I haven’t missed a deadline yet.

Why do you keep a blog?

Initially to show more personal work, my website has mainly commissioned stuff on it, so I wanted an on line outlet for the other stuff. I also love to read other artists blogs, especially if they discuss the process and ideas behind their images. I’ve been so busy with commissions over the last year that I haven’t had as much time as I’d like to spend on self motivated work.

In a commercial sense what can your work be applied too?

I’ve done a lot of children’s work over the last year, previously I was doing more editorial. I’ve also done interactive stuff for websites, I’m trying to keep all my options open so I don’t get bored or type cast.

Illustrator Spotlight - Frances Castle

Who are your top clients?

BBC, Random House, The Guardian, The Independent, Harcourt.. most of the usual suspects.

Apart from illustration what other skills do you have?

Umm I’m a bit of a computer nerd. Drawing is probably my best skill, I was useless at everything else at school.

What’s your favourite sandwich filling?

Falafel, humus, salad, and olives.

Illustrator Spotlight - Frances Castle

Click here to visit Frances Castle’s Gallery.

Illustrator Spotlight - Matt W. Moore - June 17th, 2008

Illustrator Spotlight - Matt W. Moore

Click here to visit Matt W. Moore’s Gallery.

How many years have you been a freelance illustrator?

I have been freelancing for many years, since I was in college. It started out as a side-hustle. A way for me to help out friends who needed album art, tee designs, whatever. After school I worked for a couple years as a Designer/Art Director at The VIA Group, and later as a Web Designer at Burton Snowboards. The whole time, my freelance side-hustle was gaining momentum. This past winter I finally took the leap into 100% freelance. I am loving it!

How reliable are you?

Hah, this is one of those interview questions that forces you to “toot your own horn” isn’t it. Well, I will say this… I don’t bite off more than I can chew. I over deliver. On time. Every time.

Why do you keep a blog?

So many reasons… My blog is not one of those mushy diaries where I talk about my feelings and whatnot. I document my recent projects, press clippings, write press releases for my books and new products, big-up my creative friends, talk about lessons learned, brag about cool stuff I’ve seen and places I’ve been. I write my blog to keep my ducks in a row, and make it easy for a fan of my work to know what I’m up to.

In a commercial sense what can your work be applied too?

Everything. Just in 2008, I’ve pretty much covered the spectrum of industries with my designs and illustrations. Streetwear tees, high fashion prints, logos, websites, soda bottles, cell phones, sneakers, music packaging, editorials, snowboards, technical illustrations of cars, abstract illustrations of the cosmos, the list goes on. Fashion and textile design is where I want to go next. It is really exciting to see people wearing my designs.

Illustrator Spotlight - Matt W. Moore

Who are your top clients?

My favorite clients are the ones that view our work as a collaboration. Groups that know what they want, and ask me to sync my visions with their ideas. I enjoy being directed and getting specific briefs. I get nervous when I hear “I’ll know it when I see it”. My “top clients” from a financial angle are in advertising and fashion. But some of my favorite projects are for music and editorials.

Apart from illustration what other skills do you have?

I wear a few hats. Entrepreneurs of our generation must be able to juggle. I am a designer, a writer, a painter, all sorts of stuff. I am also pretty good with strategy, PR, and accounting. I have to be… I am a one-man-studio.

What’s your favorite sandwich filling?

I’ll take a few tacos over a sandwich any day. But a nice big burger is always legit.

Illustrator Spotlight - Matt W. Moore

Illustrator Spotlight - Matt W. Moore

Click here to visit Matt W. Moore’s Gallery.

Illustrator Spotlight - Nate Williams - May 19th, 2008

Illustrator Spotlight - Nate Williams
Interview originally conducted for the LCS - 18/12/06

Illustrator Spotlight - Nate WilliamsMy wife once put a worm in her grandmother’s bed, what’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?

“I killed a man in Reno just to watch him die…”

I know you no longer work for Microsoft Xbox as an Art Director, but I would like to know how you got that job and what jobs you had before that?

I was very into computers and art in college… that was around 1994 when the web was just starting to become know. I learned how to design/program web sites early on… and because I had programming skills mixed with art skills… it allowed me get to get my foot in the door at a well known advertising agency… at the time not many people could do both… not many hybrids. The ad agency had some big clients… so I had the opportunity to work on sites for Gateway, Intel, Iomega, Netscape and some other high profile technology clients. Read more…

Illustrator Spotlight - Rob Perry - July 2nd, 2008

Commissioned by the Winchester House Club in Putney.

Click here to visit Rob Perry’s Gallery.

How many years have you been a freelance illustrator?

I sold my first illustration when I was still a student in 1990…to a nice little Scandinavian women’s magazine. Not as saucy as it might sound! I’ve been freelance ever since.

How reliable are you?

Blimey! Customer service, that’s the name of the game. I can honestly say that I have never missed a deadline.  This is the main difference between success and failure as an illustrator.  It is also important to communicate well with the client. I have always had a special admiration for art directors, they are very brave people. Their jobs are on the line whenever they pick an artist. Anything we can do to make their “leap of faith” easier will only serve to promote good relations and the smooth running of the job.

Why don’t you have a website?

The simple answer is I haven’t needed one. I have always had an agent who, for the best part, has kept me busy. In October 2006 I moved to Austin, Texas to take up a position as Director of Fine Art at The Gemini School of Visual Art & Communication. As a full-time member of staff it became difficult to pursue my freelance work…I felt a little like I’d retired. This added to a number of other reasons meant that it didn’t work out so I’m busy reconstructing my career on this side of the pond.  One of my ex students is building me a site at the moment…so I’ll be online soon.

In a commercial sense what can your work be applied too?

I think my main strength is figure and likeness. Commercially this has leant itself to the sports market where likeness is important. I have also done a lot of portraits. I love these but unfortunately have never found enough to just concentrate on that.  After teaching for two years I have begun to think more creatively; a by-product of listening to my own preachings!  I think I also learnt a lot from my students. You can’t beat a bit of youth spirit to rekindle the old creative juices! My work with football plate designs, the good pay, the churning out one design after another and having to stick to a formula definitely prevented me from pushing the boundaries.

Produced for Danbury Mint

Who are your top clients?

I got a great scalp in April, landing four paintings of hounds for the latest Otrivin campaign for Saatchi & Saatchi. Others include: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., Andre Deutsch, Ross Brawn, Ferrari F1, Alec Stewart(ex-England cricketer), IMG, MBI Inc., The Bradford Exchange, The Cricketer International Magazine, Football Classic Prints, Newbury Building Society & Disney Interactive.

Apart from illustration what other skills do you have?

I used to play a lot of cricket and rugby (I had to knock the rugby on the head when I broke my hand and I couldn’t work for a few weeks). I love to teach and I am also very experienced at pouring beer!

What’s your favourite sandwich filling?

I’m not fussy on the filling. But the bread in America is terrible. You can’t beat a good old British granary loaf. As a subnote, the best sandwiches in the world are made at Felsons on Little Clarenden Street in Oxford. Go for their chicken, bacon & coriander or brie & onion marmalade. Everyone’s a winner.

Illustrator Spotlight - Rob Perry

Illustrator Spotlight - Rob Perry

Click here to visit Rob Perry’s Gallery.

Illustrator Spotlight - Sherry Neidigh - July 19th, 2008

Illustrator Spotlight - Sherry Neidigh

Click here to visit Sherry Neidigh’s Gallery.

How many years have you been a freelance illustrator?

20 years

How reliable are you?

Very Reliable

Why don’t you keep a blog?

I’m thinking about it.

In a commercial sense what can your work be applied too?

Package design, like cereal boxes, bags,containers and children’s products. I can go from very whimsical to realistic.

Who are your top clients?

Sylvan Dell Publishers, United Methodist Publishing, Highlights for Children, National Wildlife Federation. EECI Inc. Positive Promotions

Apart from illustration what other skills do you have?

Always researching material for illustration if that counts? Designing toys, Raising dogs,

What’s your favourite sandwich filling?

Cheese and Vegetables

Illustrator Spotlight - Sherry Neidigh

Illustrator Spotlight - Sherry Neidigh

Click here to visit Sherry Neidigh’s Gallery.

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