In the beginning:
How did you get started with Illustration?
I have always loved drawing. My earliest memory was simply copying Disney characters. I was always so fascinated in the composition of a picture. I used to read many comics, particularly The Beano.
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| Childhood sketch - Sean Fear |
Through my love of watching films, I would create my own roughly drawn comics, based on classic 80's and 90's films such as Predator, Cyborg and Total Recall. I tried combining them with Super Mario and Sonic The Hedgehog. There were no boundaries in the world that I was creating.
What is your background?
My childhood made me the artist I am today. I grew up in the town of Weston-super-Mare with my parents and my brother and sister. We lived at the end of a quiet street and we were blessed with one of the biggest gardens in town! My father had built me a large tree house and we created rope swings that weren’t for the faint hearted. We were always outside and being very active.
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| Childhood sketch - Sean Fear |
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| Childhood sketch - Sean Fear |
Where did you study?
After I obtained my national diploma in art and design in the good old town of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, I moved down to Falmouth, Cornwall where I started my BA in Illustration.
What was the most important thing you learned at school/college/university?
For me the most important thing that I learnt in school and college was just to be free with your drawing. It was a case of learning every aspect of art and design and combining it with your own natural style. It was a gigantic learning curve for me and I think it’s important for anybody who wants to pursue a career in Illustration to explore all fields of the subject.
This brings me now to my studies at University. For the first two years we looked at every part of Illustration, we would then eventually develop our own style in time.
Why do you do what you do?
The obvious answer to this question would simply be “because I enjoy it”. I knew from day one that I would never put the pencil down. I couldn’t. No matter what other job I had to do to support myself, I would always find time to draw. Whilst working in my day job I would be thinking of ideas for my Illustration work. When I would be out with friends, it was the same. It would always be with me. I do this because it’s part of me and I have to do it. It fills me with great joy.
How long since you left education did it take for your first illustration to be published?
I graduated University in 2006 and I started work in a hotel. A friend of mine whose Father was looking for an Illustrator for a private project he was working on got into contact with me. The previous year he had managed to do a sponsored bike ride from Scotland to Lands’ End and had recorded his journey. He like my style of work and wanted me to produce a front cover and a series of small sketches for his book. I successfully completed this project one year after I graduated from University.
Professional practice:
How often do you update your portfolio?
Not enough I’m afraid. In fact, I haven’t physically updated a printed portfolio for about 3 years. I keep everything on either a website or a social media site. If I meet a client then I would have something on my iPad to show or I would bring a sample of the one of the Children’s books that I have produced for a client in the past.
How do you promote your work?
I primarily use Facebook. For me, this has been very productive. I will upload to my work-site as much as possible whether it’s a final Illustration or a quick sketch. I think it’s important to stay connected with your audience, I might advertise a competition every couple of months. I would ask the audience to like or share something, their names will then get put into a hat and then I will draw the winner and that person will receive a free painting!I was fortunate that the boss at the hotel also allowed me to exhibit my work in the lounge.
What are the most projects you’ve had to do simultaneously?
Two in 2014. I had to complete 6 Children’s books (A total of 72 Full-bleed Illustrations)
What is the shortest deadline that you’ve had to work to?
I had 4 months to complete a series of 3 books, each book contained 20 double page Illustrations. (panic mode)
Have you ever missed a deadline?
Never. You have to be a realistic and plan ahead. If you can’t physically do something to the best of your ability in the time limit that you have, then don’t do it.
Do you have an agent?
I have never had an agent but I think they have their place in this profession.
Have you ever had to deal with difficult clients?
Not yet (fingers crossed).
Do you ever collaborate with other artists?
Not yet but I’d like to someday.
What area of illustration have you had the most commissions for?
Children’s books, at the moment.
How do you price your commissions?
It’s hard to answer this because it depends on the work, the client and what you might receive in the future. For me, I usually charge by the hour.
Do you live solely from the income from your illustration work?
I was throughout 2014 but now I am working as an English teacher in Athens. I am also incorporating Art classes for the children now and I hope to eventually use Illustration as the main topic :)
Who or what is your inspiration?
My inspiration simply comes from all around me. Living in Athens, this happens quite naturally especially when it comes to creating a background for an Illustration. I like things to be intricate and messy! I've always believed that this is important for a young reader to identify objects that they may have not seen in the book before.
Do you work from references or from the imagination?
At the beginning, I visualise and imagine how I would like an Illustration to look. I then collect material to use as reference for example a picture of an elephant. I would draw the elephant very quickly over and over again, and then the 4th or 5th time I would slow down and try to capture it how I think it should finally look, in my style. This applies also to backgrounds, except the process isn't as long as character design.
How do you overcome artist’s block?
I rarely get artist's block because the ideas are with me everyday. I maintain a very healthy diet and I exercise most days. These simple things help me a lot and I also manage to work at a comfortable speed.
What work do you most enjoying doing?
Drawing with ink or a pen, I love it! Whether it’s for a final Illustration or just drawing in my sketchbook. I know this is the most enjoyment I can get out of life, as it’s been with me since I can remember. I just have to put something on paper, a slow and detailed drawing or a drawing in my illustrative style is a must for me most days.
What is your favourite artwork?
‘Under The Arches’ by Terry Pegg. I own the original :)
What food, drink, music inspires you?
Any food that’s Greek and I like rock music :)
Name something you love, and why.
I love films! I love to escape reality and lose myself a film. I am a sucker for the Marvel series. Spiderman has and always will be my favourite, the way he moves has always fascinated me.
What is your dream project?
Anything that has to do with drawing.
Name three artists you’d like to be compared to.
Korky Paul
Quentin Blake
Ralph Steadman
Working practice:
How do you work?
I draw most daytimes and weekends.
How many hours do you work a day?
It’s hard to say but depending on how I feel and what the deadline is, it can be anywhere from 3-10 hours a day!
What is your typical day as an Illustrator?
As an Illustrator, I typically wake up in the morning, start the day with vegetable juice and then breakfast, then I hit the gym for an hour (or two) and then I’m ready and prepared to work for the afternoon/evening.
What materials do you use the most?
I mostly use pencil and black ink pen and watercolours. I have recently purchased a Wacom tablet as I want to start digital painting. I will still use black pen for drawing but I feel that colouring in Illustrations via Adobe Photoshop is far more fun! :)
Which brand of watercolours/brushes/inks/pens/pencils etc.?
Winsor & Newton watercolour paints and inks
Uni pin fine liner (different size nibs)
Royal Talens paint brushes
Any old pencil
Do you keep a sketchbook? What sort of things do you tend to draw in it?
Yes I carry a square one, which is around 8 inches in size. I usually draw scenes and people on the beach with a fine liner.
Do you find the artistic life lonely? If so how do you do to counteract it?
Yes it can be! Especially when you have a deadline of 60 full-bleed Illustrations to be completed in 4 months (over the summer time)
General:
What are the best and worst things about your job?
The best thing is that I’m doing what I love.
The worst thing, is having to change an Illustration because the client isn’t happy with it.
What memorable responses have you had to your work?
About 5 years ago a client had sent me a picture of her dog that had sadly passed away a few years earlier, when she came to collect the artwork she opened it in front of me and she had tears down her face.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
“Just smile” - My Father
“Just draw everyday” - Terry Pegg
Professionally, what’s your goal?
To draw for as long as I can and keep reaching my deadlines
What wouldn’t you do without?
My vegetable juice
What superpower would you have and why?
It’s a toss up between flying and moving objects with my mind. Probably the latter as I’d be able to do both.
