Interview with Chantal Bennett [chantal] on Whohub

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What is your specialty in illustration?

Ink and watercolour. My style is mostly children's books and fantasy themes.
Visit my portfolio: www.chantalbennett.com

Have you completed formal art studies, or are you self-taught?

I am currently studying in NYC at Parsons New School of Design in the Illustration program, but I'm transferring next semester to the School of Visual Arts.
I had several years of art training behind me before moving to New York, including fine arts and animation. But eventually I realized that I didn't want to be chained to a light table and that illustration was my true calling.

How did you get your first full assignment? What did it involve?

My first assignment came as a surprise. The Canadian Museum of Currency found my website and was looking for someone to illustrate an entire museum exhibit about the Hudson Bay Company. I created something like 33 drawings and it was really fun to see them blown up, cut out and mounted on foamboard in the exhibit. It was a lot of work and really fun...but it was my first job and I didn't get paid nearly enough!

What past or present day illustrators do you admire most?

I'm very much influenced by the Golden Age Illustrators: Rackham, Dulac, Nielsen, Wyeth, Larssen, etc.
As for present day illustrators, I love Alan Lee, John Howe, Yvonne Gilbert, Rebecca Guay, Pat Cummings, The Dillons, Ruth Sanderson, Joel Kimmel. There are too many to name, really.

How similar are your current drawings to those you did as a child?

Not at all similar. I only became interested in mythology, victorian and fantasy themes in my teens, and back then did not have the technical know-how to translate the vision into the finished product. But I did try and I like to think that I'm almost there.

What was your favorite comic book as a child?

Elfquest! I really wish they had made that film.

Do you have a particular style, or does it vary a lot?

I'm pretty consistent with ink and watercolour. My watercolour style varies from sometimes very painterly with no outlines to outlining with ink. I guess I've developed an acrylic style as well for the commissions I've been getting recently.

What is hardest to draw?

Feet! I constantly have to take pictures of my boyfriend's feet in various positions because I can never fake it.

What type of music do you listen to while you work?

My boyfriend Joel and I are always working at the same time in the same space so we listen to live streams from Triple J (radio in Australia), hip hop, britpop, classical music, etc. We're all over the place when it comes to music because it really depends what mood we're in.

Do you have a favorite work of art?

I have so many favourites; it's hard to choose just one. I love mostly all of my favourite illustrators' work, but one in particular I'm thinking of right now is Andrew Wyeth's "The Witching Hour". I love the moodiness of the piece and the subtle supernatural implications.

What new techniques have you been experimenting with lately?

Sculpey and fabric. I've been doing a lot of 3D stuff lately that has been super fun.

What part of your work do you do on paper and what part digitally?

The only digital part of my work is when I scan in the physical piece and colour-correct it. I don't use the computer for anything else.

What research do you do for your illustrations?

Since I love costumes, I collect Dover books on historical fashion. They are a LIFESAVER. Really, really useful. I also collect books on landscapes, gardens, animals, birds and basically whatever I can find. I also use Flickr, Getty Images and Google image search quite a bit. I have a ton of bookmarked websites that I've come across with interesting high-res images.

Do you have colleagues with whom you share techniques, tricks, ideas, etc.?

My boyfriend Joel Kimmel is also an illustrator so we are constantly sharing ideas and art supplies.

Do you have any specific goals as an illustrator?

My ideal career path would be to illustrate books and children's books and make enough money to live comfortably doing solely that. But I'm realistic and know that I have to keep my options open so I'm basically willing to do anything.

What illustration web sites do you frequent?

I read a few illustrator blogs, but I'm not big on illustration websites because I'm too competitive and the work doesn't really interest me that much.

What are you working on now?

A giant 3x4 drawing of the Tuatha de Danann (Celtic folklore). I'm also working on a picture-book dummy called "The Proud Princess".

What advice do you have for someone who likes to draw and would like to make a living from it?

If you can, move and go to art school in New York. I am born and raised in Ontario, Canada and in my experience, you just cannot get started in illustration or make a living at it there (when first starting out). Make some contacts, go to illustration events, try to get your work up to a professional standard. I think of my work in terms of my competition: I'm competing with my favourite illustrators so my work has to be on par with theirs or better.
Also, a certain entrepreneurial spirit is needed to be an artist so if you're not ready to struggle and hustle a bit, then this career may not be for you.

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