tear sheet 2007 - july 2009
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Artist Danny Roberts Tear sheets and Magazine and web features cover 2007- july 2009.TRANSCRIPT
ILLUSTRATIONINTERVIEW
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Please introduce yourself, give us a
brief bio, tell us where are you come
from and how you get started in this
field?
My name is Danny Roberts, I have
been alive 23 wonderful years, and I
live in California, USA. When I started
school, the first class I took was Fashion
Illustration. My teacher told me that I
should be a Fashion Illustrator instead
of a designer, and considering that
my sewing skills are not the greatest,
I became a illustrator! Well, I guess
another possible reason could be that
drawing is my favorite thing to do.
Do you have any formal training in
this field, did you go to art school?
Yes. I went to the Academy of Art
University majoring in Fashion Design.
Can you name the work you did so far?
I have worked a wide range of jobs in
the last year, from window displays
to children’s books to fabric prints. It
has been a good learning experience
and has really stretched me. I just
finished some work for Gwen Stefani’s
clothing company Harajuku Lovers. I
did a window display about a year back
for an eco friendly boutique in San
INTERVIEWED BY ALTA
THE PHENOMENALDANNY ROBERTS
ILLUSTRATIONINTERVIEW
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Francisco called Eco Citizen. I have currently
been working on illustrating Sophie Ward’s
children’s book, and finishing up my book
“The Character Sketchbook”.
What is your favorite subject to illustrate?
I would have to say the lovely Ward sisters,
Sophie and Gemma Ward. Definitely my
favorite subject matter.
Would you mind to give us a brief walk through
your work flow ( from ideas to the execution)?
I usually do a concept sketch (thumbnail
sketch). Then I will find references or
inspiration to cultivate the idea. From there, I
will redraft the picture, and then do the final
draft of the picture. More than likely, lastly, I
will have the image scanned and then digital
image the picture.
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What do you use to carry out your
work?
Oh, pretty much anything, really. I like
using a lot of mix media. For example,
I was doing an illustration for Marie
Claire Spain this week, and on that
one illustration I used pens, ink, water
color, color pencils, acrylic paint, oil
paint, and oil pastel.
Of all your works, which are hit you the
most and why?
I would have to say a lot of the drawings
out of my “Character Sketchbook”
because that is my most personal body
of work. It is sort of my art journal
chronicling my journey of learning
how to draw, so because of that, I am
really attached to those.
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Is there any point where you will
stop drawing and look for a new
medium to communicate your
ideas?
I don’t think that I could ever
stop drawing. It’s in my bones.
When I go to restaurants, I get
the kid’s menu so I can color. I’m
constantly drawing. But with that
said, I’m constantly exploring new
mediums. Like just last month, I
taught myself how to oil paint, and
I plan to work as a photographer
in the future. Also, really far down
the line, I want to start directing
films.
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We notice that your works are
hand painted, why is that? Did it
ever occur to you to use computer
instead, considering nowadays many
illustrator use computer?
Actually, I think my progression is
sort of the opposite of other people. I
started using Photoshop when I was
13, and started drawing in Adobe
Illustrator when I was 17. I think I
learned the strengths and weaknesses
of the Digital realm at an early age and
now I’ve been exploring hand-made
things. For the most part, I find digital
illustration slightly lifeless.... I’m really
not sure why.
Why do you choose a blog as a place to
record your portfolio?
Well, my brother suggested it to me
so I timidly started igorandandandre.
blogspot.com. Ever since then, it’s been
great. I feel Art is made to be shared. I
like blogs because I can share pictures
I did that day with people all over
the world. It’s amazing how small the
world is in this day and age. Blogs are
just a great vehicles to share.
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We know that you like to write musician
that because you are really keen on
becoming a musician, or you just do it
to relax?
It is just a pastime. I started writing
music when I was 15, and ever since I’ve
been hooked. I use it as a cross trainer...
meaning whenever I need a break
from drawing, I like writing music and
doing photography as a way to unwind.
Plus, it’s a great way to express certain
emotions or experiences that I can’t
express through my art.
What inspires you?
I’m inspired by almost everything for
one reason or another. New experiences
and people inspire me a lot. I would
say women inspire me more than
anything. That’s why the majority of
my art revolves around women. I also
find genuine innocence very moving,
and am inspired by anything from the
1920’s.
Name an illustrator, whose work you
respect/admires and why?
Audrey Beardsley and Egon Schiele
are by far my two favorite artist/
illustrators. I love Audrey’s work for
the detail, and I love Egon’s work for
the color and over all “Feel”.
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What is your next project (exhibition,
books or photo shoot)?
There are a few big projects I’m working
on right now. Two years ago, I started
the The Character Sketchbook project.
The idea was to pick a few people, to cut
down on the amount of variables, and
draw them in my “practice book” using
the same drawing process, and do this
over a prolonged period to monitor my
improvements in becoming an artist.
For the first 100 drawings, Volume 1 of
the book, I drew Gemma Ward & Lily
Cole.
Then in the next 100 drawings, I added
Sophie Ward along with a few other
models. My goal was to show that
anyone could learn how to draw with
enough time and practice. I’m hoping
to publish it through Paper Castle Press
and then exhibit all 200 drawings next
year.
The other project is a collaboration
project through Paper Castle Press. We
are hoping to have it done some time
next year. Basically, I wrote a story on
the spot, as a bedtime story for a friend,
and it really turned out quiet nice.
At the start of this year, Sophie Ward
and I got together and had the idea of
trying to bring in different artists with
different tool sets to work on making
the story come to life. I ended up
putting together a 350 page inspiration
book for it.
Sophie Ward is going to rewrite it
and put her lovely words to it, and
Stacy Dupree from the band Eisley
has also been working on it. We are
still pulling together everyone who is
going to be involved with it. There is
more information about it at www.
papercastlepress.com, click on “Future
Titles”.
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Gemmafrom Volume 2 of The Character Sketchbook.
“The Lily and Gemma Book”
What would you tell other illustrator
that hope to be as good as you?
Oh, I would say be true to yourself and
enjoy every moment of learning. Also,
let art inspire you. I think starting out,
it can be hard to stay true to yourself,
and it’s easy to look at something you
like and copy it. But I would say, the
key to staying unique is to be yourself,
because we all are made differently,
which means if I stay true to myself, I
will be unique.
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“The Lily and Gemma Book”from Volume 2 of The Character Sketchbook.
Our pilot edition is themed black white.
What crosses in your mind when we
say black white and why? And which
one reflects your personality the most?
For me Black & White Illustrations are
my favorite to do. When I picture images
to draw, I think in Black & White. When
you said your first issue was a Black &
White theme, my mind first went to my
Chanel glasses illustration. It’s one of
my favorite illustrations.
Online Gallery:
http:// igorandandre.blogspot.com
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“Lisa”from Blogger potrait series
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“Rumi”from Blogger potrait series
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“Lily Cole”from Volume 2 of The Character Sketchbook.
“The Lily and Gemma Book”
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“Th
e L
adie
s of
Ch
anel
”