I chose to contact successful illustrator Serge Seidlitz last week, and after a little luck with my e-mails managed to gain his attention. A successful illustrator with a great clients list and available through Debut Art, I thought he would be interesting for gaining a little insight into how the successful get along in the industry.
So, anyway, he was kind enough to reply to my e-mail questionnaire this week and here I have his answers and a little insight into how he works and his path into the profession.
• What was your first commission?
My first actual commission as an illustrator was a portrait of Brian Wilson for Mojo magazine,
I had been working four or five years as a graphic designer/ in-house illustrator at cartoon network before becoming freelance and taking on proper commissions.
• Did it take long for you to find work?
I got a job at Cartoon Network straight out of college which helped in giving me a foundation in the industry.
• How was this achieved?
Portfolio and guidance from tutors.
• You're with Heart agency at the moment, but how did you promote yourself before that?
No I'm not! (He’s with Debut Art. My mistake, I had a cold when I wrote the questions!) I didn't promote myself before I was represented as I was full time in house (see above).
• Does most of your work come from repeat clients?
No, it comes from all sorts of different clients, - some comes from repeat clients.
• You have a very distinct style; do all of your clients expect your work to appear similar? Is this ever limiting for you?
I have enough scope within in my work to play with new ideas and push myself, so it doesn't limit me. It’s important as an illustrator ( I think ) to be ideas based and then everything stems from that, if you limit yourself to style over content you'll just be a passing trend. Most of the time, I think people develop their work as they go, improving and experimenting in order to keep fresh.
• What sort of work forms the bulk of your commissions?
Advertising, editorial, marketing, publishing, online content, a bit of TV.
• Do you have any plans for the future?
Keep at it, and see where it takes me.
• Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Wouldn't like to say Chris - who knows - hopefully doing something creative that makes me happy.
An interesting (and incidentally quite amusing) character and a little insight.
Thank you Serge. I wish you all the best.
from : http://chrisoldlandillustration.blogspot.com/
Friday, 27 February 2009
Chris Oldland illustration blog Q&A
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
International Conference of Typography 2009
Translation of poster : "If typography didn´t exist to take care of the words, one day the H, tired of being phonetically ignored, would change his job and would offer its services as a coat stand to an unscrupulous designer. Nobody would ever be able to talk again, or express their feelings, and human kind would be condemned to wander aimlessly through still lands.
Typography. More important than you can imagine. "
Friday, 23 January 2009
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Monday, 12 January 2009
6 music, "Get an earful!"
One of my favourite thing to do when I'm drawing is listen to Adam and Joe on 6music, so i was very pleased to get to work on this project. Mike Maloney studios produced this animation for 6 music based on Blu's incredible live animation graffitti project, I was brought in on the last week to 'redraw' the character about 364 times, animation takes ages!
Discovery Channels, 'One Way Out' with Jonathan Goodwin
The rat follows the crumbs into the trap which pulls the cord to strike the match which lights the bunsen burner and boils thes the kettle to steam out the bees which sting the mouse who turns the wheels which flick the switch to turn on the electric knife which cuts the string that fires the crossbow too pop the ballon to drop the weight to launch the rocket to flick the switch to turn on the hair dryer which blows the fan and pulls the string to turn on the tap and fills up the fish bowls which knocks the ball and rolls down the pipes into the frying pan and onto the scales which pulls the lever and sparks the zippo which lights the fuse and starts the train which enters the barrel and ....
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/one-way-out/one-way-out.html
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
Planet Noel
I was commissioned last year by Jean Marie from Milou + Dufay in Paris to create this illustration for 'Maison de Presse' , a French chain of book shops. It was used on all the festive branding like book marks, bags , in-store posters and also as print ads. Below are a few details from the illustration as they're quite small.
Blender magazine maps
I've been doing these maps for an American magazine, Blender. These are the last two i did, so if your in Rio or Texas, be sure to print them out so you don't get lost.
