Reforma Interview
REFORMA - Mexican Newsaper
Interview by José de Jesús Pacheco Vela
Today, there’s a growing interest in collecting and admiring original artwork that was used as illustrations in books, magazines, posters, etc. Museum exhibitions, magazines and art galleries have devoted space to illustration. What do you think about it?
The growing interest in illustration is because the general population sees it more and more frequently through entertainment and advertising and it is art they can understand that often has a nostalgic quality.
I think it’s great when a culture can appreciate art and creativity. It’s a way of accepting progress and recognizing an individual’s unique contributions and qualities.
The aim of an illustration is to elucidate or decorate textual information by providing a visual representation. But you have developed a personal style, achieving that the visual matter has independent life. Was that something that you looked for?
Illustration plays various roles depending on its intended usage. For example, an editorial illustration reinforces the point of view of the article and is another way to represent information. Just by looking at image, the reader can quickly decide if they are interested and willing to invest the time into reading a long article … kind of like a visual headline.
The work I do functions as both. I create images that support articles .. but my true intentions is to create a world of Alexander Blue that is bigger than any one illustration by itself. Its a way of thinking … far from reality filled with interesting characters and environments.
In the visual art world, illustrators have sometimes been considered less important in comparison with ‘fine artists’ and graphic designers. What do you think about it?
Less important to who? I think it may be considered less prestigious in the art world, but any child that grew up watching cartoons, watching a Disney movie, reading a Dr. Seuss book, etc has been deeply touched by illustration. I much rather make a positive influence on a child who is just beginning life than an art critique and I think this is more feasible through illustration because the art is more accessible to the general public.
What was your first illustration? Do you remember it? How did it happen?
I always made art from as long as I can remember … one day my grandmother said she liked my “art” and I thought “ah so this is what this is called.”
How would you describe your illustration’s style?
whacky, colorful, curious
What do you enjoy the most about your work as illustrator?
There are so many things. I enjoy the process of creating stories, representing an idea visually, making a child curious or happy, listening to music while making art, having a very flexible schedule so I can spend time with my family.
And what’s the worst or most challenging aspect of it?
Forcing creativity is hard .. it’s a hard thing to attach to a schedule to because sometimes you have a million good ideas and other times you can’t think of one.
Your inner child personality seems to be expressed in your creations… How do you indulge your inner child?
Life is funny. I think you are perfect when you are born .. you go through a lot of things in life .. and eventually you return to how you were when you were a child. I think the best thing you can do for a child is to facilitate their curiosity. Being curious makes you aware of this amazing world we live in. So I would stay I take the time to be curious. When I walk down the street I carry a notepad with me and I write down the things I wonder about. When I get home I look them up which makes me more curious about other things. It’s a wonderful cycle.
Which illustration’s artist would make you drop hundreds of dollars on one of his creations? Why?
No one really. Having an original is not important to me .. having the moment where it made me smile or laugh is what is important to me. If I can relive that through a photograph, a book or having a conversation with a friend .. that is what I prefer.
What would your life be like without drawing?
I think I would be an inventor. Creativity comes in many forms and I am sure I would be expressing myself in another medium.
Give me your illustrator top five… And the reasons to put them in the list.
- Gary Larson I owe him about 1000 laughs and 2000 smiles
- Clayton Bros I Love Their Visual Language
- 3TTMan Amazing Street Artist
- Graham Roumieu Very Creative And Funny
- Calef Brown Illustrations and Poems are very creative
Entreviste en español
Alexander Blue, de Seattle, Washington, describe su estilo como desquiciado y colorido, y atribuye el interés creciente en la ilustración a que es un arte que el grueso de la población puede entender y que a menudo tiene aires nostálgicos.
El trabajo de Blue ha sido requerido por los periódicos The Stranger y San Francisco Chronicle, las revistas Seventeen y Chickadee, y las compañías Egreetings, Microsoft y MSN. Dirige el portal Illustrationmundo.com.
“Es estupendo cuando una cultura puede apreciar el arte y la creatividad. Es una forma de aceptar el progreso y reconocer las contribuciones únicas de un individuo y sus cualidades”, asegura.
Desde su punto de vista, la ilustración puede jugar varios roles: reforzar el punto de vista del artículo y constituir otra manera de representar la información, o servir como una especie de encabezado. Sostiene que su obra no sólo cumple esas funciones.
“Creo imágenes que apoyan artículos, pero mi intención verdadera es crear un mundo de Alexander Blue que sea más grande que cualquier ilustración en sí misma”.
En el mundo de las artes visuales, los ilustradores suelen ser considerados menos importantes que, por ejemplo, los artistas plásticos. ¿Qué opinas?
¿Menos importante para quién?
Puede tener menos prestigio en el mundo de arte, pero cualquier niño que creció viendo caricaturas y películas de Disney, leyendo libros del Doctor Seuss, etcétera, ha sido profundamente tocado por la ilustración. Prefiero tener una influencia positiva en un niño que está comenzando su vida que en un crítico de arte, y creo que eso es más factible mediante la ilustración, porque es el arte más accesible al gran público.
¿Qué disfrutas más de tu trabajo como ilustrador?
Disfruto el proceso de crear historias, representar visualmente una idea, hacer feliz o curioso a un niño, escuchar música mientras hago arte, tener horarios flexibles para poder pasar tiempo con mi familia…
¿Y cuál es la peor parte?
¡Forzar la creatividad es duro! Es algo difícil de ajustar a un horario; a veces tienes un millón de buenas ideas, y otras no llega ni una.
