Reader, Meet Author (Continued)
11-04-2011
I am fascinated by most aspects of visual art but have been specifically interested in book illustration for as long as I remember. I specifically recall being drawn in by the illustrations of Quentin Blake, adding outrageous and child-like dimension to Roald Dahl’s amazing stories. Ever since then, I took to writing and illustrating my own works. Along the way, I invented characters, tried various mediums and even composed soundtracks in case any works would spawn film versions.
My first work was a collection of tales charting the adventures of an anthropomorphic egg and his friend, a boy who wears a fez on his head and calls himself, ‘The Owner’ – I was so into the idea of creating a book in its entirety, that I would rip out the pages of an exercise book and crudely staple them back together to create the latest edition of ‘The Egg.’ As I recall, I wrote and illustrated well over a hundred of them. The adventures would range from relaxing and uneventful picnics in the countryside with Mr Rhubarb, to head churning rollercoaster rides while simultaneously fighting dragons with rotating blades for teeth.
I was educated and self-trained in England, my country of birth. I am from Great Yarmouth originally but the nearest city, Norwich has been more of a home to me recently. Norwich is a historical city which also satisfies my long lasting interest in English and European Medieval history. Some of my works have been influenced by this period in the past. I am now in the process of returning to this artistic subject, although I also concentrate on contemporary life in UK and also in India, where I am currently based.
While studying Art all those years ago at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, I was introduced to some interesting new techniques as well as Art events such as the Turner Prize held at the Tate Gallery. College Trips to London were greatly anticipated and I became quite partial to modern art. However, my startling unfinished painting of a building on Great Yarmouth Seafront was not very well received.
When I went on to study Media and Film at degree level, I became quite attached to graphic design while working on a movie poster for one project we worked on. This was a favoured area after dabbling in radio production, slide show production as well as video and audio editing. This was the point I started to mix freehand illustrations with graphic design. These days, I remain very passionate about graphic design and this medium plays an important part in my work today.
After graduating from University, I started to create CD cover artwork for various underground London based bands, as well as playing keyboards and gigging regularly on the London circuit. My strong interest in playing music added great impetus into my CD Cover designs.
Once I got a new PC of my own however, with Photoshop and PhotoStudio, I began to concentrate on a brand new area of fascination: Comic Book production, specifically for use of graphics and adding colour electronically.
Puchi-Cat became my first graphic novella – This charts the highs and lows of a warrioress who aids the re-settlement of refugees in a parallel universe.
I have had most success, having some of my cartoons published in local newspapers in the UK and for creating some animation sequences, more notably for Chris Woz, a Magician who appears on Sky 2.
More recently, I displayed a collection of graphic illustration prints at The Centre Of Visual Arts at the Habitat Centre, New Delhi [See Galleries/Shows]. My Diwali Peacock received a lot of positive feedback, as did my collection of works depicting the Commonwealth Games 2011 in Delhi. I have since created postcards based on these designs and other images conveying more recently held sporting events in India such as the ICC World Cup 2011. I have also created postcards depicting street scenes in India and will release my Diwali Peacock as a Diwali themed Postcard later this year.
In addition, I‘m also a keen musician, in awe of popular music in all forms. There is one song in particular called ‘Once In A Lifetime’ by Talking Heads, which I always think about from time to time, especially when I find myself pondering the absurdities of the cosmos and such like. The song has an existential mood and concentrates on the premise of sacrificing youthful ideals. The lead vocalist, David Byrne proclaims, ‘You may find yourself’... ‘in a beautiful house’ ... ‘in another part of the world’ ...’living in a shotgun shack’ ... etc etc. The idea that we are not in control of our lives is bang on. I mean seven years ago when I was house sharing with ex University pals somewhere near Ilford in East London, sitting in my mate Dave's room listening to Industrial music and eating straight from a Chinese takeaway carton, the idea that within a decade, I would be married, living in India and bringing up a child who can speak Hindi better than I can, would have seemed utterly ludicrous. However, wherever, however you find yourself, it doesn’t mean you have to let go of the things which make you tick. Simply put, even if I find myself living alone as an alpaca farmer in a remote part of Peru, I will always find myself examining my situation and working on creating a graphic novel conveying the memoirs of... Well, an alpaca farmer in a remote part of Peru.
While I have had to continue working in Accounts to support my family (because that’s where the work has been!), my fascination with graphic novels, cartoons and graphic design has always stayed with me like a reliable ally. The thing is, it can only really make you a living if you have a good idea, a unique style and some enterprising savvy which captivates people enough for them to spend part of their hard earned. Even if you never make it in the field you want to work in, keep it as a strong interest – This will ensure your less preferred area of work doesn’t eat up the real you... *All the best* – Paul
