Last year saw the launch of our #BeCreative campaign and with the help of 24 great artists, manage to create a one of a kind collection of artwork that answered the question: what does creativity mean to you?
We’re keeping our campaign going in 2016, starting with another installment of our creative blog feature. This time around we’re speaking to some of the same illustrators who contributed to our launch and finding out about their creative process.
Take a look at their interviews to find out what creativity means to these illustrators and just what goes into producing their amazing work.
Stuart Brown
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Stuart Brown I work very closely with my twin brother Callum Brown.
We are working on an anthropomorphic comic series in a new, exciting and original world, called The Wildlands.
What does creativity mean to you?
It means being free to create your art in the way that you desire, without constraints, barriers rules or limits.
Describe your creative process?
Usually, we create the character of the story first, design them a costume by researching in film, museums and other characters this character is inspired by.
Then, we and our team, create a story for this character that challenges them and helps to reader discover more about our fictional world, that also speaks to some issue we care about in our world. Then the story is scripted, storyboarded, pencilled, inked, and finally digitally coloured.
When are you at your most creative?
When I’m relaxed, in a quiet space brainstorming with teammates, who are enthusiastic and passionate about an idea. The ball starts rolling and it snowballs into many more ideas.
It depends, sometimes I can be at my most creative when I am with my group of friends or when I am home doing research, listening to jazz music. Even when I am angry or upset about something silly, I can be at my most creative.
Who is the most creative person to you and why?
I couldn’t place it as a person. The most creative thing that in most inspiring to our art is nature. We find inspiration almost anywhere, but most often in wildlife documentaries.
Nature can provide unbelievable stories of triumph, survival in life in the most extreme conditions. It has a huge amount of incredible designs in animals that can do so many unbelievable things, it’s almost like watching super powered monsters go toe to toe. Whether they can fly, run at incredible speeds, have a such a keen sense of smell that they can detect prey from miles away, are 20 times as strong as any human, can be venomous and even have a 6th sense.
And, our planet’s landscape can provide perfect, beautiful settings if you look in the untouched corners of the world. Nature is by far the most creative thing on our planet and our biggest source of inspiration.
Facebook: The Wildlands Comic
Twitter: @The_Wildlands
Al Davison
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Al Davison and I’m a comic artist, painter, illustrator, film maker and martial artist.
What does creativity mean to you?
Creativity means freedom, empathy, self-expression and imagination, combined with the facility of technique and hard work.
Describe your creative process?
My creative process varies depending on the medium of expression, but is usually intuitive, backed up by preparation, and experience.
I’ll often dream a picture or a story, then explore till I find the right medium to express it through. Sometimes an idea is on the backburner for years until I have developed the ability/technique to express it most effectively.
When are you at your most creative?
I’m at my most creative when I’m asleep and dreaming. Luckily I remember all my dreams.
Who is the most creative person to you and why?
Who is the most creative person to me, and why? Lots of people historically from Van Gogh to Paula Medherson Becker and Fernand Knopf. Contemporary creators like Neil Gaiman, Jill Thompson, Alan Moore, and David Mack.
On a day-to-day personal level, it has to be Yen Quach: Yen combines great imagination, originality and technique in her art, with a strong work ethic, and a focused curiosity about everything.
You see her creativity in all her endeavours: from her #draweveryday sketches, her professional commissioned work, the way she approaches tackling problems, to the way she presents herself to the world, and even in the manner she organises her diary. She epitomises productive, focused creativity.
Facebook: The Astral Gypsy’s Playground
Instagram: @astralgypsy
Elizabeth Querstret
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Elizabeth Querstret, I have an online auto-bio comic that is regularly updated. Additionally, I make a variety of zines and work on various personal art projects
What does creativity mean to you?
I realise this sounds a little extreme, but creativity is the foundation to my existence. Creativity means an awful lot, it is a way for me to process my thoughts and channel my energy.
Describe your creative process?
My creative process can vary, depending on the project. Essentially any idea I have, I tend to act on. This can be a long brewing idea and so I will be more drawn out with my workings.
More often than not I will work in the moment. Ideas are frequent and forever changing, so I will often work fast to keep up with my imagination. I believe I create more for the process, rather than the outcome.
When are you at your most creative?
When I first have an initial idea, I will be incredibly creative and productive. There does not seem to be any pattern or logic to when I am most creative. An idea really can come at any time and I now actively try to force myself to jot this down, if I am busy at the time with something else.
Who is the most creative person to you and why?
Roald Dahl! I think this man was fantastic! His work would take me on exciting, funny and surreal journeys. I think he had a great talent in sharing his creativity and inspiring so many others.
Facebook: Elizabeth Querstret Comics
Twitter: @querstret
Sha Nazir
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m a freelance illustrator and designer. I’m also the publisher of BHP comics and Festival director for Glasgow Comic Con.
What does creativity mean to you?
It’s about exploring ideas and creating/making something which you’re happy to investigate.
Describe your creative process?
Whether its making comics or design. I take to time to think about what it is I’m about to do. I sketch out ideas, sometimes, even a scribble. Then I digitally sketch ideas, blue lining for drawing in Photoshop or Illustrator for design.
I then come up with a first draft, go away work on something else to have thinking space, and come back to it to finalise or edit/change what I’m making.
When are you at your most creative?
Usually first thing in the morning, I used to work sporadically but now I get up early and enjoying working from 8am.
Who is the most creative person to you and why?
There are too many to choose from, lots of people who’s work I like, Neville Brody for Design and Uderzo/Goscinny (Asterix) for comics.
Twitter (Sha Nazir): @sha_nazir
Twitter (BHP Comics): @BHP_comics
Mister Hope
Who are you and what do you do?
I am a large hairy freelance illustrator from the North of England.
What does creativity mean to you?
Creativity is everything to me. If I didn’t draw, I’m not sure what I would do with my time. I do draw and paint at every opportunity. It means an escape from mundanity, trying to drown out the boredom of life with ink and paint.
Describe your creative process?
Normally I make a list of things I have to draw and a list of things I would like to draw. I always try to work through them in order but never do. Some jobs are easier than others!
Once I have my list, I will sketch out some ideas, quickly and freely, and then (if I’m working for someone) I’ll send them a picture of my sketches. Then I’ll draw up the finalised sketch, ink it and paint it. That’s it!
When are you at your most creative?
I am at my most creative all day every day, but I get more done in the evenings when the Youngest Hope is in bed!
Who is the most creative person to you and why?
Growing up Quentin Blake was (and still is) my hero. I strive to make everything look as effortless as he does. Genius.
Instagram: @misterhope
Twitter: @misterhpe
Facebook: Mister Hope Draws
Tom Oliver
Who are you and what do you do?
My name’s Tom Oliver and I sporadically draw junk under the handle Bomp Kadunk! Currently, that junk is a minicomic series called “Dungeon Crunch!”.
What does creativity mean to you?
Creativity is just making something. Seriously anything. It doesn’t even need to be good – so long as you have created a thing that wasn’t there before, you’re making progress and being creative.
Describe your creative process?
For comics, I tend to create thumbnails (super weenie doodles of how you want a thing to look) as this allows me to get a feel for the composition before starting a proper piece.
Plus, thumbnails let you mess around a lot and don’t judge you when you screw up.
When are you at your most creative?
Normally the most creative ideas present themselves when I am as far from a computer screen as humanly possible.
Who is the most creative person to you and why?
Oh geez – there are a ton of creative people out there and trying to plant one on the top spot is tough!
I’m currently re-reading Jing: King of Bandits by Yuichi Kumakura – probably the first manga series I ever got into and so certainly a high roller for Most Creative Person. What drew me in was the real sense of fun in his art: most background characters were bizarre and grotesque caricatures.
Twitter: @bompkadunk
Nikki Kidura
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m a graduate of science and also a traditional artist from the UK and most of my works are made with watercolour paints.
I tend to paint things I like which erm, to be honest, is just everything Fire Emblem at the moment. Is anyone else super hyped?? I can’t wait for the new games!
Art is something I do in my spare time, nearly every day after or before I go to my job. That probably makes me sound like a hermit haha. I also attend local conventions to sell my prints and sometimes I sell things for charity, but I haven’t had time to do the latter lately.
I’m also currently working on an original manga/comic.
What does creativity mean to you?
Creativity, to me, means to bring something to life, out of nothing but your imagination and own hands. It’s not something that everyone can do, I’ve been told…so it should mean something very special to you – that you can blossom an idea in your head onto paper, clothes, a digital canvas or a musical instrument etc.
You are able to create something new, inspiring, evoke feelings and take people to new places. I think a lot of people, even the artist, can overlook this talent… their creativity is a beautiful talent to have.
Describe your creative process?
Before I do anything creative, I tidy my work area (my room). I like a tidy environment to paint in (it’s good because my room is usually a tip).
I can take up to few a hours or a day to do a sketch. I then trace over the sketch onto watercolour paper, so that I minimise erasing on the paper because it could damage it. After that, I paint! Smaller pieces – usually just the character itself – can take me up to 6-8 hours. Bigger pieces are much longer, the time it takes depend on how detailed I want it to be.
My style varies but I typically draw and paint in an anime/manga style. I like to include lots of small detail and my paintings tend to be colourful! I love coming up with dynamic poses or painting meaningful scenes.
When are you at your most creative?
At night. I have no idea why!
Who is the most creative person to you and why?
I can’t answer this… I find a lot of people creative!
Facebook: Kidura
Twitter: Kidura
