My email:
Dear Ian Ward,
My name’s Lizzy Mason, I am currently in my second year studying Illustration at the University of Gloucestershire. I am highly interested in Children’s Illustration and I am working towards making a Children’s book as my final project.
I have come across your work and I am very interested in your style.
I was wondering if you could take five minutes to answer a few questions about your practice as an established Illustrator.
My name’s Lizzy Mason, I am currently in my second year studying Illustration at the University of Gloucestershire. I am highly interested in Children’s Illustration and I am working towards making a Children’s book as my final project.
I have come across your work and I am very interested in your style.
I was wondering if you could take five minutes to answer a few questions about your practice as an established Illustrator.
- How did you first get started in Illustration?
- How many projects do you tend to work on at one time?
- How many days a week do you work?
- How many hours in a day do you work?
- What inspires you to do the sort of work you do?
- Do you work from references or imagination?
- How did you initially promote your work when you first started as an illustrator?
- Are there any projects you wish you hadn’t done?
- Do you mostly illustrate your own ideas or other people’s ideas?
- What is your most preferred way to work?
Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my email and I hope to hear back from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Lizzy Mason
Hi Lizzy,
1. How did you first get started in Illustration?
I was a graphic designer to start with, doing odd bits of illustration
before going solo about 20 years ago.
It's interesting that not all Illustrators begin at Illustration but somehow end up there. Graphic Design "may include images, words, or graphic forms" (1) whereas Illustration focusses a lot more on just the image and artwork. This would suggest that Ian Ward prefers to use imagery over text and graphics.
2. How many projects do you tend to work on at one time?
2 or 3 at a time.
I asked this question because I work on a few projects at a time at University so I was wondering if there was the same amount of pressure in the real world. Knowing this means that I can prepare myself appropriately for the work load and know the limit of how many things I can do at once.
3. How many days a week do you work?
5 days a week unless very busy.
It's interesting to know that an Illustrator works the same number of days as most other people in different jobs, and that they do occasionally work over time if there's a lot of work to do.
4. How many hours in a day do you work?
4 or 5 hours.
This is less hours than I was expecting. I find that working 7 hours (sometimes more) is a sufficient amount of time to work myself. I usually get into the flow of the work I am doing once I've been working for a few hours, so for me I would continue for a while after. Ian may work in a different way to myself and can get a lot done in those 4-5 hours.
5. What inspires you to do the sort of work you do?
Getting paid!
This is a very honest answer, and of course the main reason anyone works is to get paid. However, this gives the impression that Ian may not enjoy the work he does and he only does it to get paid.
6. Do you work from references or imagination?
Both, mostly reference.
It's very difficult to create pieces of work without any reference, I know that I reference quite a lot. I think it's important to reference from primary sources though as you can capture the exact image you are looking for. Secondary sources do not always provide you with exactly what you are looking for.
7. How did you initially promote your work when you first started as an
illustrator?
Cold calling followed by a posted leaflet!
I suppose this is the easiest way of getting your name into the industry when you first start out. Cold Calling is a great way of promoting yourself as other people are going to have to listen to you. People will take more notice of persistence and putting your work out there to be seen.
8. Are there any projects you wish you hadn’t done?
Not that I can think of.
This is interesting. Usually there's one piece of work that you really don't like or was really difficult to create. Ian must be very comfortable with his style and hasn't agreed to do projects that he wouldn't enjoy.
9. Do you mostly illustrate your own ideas or other people’s ideas?
Mostly my ideas.
This would explain why he is happy with the projects he has done as he hasn't had to really illustrate anything but his own ideas. Working as a Freelance Illustrator he doesn't really have to illustrate other peoples ideas.
10. What is your most preferred way to work?
Traditionally I suppose, but I should do more digital work.
Working digitally is becoming more and more popular. It's important to keep up with the times but I also think that working traditionally should not be abandoned. I prefer to work traditionally but to touch up the work digitally so that it's ready for printing. I think if you don't work digitally at all then you're kidding yourself because so many Illustrators are and it can make your work just that bit better.
Good luck!
Ian
My Email:
Dear Owen,
My name’s Lizzy Mason, I am currently in my second year studying Illustration at the University of Gloucestershire.
I have come across your work and I am very interested in your style.
I was wondering if you could take five minutes to answer a few questions about your practice as an established Illustrator.
5 projects can be quite a few projects to do at one time. There's a risk that a couple could fall behind as there are a lot of ideas to be generated for that number of projects.
I would assume that the number of days a week Owen works depends on the number of projects he's doing at that time. I think I would prefer to work 5 days a week, I think that's a sufficient amount of work time for a week and I would get quite a lot done.
4. Besides the actual illustrating, what other things do you have to do as a freelance illustrator?
Storyboards, concept visualising, marketing visuals, local festival posters
Owen does quite a few different things within the Illustration industry, not just illustrating. This shows how he industry is quite diverse and it can broaden your skills significantly.
It's great to see that Owen is influenced by a number of things in his work. This allows for more creative ideas and shows that he has a focus and themes that he enjoys.
I understand where Owen is coming from with preferring to work from imagination as you can really create something that hasn't been seen before. However, this is quite different to my chosen way to work. It really depends on an Illustrators individual style and their preferred way to work.
This is the trouble of taking on other peoples ideas to illustrate. They aren't always going to be something that you like doing but the idea of getting paid after it spurs you on to complete the work.
If someone has come to you with an idea to illustrate, it's because they've seen your work, like it and want their work to be done in the style. So as Owen has said, it's good to collaborate your own ideas with that of the customer, to make it your own and make it something you'll really enjoy doing.
It's nice to know that Owen still works with paints. As I've mentioned before it's good to use some digital work but traditional ways should not be forgotten about.
It's interesting finding out how established illustrators work. It isn't far different from how I work or the work I do at university. The only major difference is they're creating work for people or work to be sold, and I'm creating work for my degree. It's good to know that how I'm working at the moment is good preparation for when I've finished Uni and begin working in the real Illustration world.
References:
(1) Cezzar, Juliet.
Bibliography:
Cezzar, Juliet. What is Graphic Design? http://www.aiga.org/guide-whatisgraphicdesign/
It's interesting that not all Illustrators begin at Illustration but somehow end up there. Graphic Design "may include images, words, or graphic forms" (1) whereas Illustration focusses a lot more on just the image and artwork. This would suggest that Ian Ward prefers to use imagery over text and graphics.
2. How many projects do you tend to work on at one time?
2 or 3 at a time.
I asked this question because I work on a few projects at a time at University so I was wondering if there was the same amount of pressure in the real world. Knowing this means that I can prepare myself appropriately for the work load and know the limit of how many things I can do at once.
3. How many days a week do you work?
5 days a week unless very busy.
It's interesting to know that an Illustrator works the same number of days as most other people in different jobs, and that they do occasionally work over time if there's a lot of work to do.
4. How many hours in a day do you work?
4 or 5 hours.
This is less hours than I was expecting. I find that working 7 hours (sometimes more) is a sufficient amount of time to work myself. I usually get into the flow of the work I am doing once I've been working for a few hours, so for me I would continue for a while after. Ian may work in a different way to myself and can get a lot done in those 4-5 hours.
5. What inspires you to do the sort of work you do?
Getting paid!
This is a very honest answer, and of course the main reason anyone works is to get paid. However, this gives the impression that Ian may not enjoy the work he does and he only does it to get paid.
6. Do you work from references or imagination?
Both, mostly reference.
It's very difficult to create pieces of work without any reference, I know that I reference quite a lot. I think it's important to reference from primary sources though as you can capture the exact image you are looking for. Secondary sources do not always provide you with exactly what you are looking for.
7. How did you initially promote your work when you first started as an
illustrator?
Cold calling followed by a posted leaflet!
I suppose this is the easiest way of getting your name into the industry when you first start out. Cold Calling is a great way of promoting yourself as other people are going to have to listen to you. People will take more notice of persistence and putting your work out there to be seen.
8. Are there any projects you wish you hadn’t done?
Not that I can think of.
This is interesting. Usually there's one piece of work that you really don't like or was really difficult to create. Ian must be very comfortable with his style and hasn't agreed to do projects that he wouldn't enjoy.
9. Do you mostly illustrate your own ideas or other people’s ideas?
Mostly my ideas.
This would explain why he is happy with the projects he has done as he hasn't had to really illustrate anything but his own ideas. Working as a Freelance Illustrator he doesn't really have to illustrate other peoples ideas.
10. What is your most preferred way to work?
Traditionally I suppose, but I should do more digital work.
Working digitally is becoming more and more popular. It's important to keep up with the times but I also think that working traditionally should not be abandoned. I prefer to work traditionally but to touch up the work digitally so that it's ready for printing. I think if you don't work digitally at all then you're kidding yourself because so many Illustrators are and it can make your work just that bit better.
Good luck!
Ian
My Email:
Dear Owen,
My name’s Lizzy Mason, I am currently in my second year studying Illustration at the University of Gloucestershire.
I have come across your work and I am very interested in your style.
I was wondering if you could take five minutes to answer a few questions about your practice as an established Illustrator.
- How did you first get started in Illustration?
- How many projects do you tend to work on at one time?
- How many days a week do you work?
- Besides the actual illustrating, what other things do you have to do as a freelance illustrator?
- What inspires you to do the sort of work you do?
- Do you work from references or imagination?
- How did you initially promote your work when you first started as an illustrator?
- Are there any projects you wish you hadn’t done?
- Do you mostly illustrate your own ideas or other people’s ideas?
- What is your most preferred way to work?
Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my email and I hope to hear back from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Lizzy Mason
Owen's Reply:Hi,
Yours sincerely,
Lizzy Mason
Owen's Reply:Hi,
hope these answers help,
good luck in your studies.
Regards,
Owen
1. How did you first
get started in Illustration?
I studied graphic design in Uni but was put off by the tutors and it derailed me for a number of years. I carried on painting and drawing until a good friend left his job as a visualiser/storyboard artist in an ad agency and he recommended me.
It's interesting that Owen's university tutors had caused him to stray away from Graphic Design and he eventually found Illustration. This proves that is good to carry on drawing and painting even if there's a quiet period so that your skills do not drop and when the occasion does arise where there's a job opening then you're prepared to start straight away.
I studied graphic design in Uni but was put off by the tutors and it derailed me for a number of years. I carried on painting and drawing until a good friend left his job as a visualiser/storyboard artist in an ad agency and he recommended me.
It's interesting that Owen's university tutors had caused him to stray away from Graphic Design and he eventually found Illustration. This proves that is good to carry on drawing and painting even if there's a quiet period so that your skills do not drop and when the occasion does arise where there's a job opening then you're prepared to start straight away.
2. How many projects do you tend to work on at one
time?
When i'm actually working I can be working on between 1
and 5 project at one time.5 projects can be quite a few projects to do at one time. There's a risk that a couple could fall behind as there are a lot of ideas to be generated for that number of projects.
3. How many days a week do you work?
approx 4I would assume that the number of days a week Owen works depends on the number of projects he's doing at that time. I think I would prefer to work 5 days a week, I think that's a sufficient amount of work time for a week and I would get quite a lot done.
4. Besides the actual illustrating, what other things do you have to do as a freelance illustrator?
Storyboards, concept visualising, marketing visuals, local festival posters
Owen does quite a few different things within the Illustration industry, not just illustrating. This shows how he industry is quite diverse and it can broaden your skills significantly.
5. What inspires you to do the sort of work you do?
People, artists and other illustrators as well as
myths, legends, poetry etc.It's great to see that Owen is influenced by a number of things in his work. This allows for more creative ideas and shows that he has a focus and themes that he enjoys.
6. Do you work from references or imagination?
Both but prefer to work from my imagination and
it gives greater scope for creativityI understand where Owen is coming from with preferring to work from imagination as you can really create something that hasn't been seen before. However, this is quite different to my chosen way to work. It really depends on an Illustrators individual style and their preferred way to work.
7. How did you initially promote your work when you
first started as an illustrator?Cold calling. This is still the most effective
in getting yourself remembered. people like talking to actual people.
I agree with this. If you call a number of times people will become familiar with your name and will be able to discuss what you do and potential jobs over the phone, creating conversation. In emails or letters, the receiver doesn't have to and more than likely wont reply.
I agree with this. If you call a number of times people will become familiar with your name and will be able to discuss what you do and potential jobs over the phone, creating conversation. In emails or letters, the receiver doesn't have to and more than likely wont reply.
8. Are there any projects you wish you hadn’t done?
Oh yes, but I needed the moneyThis is the trouble of taking on other peoples ideas to illustrate. They aren't always going to be something that you like doing but the idea of getting paid after it spurs you on to complete the work.
9. Do you mostly illustrate your own ideas or other
people’s ideas?
Bit of both but it's usually a collaborationIf someone has come to you with an idea to illustrate, it's because they've seen your work, like it and want their work to be done in the style. So as Owen has said, it's good to collaborate your own ideas with that of the customer, to make it your own and make it something you'll really enjoy doing.
10. What is your most preferred way to work?
Painting with Acrylics and GouacheIt's nice to know that Owen still works with paints. As I've mentioned before it's good to use some digital work but traditional ways should not be forgotten about.
It's interesting finding out how established illustrators work. It isn't far different from how I work or the work I do at university. The only major difference is they're creating work for people or work to be sold, and I'm creating work for my degree. It's good to know that how I'm working at the moment is good preparation for when I've finished Uni and begin working in the real Illustration world.
References:
(1) Cezzar, Juliet.
Bibliography:
Cezzar, Juliet. What is Graphic Design? http://www.aiga.org/guide-whatisgraphicdesign/
