Interview with:Robert Young [pixelspencil]
ILLUSTRATION
 | What is your specialty in illustration? Portraits at the moment but I do like to draw abstract things from my imagination too |
| What are your regular clients like? What do they expect from you? I don't really have a client list but I do have a small following on my Facebook page and people often converse with me on there. I also have an online store with my partner who also illustrates. We have sold a few pieces since the store was set up last year. |
| Is there a web address where we can see some of your work? |
| Have you completed formal art studies, or are you self-taught? My creativity stems from a young age when I used to pick up anything that could make a mark on paper. I have developed my creative skills starting with Fine Art in higher education and progressing to my degree subject, Graphic Design, in 2002. After graduating I pursued web/interactive design and code – I neglected my drawing for years! I feel stupid for doing that… if you see some of my old stuff from 1998 you would curse me… I’m trying to get back to my old standard!
The end of 2010 alot of bad stuff happened to me and it kind of kicked my ass back in to drawing… I got told I could lose the use of my left arm off the back of a bad cycling accident in which I tore my Rotator Cuff 3 places, the main chunk of muscles and tendons that control the movement of your arm and parts of your shoulder. That was a massive warning to get back in to drawing. Shortly after the accident my Grandfather passed away due to ill health. Both these bad things became a huge catalyst to get back in to my natural talent… and in doing so helped me deal with the pain at the time of both incidents. |
| What past or present day illustrators do you admire most? My drawing/illustration style is heavily influenced by Rolf Harris, Brian Wood, Ashley Wood, Mike Mignola, Frank Miller, Humberto Ramos, John Romita Jr, Jim Mahfood, Skottie Young, Will Barras, Duncan Jago (Mr. Jago) and many others. I dream of earning a living drawing :) |
| How similar are your current drawings to those you did as a child? Very different and stylized. |
| What was your favorite comic book as a child? Spiderman |
| Do you have a particular style, or does it vary a lot? My style tends to change from time to time but I am working on lots of portraits lately and these are very stylized, I have been working this way for over a year now. |
| What is hardest to draw? I find it hard to draw from eye, observational drawing. I have erase and go over pencils before I start inking or taking a piece forward. That said I do love to draw with Bic/Biro because any mistakes you make stay and cannot be erased so you have to roll with the errors. |
| What type of music do you listen to while you work? Various depends on the mood. Hip hop, Acoustic, Chill, Indie and many more... I have a many different tastes in music. |
| Do you have a favorite work of art? No really although I do appreciate lots of different work from the artist's Picasso, Dali, Braque and Gaudi. My favourite art movement is Cubism. |
| What new techniques have you been experimenting with lately? Drafting out my pieces in very hard pencil, grade H and then slowly working more detail then working with fineliners and making each piece in striking black and white with simple lines for shading. |
| What part of your work do you do on paper and what part digitally? Majority of the work is done with pencil, fineliners and paper, once a piece is finished I will scan it in and artwork it to make the shading darker and clean up any dirt of the image and then a small amount of prints made to sell on http://www.papermarks.co.uk |
| What research do you do for your illustrations? Most of my past work is from mind but since I have been working on portraits I use google alot to find images I think will make a good piece. Some times I approach people (famous persons) and ask if they mind me making a piece on them and most of the time they provide an image to use, so far no complaints, all have been happy with final piece. |
| Do you have colleagues with whom you share techniques, tricks, ideas, etc.? Only my partner. If anyone asks via my website or other websites I am on I will do my best to answer any questions. I do get a few on Facebook and most people find it weird that I reply back but I just love talking and hearing from people and like to hear their thoughts and questions. |
| Do you have any specific goals as an illustrator? I love hearing what people think about my work both positive and negative as it makes me improve me and my work. I would love to make a living out of my art. |
| What illustration web sites do you frequent? |
| What are you working on now? I have been invited to participate in two exhibitions this year, one in Paris and one in Barcelona. I have to work on 6 'secret' pieces, 3 for each exhibition. These will all be on sale, the first originals I will be selling.
I also have two entries in The Sketchbook Project, one has been completed and sent off and the other blank sketchbook is on it's way to me. These will both be touring around the world and then remain in Brooklyn, New York. |
| What advice do you have for someone who likes to draw and would like to make a living from it? Keep practicing and share your work on platforms that suit you best. I have tried to get many different websites updated with my latest work and it is driving traffic to my website and hopefully my work is getting out there.
You may notice I watermark my finished pieces and this is mainly my preference, I had work stolen in the past so placing watermarks on my work gives me peace of mind. I know there are people out there who can remove this but many people know my style of work and I still have all the originals. |
| 
271 visits Whohub
Robert Young
London England
|
95743 interviews created
![[pixelspencil] Robert Young](http://www.whohub.com/_pics/93037.jpg?1337671836)
INVITE YOUR FRIENDS