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Spraygraphic Interview with Artist Neil Swaab
By Spraygraphic | April 4, 2008
Spraygraphic’s Chuck b. interview with illustrator, designer, writer, and cartoonist Neil Swaab about his art making process, his characters, and his most recent artwork.
Spraygraphic Interview with Neil Swaab
SG: Please tell us about yourself?
NS: Just a regular guy trying to make it in this crazy circus of life. Also, I’m circumcised. Do you need to know length or girth or anything? Gosh, this is so personal.
SG: Where do you currently live and work?
NS: Astoria, NY. My home and studio are the same place. Very convenient. Although for the next four months I’m splitting time in DUMBO, Brooklyn at Augenblick Studios doing some animation.
SG: What mediums do you work with?
NS: Pen and ink + digital for the most part. When I paint it’s in acrylic.
SG: Describe your working process when creating a new work.
NS: Procrastinate. Watch TV. Read. Walk around. Eat. Watch more TV. Sleep. Read. Surf the web. Listen to music. Watch even more TV. Start working. Somehow come up with something worth writing about and/or drawing and pencil it in, ink it, and then color it on the computer.
SG: What kind of things do you do when you get blocked or find it hard to create something?
NS: Go out and do something. Live life. Life is the best place to find inspiration. Sitting there alone in a quiet room is probably the worst thing you can do to find inspiration.
SG: Where are you currently finding your inspiration?
NS: The day to day of living. There’s plenty there if you examine the details.
SG: Can you please tell us a little about Rehabilitating Mr. Wiggles.
NS: It’s a weekly comic strip about a sexually deviant teddy bear and his human companion. But really it’s so much more. Or far less. I can’t remember.
SG: Do you have any other prominent characters that you write and draw on a regular basis?
NS: Not yet. Mr. Wiggles has pretty much gotten top billing the past 8 years. I’m kind of his bitch. But I’m like his bottom bitch, so it ain’t bad.
SG: Can you please tell us a little about how you developed a working relationship with Harper Collins.
NS: I started off working full time there as a Design Assistant a year out of college and then worked my way up the food chain during my five years there until I was art directing two imprints. After I left to work for myself full time, I continued to take on freelance work for them doing art direction and design.
SG: When working with such a client, how much negotiation goes on about the art work you provide? How much are you willing to change your work according to their suggestions?
NS: I’ve only done art for one of book for Harper Collins. For the most part I art direct and design when I work with them so really I’m the one telling the artists to change things. With the artists I work with, I try to understand what they want to achieve and see how to make it better and how to get the best work out of my artists. We’re all in the process of trying to make good books. Nobody wants to make a bad book so our suggestions are always aimed at trying to improve it. Sometimes artists listen to me and sometimes they don’t. In the end, it’s their name on the book so they need to be happy with the final product. There’s a lot of give and take in the process. It’s very collaborative. At least when it’s done well.
As an artist, I rarely get changes asked for. And when I do, I treat them with respect. I know what it’s like to be on both sides of the table so I don’t get too worked up over changes. So I want to make the flowers blue and they want them red? Who cares? Make them red. It’s not the end of the world. I do a lot of art just for myself (including my comic, which I never make changes to) so I can live with giving in on the commercial work when I have to.
SG: Which covers do you like to do the most? Adult or Young People? Do you have a favorite cover?
NS: Adult covers are much harder to do so all I can think about when I look at them afterwards is the struggle it took to get to the finished product. The kids books go much easier with the rare exception. I don’t really have a favorite though.
SG: Where has your work been seen?
NS: God, all over. As an artist, I’ve done CD covers in Australia, had collections of my comics published in Italy and Russia, been featured in publications in Germany, Prague, and Canada, and built up a nice client roster here in the US. As an art director, I’ve worked on a bunch of #1 best-selling children’s books that I’m sure you’ve seen if you follow that world.
SG: Where will it be seen next?
NS: On TV. I’m currently animating a show called Super Jail for the next four months. It will premiere on Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network in June I think.
SG: What is your dream art assignment?
NS: I would love to do a movie poster. I think that would be incredibly cool.
SG: What is your favorite color?
NS: Puppies.
SG: Who is your favorite artist? And Why?
NS: We should talk about my least favorite artist instead. It’s much more interesting, don’t you think? I won’t tell you his name, but God, I hate that fucker. If I could punch him in the face and suffer no consequences from it, I totally would in a heartbeat. And I wouldn’t feel the least bit sorry.
SG: What book/magazine are you reading this week?
NS: Italy for Dummies. But I crossed out the word “Dummies” and replaced it with “Smart People Who Have Never Been and Want an Easy Book to Read on the Subject” since I’m uncomfortable with labeling myself a dummy. I’m taking a trip there in a couple months and want to do a little research on places to visit.
SG: Ever do a self portrait? Where is it now?
NS: Of course. Isn’t that like every art class’s first assignment in college? They’re all over the place. Different family members have them.
SG: Where is your favorite place to hang out?
NS: My apartment. I’ve got a nice little nest thing going here.
SG: Any final words of advice?
NS: As an artist you need to do what you love. It shows when you’re not interested in the work you’re doing and it shows when you’re having fun.
Topics: Artist Interviews, Graphic Design, Literature, Pencil Drawings, Toys and Comics |
