Interview with graduate Karl James Mountford.
See more of Karl's work here : Website ll Facebook ll Tumblr
Q: What first got you interested in Illustration?
I’m not sure…I was always drawing from the word go but never really had any focus on what type of artist I was supposed to be. I guess reading got me into Illustration, I loved stories, and reading about people made me want to draw them or the narrative. It could have been that?
Q: During your time in Swansea, what part of the illustration course did you enjoy most?
The class, the staff, the environment. Having that support network is so useful and Uni is kind of like stabilisers on your first bike (especially in a creative course) you’ve got this safe zone to really push yourself , scrape your knees and figure out your style and what appeals to you. I think all students kinda take it for granted while there. I know I did.
Q: What advice would you give to someone just starting the course?
Don’t put yourself or your work down, you’ve just signed up for three years of creative study, no one is expecting you to be the finished article on your first day. Just enjoy the process and the experience.
Also set up Twitter/Tumblr/Facebook pages, Cargo Collectives for your work (the earlier the better). People love art, the whole sketching to finals piece is great to document and talk about. It’s a really good way of preparing yourself for life after Uni. Especially if you start off by freelancing - your email account and your online presence is going to be your best friend.
Q: What advice would you give to someone coming to the end of the course?
Part of me wants to warn any third years about the strife that comes after uni and ‘the post-uni Blues’ but saying that, it’s also really exciting in a ‘I might throw up kinda way’ but exciting all the same. You have this opportunity to put yourself and work to the test.
I think the best advice is to have a good plan/idea of the avenue of illustration you want to get into.
Ask the tutors how they see your work developing, what genre of illustrator they think you might be, whether it is editorial, bespoke, concept art, tattoos. publishing, production, galleries, fashion, comics..whatever it is. Talk to the tutors they know their stuff and if they don’t they can be really accommodating to help, and set you off in the right direction.
Also email illustrators you admire, be polite and more than often they are super happy to help you out with some friendly suggestions.
If you have a clear idea of what field you want to start in.Then research the heck out of. See what agents require, who they have already taken on, how to approach them or what studios expect of your portfolio.
Sadly, just because uni finishes doesn’t mean the work does, if anything it’s just the start of an even grander journey!
And when you do graduate…DON’T EVER work for free. Take yourself and work seriously. And if anyone says ‘ We can’t pay you but it’s great exposure’ be very cautious, you could end up doing a lot of work for no money and no guarantee of other work from that ‘glorious’ exposure.
Q: How important was New Designers for you?
At the time it seemed really important and exciting, which it was..but I think we were all a little naive and assumed we’d all be snapped up and start living the dream..but looking back at it now. It was just a good experience and a nice way to book end our uni education.
Q: What was your first illustration job as a graduate?
Editorial Illustrations for an online magazine.
Q: What would you say is the most important skill for an illustrator?
Perseverance and professionalism.
romaincrisis
titsay
baratheonpilled
discoholicmusic
origamiaround
kianamaiart
