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Interview Answers
I was recently interviewed by a student who is in an illustration
program. I had a lot of fun answering her questions. I thought
maybe you would like to read it too.
INTERVIEW
Name:
Penelope Dullaghan (the g is silent)
Where did you study/attend school?
I moved around A LOT. I actually went to 3 colleges. But I
ended up getting my degree from University of Indianapolis.
When did you first start drawing? Any early influences?
I first started drawing when I was very young with my grandma.
She was an artist and painted. She taught me what texture
was and showed me brushes and paints. She encouraged me
to draw what I saw around me. I think I was 4 or 5.
I used to ask my mom to draw me things so I could color them.
One day I asked her to draw me a bunny and when she did I
laughed and said, "no, mom. here's how you draw a bunny."
She never drew anything for me again.
I was influenced by artists I read about in books. I copied
cartoons and watched how their shapes twisted as they
moved and tried to do the same things with my drawings.
I went to the library and borrowed "how to draw" books.
Are there any artists that you admire/appreciate/respect?
Oh yeah. I get huge crushes on artist. Some last a very
short while (Klimt) and other last years on end (Frida Kahlo,
Amedeo Modigliani, etc). Right now I'm really into Paul Klee.
I love reading about their lives and how they thought...
how they did things...what influenced them. I'm also really
into Mexican art. Retablos. Wow, they're incredible. Each artist
I fall in love with teaches me something new. From Klimt I
learned how to use intricate pattern. From Kahlo it was how
to be strong and live through things. From Modigliani it was
form and texture, and from retablos it was story telling. I love
learning about art. There's just so much to know.
Can you describe your creative process? Where do you
start and how do you know when you are finished with an
illustration?
I usually draw from my head. I have a pretty good idea about
what I want to communicate with an illustration. If it's something
I've never drawn before I usually research how it looks. Say, a
lilly...I don't know off hand what that flower looks like so I'll look
it up. And then do my interpretation of that. I start with a pencil
sketch. Then I use pen and ink to go over my sketch. Then I
use color. Watercolor and gouache usually. But I also use colored
pencil and oil pastel. I kind of just know when the illustration is
complete. I just look at it and know that if I add or take away
I will like it less. Then, I'm done.
Where do you seek inspiration for your work?
I watch people. People are interesting. That's why I like to draw
them a lot. I am also inspired by the artists I research. I go to
the library a lot, looking at old WWII posters and psychdelic art...
a lot of different thigns. You can learn from every genre, I think.
I also get inspiration from attending art shows in my city. I love
to see what other people are doing and ask them about their work.
Do you feel that you have a philosophy that you use
in your work? If so, can you please explain?
My philosophy is just communication. Illustration is not just drawing
things you see. (sometimes it is) But there's usually an idea you
want to get across. So I try to tie ideas together to communicate
one idea. Is that philosophy? I'm not sure.
How would you describe your personal artistic style?
I would describe my artistic style as light hearted and evolving.
I'm going through a time right now where I'm here one moment
and two jumps ahead in the next. I recently quit my day job to
pursue illustration full time and it's changing me. Changing the
way I do things and think about things. It's strange to know
you're evolving. So, I'll answer this question more stably in a
year or two.
What do you find to be the most frustrating part of being
an illustrator?
Quoting prices is the most frustrating part. I hate talking money.
I'd rather just give my stuff away. But then I wouldn't be able to
pay my mortgage. I'm good at the keeping track of invoices and
billing, just not talking about how much it costs. I don't want to
charge too much. But I also don't want to undersell myself by
not charging enough. But it's getting easier with time.
Another frustrating thing is not having anyone to bounce my
ideas off of. It's kind of difficult to know where you are and how
you're doing when you're isolated. I'm battling this by forming
an illustrators group in my city. We've been meeting for lunch
once a month and I really look forward to it. We talk about issues
we're dealing with, get feedback on our work and just talk shop.
It's a really great thing.
What do you find to be the most rewarding part of being
an illustrator?
I love creating. Plain and simple. I love to draw. I love to express
ideas visually. I love to see what spills out of my pen on any
given day. And I love being my own boss. (although I'm way
harder on myself than any boss ever was. My husband calls
me a work-a-holic. And he's probably right).
I also love being a venue for others to express their creativity, too.
I recently started Illustration Friday, where I post a topic each Monday
and whoever wants to participate has till Friday to come up with their
own interpretation of that topic. It's awesome to see a creative
community forming. And to feel like you belong somewhere. I do fun
stuff like costume contests and advent calendars just to try to get
people to used their creativity. I feel so blessed that people participate.
What is your preferred medium for your illustrations?
I used pen and ink and watercolor and gouache on paper mainly.
What is the one tool that you couldn't live without?
Good paper. Good paper makes all the difference in the world.
Don't skimp on paper.
Any new tools/ that you are coveting?
Yes, I've been hearing about a Gocco machine. It allows you to
do small print runs in your studio (no printer involved). I'd like to
try that. I also want to take a silk screening class. I did long ago
and loved it. I hear you can do it at home...but I have no space!
I'd also like to get every ink color under the sun. I buy about one
a month, but I want them all now. (patience is not a virtue I come
by naturally, can you tell?)
Do you use any Digital Illustration or Design programs? If so,
which ones?
I can do digital illustration. And I have done so for some projects,
but I prefer to work traditionally. I am very skilled in Illustrator
and Photoshop (due to my background in advertising), and I need
those programs for scanning my work. Recently I've been playing
with added textures and things with photoshop. Not sure how I'm
feeling about that yet.
How do you feel your web presence affects your work?
I think a web presence is necessity. Potential clients can
easily see what my work is like by checking out my online
portfolio. Aside from that I love being challenged to come up
with new illustrations for Illustration Friday. I love pushing
myself to do better, for myself, but also to encourage other people
that they can do the same thing. Being on the web helps me
communicate and reach out to others. I love that. I've met some
really good friends online and they encourage me, which helps
my work.
Do you have any advice for art/design/illustration students?
I would advise students to learn all you can while in school.
Take every class that you think is even remotely interesting?
including non-art related classes. The more you learn about
the world, the better illustrator you are. It's ideas. Go to art
shows, participate in group shows, see movies, read books
and if you can, TRAVEL. I wish I would have gone overseas
in school. But I moved so much I was never able to take
part in those programs.
Oh, and I'd advise forming an art group. You can learn so
much from other people...bouncing ideas off each other
and collaborating.
Come to think of it, that's good advice for people not in
school too. And for myself. You can always learn and grow.
Ever evolving.
Comments
Thank you!
ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY LAUNCH!
Ta Da! Illustration Friday is here! I'm really excited
about it because it's so much more than what I could
offer here on my site.
It's so easy to use thanks to the very wonderful Brianna
who coded the entire thing and was so patient with my
many requests. HUGE THANKS TO BRIANNA!
A few site features:
- There is a links bar with all the participants' links
visible throughout the entire site.
- Thought of a good topic suggestion? There's a easy
form to fill out to deliver it straight to me.
- You can sign up for the email notifications to have the
week's topic delivered directly to your inbox.
- There are two buttons to choose from to put on your
site, linking back to Illustration Friday.
- There is an easy way to donate to Illustration Friday
if you'd like to show your support. It's through paypal,
so you can donate as little or as much as you'd like
(thank you very much!).
- And one of my favorite features: The Art Forum.
This is a new online discussion forum meant to help
create a creative community. You can get feedback,
ask questions, or just chat about anything creative
there. Read more about it on the "about" page.
And then go introduce yourself. :-)
Okay, so go check it out! Seriously, before my excited
little head explodes. The new topic for this week is posted
there already, just a-waitin' for ya.
***
One more thing to note: See that red button on the left
that says "Holiday Gift Tags"? Click it. I did up some
free holiday tags for you to use on your gifts this year,
if you'd like. I'm planning on using them on mine.
Hooray for Illustration Friday!
Illustration Friday: Cling
I know it's super duper mega way early, but I'm
going out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday
and won't be able to post on Friday. But this
may be good for everyone else who's leaving too.
My cling interpretation came from imagining what
my family's holiday will be like: a circus.
Let's see your "cling"!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everybody.
Cheers,
p
Pathetic Sketch Crawl
On Sunday I had every intention to participate in the
Sketch Crawl I'd been hearing about. C wanted to
participate as well. (For him it'd be a write crawl...
have I ever mentioned he's a writer?) Anyway, yes,
back to Sunday. We had every intention of joining in.
We'd even named it a little differently for us, seeing
as it was a sketch/write crawl. We called it the "Skite
Crawl". But then the advent calendar idea hit with a
whirlwind force and I got seriously sidetracked with
that and we only went out for part of the afternoon.
And we only went to one place. (See? I said it was
pathetic.) We ended up leaving the first spot and just
driving around because the weather was crappy and
we couldn't sit outside. But we got some good
country driving in...peeked at the backside of a giant
billboard, saw 20 basketball posts lined up, noticed
straight blackened weeds perking up out of a golden
field. It ended up being a nice day even if our mission
was lost.
See my drawings above. My. three. drawings.
Ah well, next time. Right?
***
The Advent Calendar has been a great success. You
should see all the awesome illos I got for it. Ooh...
but you'll have to wait. One per day in December.
Sorry I got your hopes worked up. (smile)
All the 25 slots are filled. But I am still open to more
illustrations if you want to keep sending. I think I will
do another page of illustrations beyond the calendar.
So keep on sending them, friends.
***
This is turning out to be the blog of odds and ends.
Here's the last thing I wanted to mention:
Anyone living in the Indianapolis area who gets (or
picks up) The Star: Look at the Classified section.
You can see all the fat turkeys I was hired to illustrate
for a little contest they're running. They're funny.
Advent Calendar: A Collaborative 2004 Project
I still feel like it's a little early to be talking about the
holidays. I haven't even begun to think of what I want
to give this year.
But you have to start thinking about it this early if you
want to do an advent calendar. You know...those fun
things that give you a new treat everyday until the big day?
I love those. I was thinking about how to have some fun
with this year's advent calendar when it hit me...Let's do
a collaborative one!
See that button over there on the right? Yeah, click it.
Read all about it.
If you're game, start thinking up a holiday illustration you'd
like to include for this year's collaborative project. But
remember there's only 25 slots, so they may fill up fast.
There are...let's see...10 or so days before the first and I
need an illustration for that day. (If I don't get one in time,
I'll do one myself, don't worry.)
I think this could be a lot of fun and leave us with a beautiful
advent calendar when it's all said and done. Yay! Join the fun!
p.s. Size regulations and stuff is all there if you click
the button on the right. Just scroll down a bit.
***
The next Illustration Friday topic, suggest by Kate
is "Cling".
The new Illustration Friday site is almost done. I pinky swear!
We may be able to post our links to that this Friday. I will
keep you posted!
Illustration Friday: Regal
Behold, the crown of bubbles!
Let's see what you have for "regal".
***
p.s. I'm posting a little early this time because I'm taking
the evening off. Next week we should be able to use the
new site. Hip hip! I'll make sure you know. Sign up for my
newsletter if you want me to email you when it's done!
First Review
I think I mentioned before that I wrote a kids book
and illustrated sample pages a while back. It's been
sitting on a shelf in my studio, completely neglected
lately because I've been so busy. But today it gets its
first review.
My sister is going to school to be a teacher and is
in the student teaching phase right now. She's going
to read my story aloud to her kids and have them
illustrate it for themselves. She said she'd give me
the drawings and write down what the kids think
of the story. (That way I can improve it or change
it if I need to.)
And I'm really excited to see all the kids' drawings.
I love art by kids. There's nothing holding them back.
If they feel like hair should be green, then by god,
the hair is green. Fingers are giant pointy lines and
eyes are saucers with scribbly pupils. I can dig it.
I can't wait to see what they do with my story!
Doodles of Gratitude
On the top of my list of fun things to do is doodling.
It just feels good to draw loosely and let whatever
happens happen. A lesson in letting go maybe.
Also, my old thought that if you're having a bad day
or in a rough mood, it's good to do a quick list off
the top of your head of what you're grateful for.
Here's mine:
Holiday cards
I don't know if you've already seen them or not,
but the lovely Christine is selling some holiday
cards she created. They are splenified!
Check them out here!
***
The new Illustration Friday site is almost done. I think
it will launch at the end of this week, beginning of next.
Hooray! So, this week, let's still use my site like we
have been doing. (Love all the wonderful illustrations,
by the way!)
The next Illustration Friday topic, chosen by Hope
is "Regal".
Illustration Friday: Vintage
Here's my illustration for "vintage". I fashioned it after
those cool vintage posters with bold colors and fun type.
Let's see what you got!
10 Ways in which I am a Nerd
by Dorky-lope
1. I just got a new mouse because my old one made
my blood pressure rise everyday to the point that
I wanted to to throw the mouse across the room,
cursing and stomping on it. And I AM JUST SO HAPPY
WITH MY NEW ONE! Why did I wait so long to
replace it?!
2. I walk into art supply stores and promptly start
sniffing really loud. (I try to take in all the sharpened
pencil and fresh paper smells with one whiff.)
3. Purchasing a new ink color to use makes me
happier than going to Disneyland.
4. I sometimes save scrap papers I've used as blotters
because I think they're pretty.
5. Last night I kissed a book because it taught me
something new...something new like the difference
between a sedimentary and a transparent colors.
6. I like to blow my nose REALLY LOUD in restaurants
and bookstores. I can silence a room with this schnoz.
7. I think any kind of ledger where you fill in the
little spaces made up of thin lines are lovely.
8. I say things like Holy Night! and Holy Macaroni!
9. I wear bright pink miniskirts over my jeans
because I think it's cool (and secretly I love getting
weird looks from suit-wearers).
10. I collect stamp letter sets.
And you thought you were bad...
***
p.s. On a completely serious note: everyone who
commented on yesterday's post or sent me an
email...Thank you so much. It's so nice to feel like
other people get it.
Push
Before I quit my day job, I would talk about my plans
with certain people. And I'd say things like "sure, I realize
that everyday won't be perfect...that I'll still have bad
days occasionally." But in my heart I didn't believe it.
I know that now. What I really thought was "Hey, I'll
be living my dream, so what could possibly go wrong?"
That was foolish.
Of course there are still bad days. Days where I don't feel
like doing anything creative. Illustrating seems difficult
and I can't seem to get anything good on paper. When
answering emails asking for quotes and estimates feels
like pulling hens teeth. Days when it feels pointless and
directionless.
Thankfully those days are pretty few and far between.
But they do happen. I want everyone who is considering
going out on their own to know that. It probably won't
settle in really...but please keep that in mind. I wish I had.
I had one of those days about a week ago. And it's haunting
me still. I wasn't sure if I wanted to talk about it here, because
I am a little ashamed of my reaction...but I thought that if I'm
going through this, then somebody else is probably going
through something similar. And maybe I can help them.
You see, a little while ago I learned that there was a new
gallery opening in my city. And I wanted to be a part of it.
I knew they wanted to show a lot of illustration...more
accurately, I knew they were going to show a lot of illustrators
I respect and admire. So I emailed the owner and talked with
him about joining. And it came down to us both kind of realizing
that I wasn't ready. My stuff wasn't in the right vein right now.
And that was a huge blow for me. I felt like I wasn't good
enough.
I shut down my computer, took the phone off the hook,
laid down on my bed and cried. I wasn't there yet. He
knew it. I knew it. And it hurt.
I eventually called my brother and explained the situation.
I told him that I felt sheepish for my reaction, but I didn't
think to do anything else. We talked about it for a while
and then I realized what really happened: I had another goal
pop up. And I didn't like it. Learning and growing is sometimes
painful. At least for me, it is. I want to be where I am. But I
can't seem to do that. My road constantly evolving and changing.
After I had that shift in perspective and realized that this
rejection wasn't necessarily a bad thing, that it was simply
another goal to shoot for, I felt better. Because I can deal
with goals. I know that I'll eventually get there. I'll work my
ass off for it if I have to. And I will...
So, ever since that ordeal, I've put a reminder in a place
where I can see it everyday. Right there on my to do list.
I wrote the word "push". Push my limits. Push my comfort
zone. Push to do better. When I do a sketch, I ask myself
what I can do to push it a little. Different perspective?
Different ink? Something I can add or maybe take away?
Push.
COSTUME CONTEST WINNERS!
Well, folks, we have some winners. Four to be exact.
Each of the judges said the same thing: it was really
hard to decide because there were so many fantastic
costumes! But they managed to narrow it down to
four. There is a first place for real. A first place for
illustrated. And two runners up. So here goes:
Drum roll......
#1 in the real category goes to John May for el virus
and flu shot!
Next is the #1 place for illustrated. That goes to
Jessica Poundstone for her Alexander Calder costume!
And the first runner up is Jennifer Aston for her
sock monkey baby costume!
And lastly, the second runner up is Popeye and Spinach,
submitted by Becky Harvey!
Congratulations to the winners. I'll be sending you an
email shortly to gather addresses for the prizes.
Thank you, also to everyone who submitted a costume.
It was lots of fun to see what you came up with!
Thank you also to the nice-as-pie judges, who had this
terribly difficult job:
Christine, Danny, Kate, and Lori!
Oh weekend, where did you go? I spent a lot of the
weekend working on the new site design. I think I'm
done. Until I open the files today, I'm sure and see
10 things I want to change again. Can we never be
satisfied, lady?! (sigh) But I think you're going to like
it. I hope I hope.
The chill of fall is here and I've been content getting
reacquainted with sweaters I'd forgotten I had. All
the neighbors were raking their leaves this weekend
and it smelled so good. The little girl, Maggie, next
door was jumping in them and laughing her head off.
I love that sound. We took the more lazy approach
to the leaves and just buzzed through them with the
lawn mower.
This weekend I also found myself at the library. I got
lost in the art books for a couple of hours. Looking
at paintings from Picasso's blue period. Studying the
abstract splatters of DeKooning and Pollack. Picking
up El Greco books and wondering if the thing about
the cataracts is true. It was nice. I ended up getting
some books on Japanese pattern design and mexican
votive paintings (my new love). I always learn new
things when I pick up these books.
Time to start the week. Good morning, world.
***
The next Illustration Friday topic, chosen by Satu
is "Vintage".
Illustration Friday: Search
I'm searching for some other Illustration Friday entries!
Whatdaya got?
***
In case you haven't heard. Illustration Friday is getting
its own site (illustrationfriday.com). Coming very very
soon. There will be lots of fun stuff there. Stay tuned.
All the entries for the costume contest are in and posted.
Go check them out HERE. Please be patient though...there
are a lot to load.
Soon, they'll be peeked at by our contest judges and the
winners will be posted.
They all look so great! Thank you to everyone who participated.
Get out there and Vote!
***
Also: today is the last day to turn in your costume for
the contest. After today it's too late!
We had fun passing out candy to the little beans who
knocked on the door last night. We dress up every
year to do so, play scary music in the background and
light all the candles in the house. Spppooooky!
Bigger kids love it. Smaller kids are a little frightened
until I smile and talk in my normal voice. This year I was
a witch, cackling at the kids and calling them "my pretties"
and Colin was a scary army dude. We passed out caramel
eyeballs.
Check out our costumes:
***
The judging for the Costume Contest is happening very soon!
Tomorrow is the final day for entry submissions. So all you
procrastinators get busy!
Check out all the entries so far: Surprise Me!
***
In even bigger news...Illustration Friday is going so well I've
decided to dedicate an entire site to it. The magnificent
Brianna is helping me code it. Thank you so very much,
Brianna! So stay tuned for that...
Also the next Illustration Friday topic, chosen by Diane (no url)
is "Search".
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© Penelope Illustration. Stealing
is not nice. |
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