Andrew Clark is a testament to the universal nature of illustration. His work is loved in cities as far apart as Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Beijing, Zurich and New York. He’s firmly settled in London, however, and we caught up with him to chat about how he got where he is now, and what he’d tell to his younger, doodling self.
When and how did you become an illustrator?
I graduated from Camberwell College of Arts in 2008 having studied for a BA in Illustration. I spent the first six months after college putting together a portfolio of what I thought was commercially viable artwork with the assistance of a professional agent, who I had come to know during an internship I had undertaken while at college. Then, in early 2009, I began trying to get illustration commissions by contacting magazine art directors via email, with links to my online portfolio. I was successful in achieving a few sporadic editorial jobs. I continued to work part time as an illustrator as well as doing other jobs until in January 2011 I was able to work entirely as a freelance illustrator. Also, during the beginning of this year I joined YCN on a formal basis, so I do now commissions through their agency as well as through my own contacts.
How has your style evolved since you began illustrating?
The biggest evolution that has occurred since I started out is that I now use a computer a lot more. When I first left college I used a mixture of hand drawing and computer imagery, but the time constraints of live briefs have caused me to rely more on my Mac than ever before.
Which item in your toolkit is the most important?
I guess that it does have to be my computer now, but I’m glad that I have built my work from a foundation of hand drawing. I think that meticulous pencil drawing has contributed to my overall style – whether I’m actually using a pencil or not.
Do you feel you had a “big break” at all? If so, what was it?
My first piece of work that appeared anywhere outside of college was a cover that I produced back in 2007 for the music magazine FACT. I won the chance to have my artwork on the cover of the magazine as part of a competition, and I think seeing it out and about in shops and bars gave me the confidence to pursue commercial illustration in earnest.
What advice would you pass on to a 16-year-old you?
Try to make imagery in a way that is comfortable to you and that you’re passionate about, but don’t narrow yourself down to anything too specific just yet. Do experiment and try out everything possible: print, 3D, moving image, typography. The more things that you can do, the more diverse your work will be and, ultimately, the more projects you’ll be able to work on. Also, try to get as much industry experience as possible as well as your university education. I would class the internships that I undertook while at university as equally important as my degree.
See more at www.thisisandrewclark.com.
