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What made you want to become an
illustrator, how did you get started?
I’ve always had a flair for art and I’ve
been drawing continuously since I
was six years old. I started illustrating
more seriously during my studies at
Wolverhampton University, where I read
graphic design. I was given a graphic
tablet by a friend and once I picked it
up - I couldn’t put it down. I started
to push myself after mastering the
basics. Soon after, I was able to find my
own digital style. As my technique and
artwork improved - so did my workload
and demand.
How would you describe your style
and your approach to the work you
do?
Well...at the core of everything, I’m a
massive nerd - the ultimate fanboy. I
read uncountable amounts of comics;
my room has towers of them 10 feet
high! Since childhood, I can always
remember being fascinated with the
characters and stories shown on Fox
Kids TV - Spiderman and X-men being
my favourites. As I grew older, movies
such as Gremlins and The Goonies
were always stuck on repeat. Creative
stories have always unboxed my
own imagination, and this reflects in
my work. Being able to illustrate my
fictional heroes is a dream come true.
Drawing the characters I’ve always
loved, and working within the fictional
world, means I enjoy what I do more -
further fuelling my passion.
Favourite project you’ve ever
worked on?
The very first Blade Runner themed
THREADS box - for sure my favourite
design piece. I’m a massive fan of the
movie. I rewatched the original and chose
some of the less iconic features, such
as the owl with the robotic eye. Using
these elements, I was able to create a
composition I was the most proud of.
What skills do the best
illustrators possess?
Having a creative eye is the most
important thing. I think you need to
dedicate a lot of time to the layout
and the individual imagery of the work
- every element of the picture must
stand out. Create good graphic flows,
think outside the box, and take an
original and distinctive approach to the
drawing. Ken Taylor and Dan Mumford
are both great examples of amazing
illustrators – they’re artistic heroes
of mine. These guys can pick things
out others don’t see, they push the
boundaries.
How would you describe your own
particular style?
I guess my style, is just my style! Of
course, I take lots of inspiration from
other artists and seeing great work
sends my own creative sparks flying
- it can alter my own way of thinking.
It reflects in my imagery. Everyone’s
own style comes from the way they
see the world. My illustrative aesthetic
could probably be described as comic-
inspired. Detailed yet simplistic, smooth
with basic line designs.
Super-Héroïnes P13
@the_zbox
Q : Quels sont les Films/Séries Télé/
Comics/Jeux que vous adoreriez
illustrer ?
R
: Pour les films, « Braindead » de
Peter Jackson ou alors « Fight Club »,
simplement parce que ce sont deux de
mes films préférés au monde ! Et puis
Star Wars bien sûr !
Pour la télé en ce moment ça serait
« Ash vs the Evil Dead ». Phénoménal !
En général j’adore la franchise
« Evil Dead », il y a tellement d’horribles
images viscérales pour m’inspirer !
E comics, n’importe quoi par Garth
Ennis ! Cet homme a des intrigues
uniques, ça serait incroyable de
travailler avec quelque chose qui lui
passe entre les mains.
Pour les jeux, je suis obligé de répondre
« GTA Vice City », ce jeu a une place très
spéciale dans le cœur des gens de mon
âge !
Q : Si l’argent n’é ait plus un
obstacle, quel serait-votre projet
de rêve ?
R
: Donc je choisis ce que je e x !? Je
crois que je vais placer la barre bien
bas… J’adorerais travailler pour une
c pagnie qui produ t d s nanar , eux
qui sortent direct ment en DVD, ça
serait incroyable ! Vous savez, au t mps
où ils ortaient en casset e en nombre
limité. C’est dommage que certains de
ces films ne soient pas plus reconnus
qu’ils le sont, c’est bien mieux que les
films poubelle d’Hollywood ! Donc oui,
j’imagine que le ridicule de ce genre de
films me donnerait beaucoup de matière
pour créer et faire des dessins bien
cools !
ARTWORK FINAL