Ask Kat
Anything you want to know about my art, my inspiration, my motivation etc, please do so here. I'm collecting questions and posting the most insightful and interesting and writing really verbose reponses. Personal questions are permitted too, but I reserve the right to retain the answers!
General Questions
~ Why lemurs?
~ Why do you call yourself an illustrator, not an artist?
Technique
~ What Media do you use?
~ How many hours a day do you spend on your art?
~ How do you get past Artist's Block?
~ If you are confident in your abilities, does that make you better?
~ Are there any of your own pieces you'll never be able to part with?
Tutorials
~ Would you rather teach a child or an adult?
~ Have you/Would you ever publish an instructional book?
General Questions
Why Lemurs?
(SusieTex, AFA)
I'm not sure how far back my obsession with lemurs stems. It certainly doesn't go back to my childhood years - then I was obsessed with birds (my pencil case graffiti contained such wonderful phrases as "birds are best" and "birds rule" no wonder my classmates teased me. Then I discovered music and boys, but that's another story...). I suspect it started in 7th form biology, when they taught us a lot about prosimians and I fell in love with the tarsier. Also, Gerald Durrell's "aye-aye and I" must have had quite an impact. But the real obsession was probably begun when I started doing volunteer work at Orana Park. There was something about these furry little mammals - not quite a monkey, with their bright, round eyes, pixie faces and beautiful scarf-like tails. Then one day they let me on the island to handfeed them. I was instantly besotted. And it's been lemurs ever since. They're fun, they're playful, they're smarter than your average bear, but not what one might call intellectually minded. And face it, they're beautiful.
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I have a question I have long wanted to hear you answer; Why do you refer to yourself as "an illustrator, not an artist?" How do you perceive the difference between the two as applied to yourself and your work? One of my absolute favourite artists was primarily an illustrator - N.C. Wyeth, and I've always found the delineation between the two as elusive as the difference between arts and crafts.
(From Els)
Well, there is not really a difference between an artist and an illustrator, technically speaking. However, whenever I hear the word "artist" I tend to think of fine/classical arts - like Picasso and Monet, Da Vinci, etc and I do not consider myself anywhere near that league! So to avoid people thinking I paint landscapes and still lifes, I label myself an "illustrator" because it has a lighter, more whimsical and free air to it. I draw more "Character" style art. Also, I'd love to illustrate children's books one day! So I guess it's part of the "if I say it enough it will become true".
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Technique
You appear to have a unique technique when making your critter art. Can you tell us about the media used and the way you get such bright, clear designs?
(Pam, Facebook)
Well, I don't really think my technique is that unique - but thank you! Basically my first task is to find the references. Normally this is via a google search or from one of my large library of photographic books. I generally aim for two - three pictures of the same or similar subjects, as I do not want them to resemble the source too closely. It all begins with a pencil - I draw out the simple sketchwork by turning the subject into "shapes". This helps me to get the proportions accurately. Then I add in the detail. After I'm happy with the pencil sketch, I take out my unipin fineline markers - with 0.3. 0.5 and 0.8 mm tips. The 0.8 I use for the outlines and bold details, the 0.3 for the fine. The 0.5 doesn't tend to get a lot of use. I stylise certain features a bit - it can be tedious to draw every feather, for example, so I tend to just define the outlines and those that form part of the structure, such as the musculature. Then I erase the pencil outline and apply the colour. You can see how I do that in my "colour" tutorial. I apply the colour quite boldly, usually pressing harder then is truly required and keep my pencils sharp. Also, I tend to use two-three shades of the same colour, giving it a greater depth.
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The colours in your artwork are so vibrant, what media do you use?
(Onyablue, AFA)
My original media was always polychromos pencils. These oil-based pencils are created by Faber Castell and lay on a thick bed of colour. They come in a wide range of shades and blend together fantastically. The reason my colours are so vibrant is because I lay on the colours as thickly as some people lay on the paint. Hence the saturated colours which give me a whimsical air.
However, in Hawaii I discovered prismacolors, the US brand tried and trusted by most of the artists I'd been communicating with. These pencils have a more chalky consistency and the colours are maybe a little less vibrant but they blend so beautifully, giving a smooth, softer look. Alas, they are softer than the polys, and my heavy hand leads to much heartbreak as leads snap and I cannot keep them to quite the razor-shape point I enjoy.
I also occasionally use tombow and cheap "felt pen" markers. These I generally apply OVER the pencil, to give it a smoother appearance. If used by themselves, I find they tend to look a bit streaky, but when used over pencil it fills in any little white dots (or erasing scars) that I may have overlooked.
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How many hours a day do you spend doing art?
(Diana, Facebook)
Obviously, it depends on the day. I do work 5 days of the week, and typically rise at 6 am. So even on my "early start" days (I start at 8am) I can spend at least 30 mins doing a quick sketch in the morning - or gluring the back on my atcs or whatnot. After work is when I truly throw myself into it. As I work in a highly sociable industry (retail) at the end of the day, after dinner, I often feel like having my "alone time" and will often wind myself down by drawing and surfing the Net. Sometimes both at the same time. Maybe an hour or two, on a good night. On my days off, I will spend probably between 4-6 hours working on art, depending on what other chores need doing (yes, the house DOES get cleaned, and I sometimes read or bake, if my muse isn't nudging me in the right direction). So, in short, anything from between 0 to about 6, with probably 2 hours being the average.
Most basic ATCs (those without too much detailing) take me about an hour. The very simple "quick draw" ones around 20 minutes. It's hard to measure the time accurately, because I usually multi-task and often will pause to check my email, put dinner on or vacuum the lounge etc.
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How do you get past Artist's Block? What pushes you forward whenever you're in a slump and decide it's not worth picking up a pencil ever again? Do you even have that problem?
(Edensrainbow, AFA)
I don't often get Artist's BLock. Oh sure, there is the occasional day that I just don't feel like drawing. So I might take a walk in the sun, bury myself in a book, hang out with a friend... Or, you know, go to work! Sometimes I feel a little like I'm caught in a rutt - like I've drawn too many animals, too many birds. In those cases I tend to think "what's something I haven't drawn yet?" And then draw that. Currently, for example I'm drawing fruit. And I've drawn musical instruments. Objects and quirky still lives are something I would like to explore further.
Generally, if I wait a few days and distract myself with books etc, the muse will strike again!
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Many people suffer from under confidence in their own work; i.e. they NEVER feel that they are as good or equal to the artistic capabilies of others. If you suffer from that it certainly never shows, but do you consider it to be a good/positive thing to admit to being unsure of your own worth, or do you think that if we all say I am good at what we do, we can eventually believe it??
(Fantasy Firebird, AFA)
I hope you do not feel I come across as arrogant, Firebird! I do feel inferior to a lot of artists - particularly those of you who are more skilled at the realistic. And yes, I do think it is a good thing to admit to being unsure of your worth - but it is also important that you strive to be better. Some of the people I am watching rant and rave about how rubbish their work is, how they can't draw anything etc, etc, and it seems to me that many of them are just seeking attention and praise. Sometimes I have tried to offer critique and had them balk or get defensive ("It's my style" is a common cry). I don't so much boost about my art as realise my worth. I never think that I am better than anyone else (or at least what anyone else could become if they put in as many art hours as I do), but I am proud of a lot of what I do and how far my art has come. The trick is to realise and identify your weaknesses, and work on improving them. So yes, one should always believe in themselves, and think "I am a good artist, I just need to work on X" rather than "I am a pathetic artist, I should give up." The right attitude helps. But if you think "I am the best", then your art won't improve because you won't be working on the weak spots.
So saying, it is important to recognise your weaknesses and work on them. This is what I am doing at the moment - I am striving for less outlines, more realism and greater detail. Also, try drawing something that is out of your regular comfort zone. If you feel you're no good at people, draw people until you are good! Never back down from something just because you're not sure you can do it.
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Do you have art that you have created that speaks to you and you can't ever let them go? If so, would it be because you heart and soul are deeply embedded into it, or because you think it's the best you have ever made in your eyes.
(ArteDar, this site)
I have a few pieces that feel more personal to me - pictures of my characters or just something I have become attached to. But it is the very rare piece that I keep myself. Often, I think, because I am mainly creating on demand/request I already have my recepient in mind. I wouldn't really say any of my own personal pieces gives me any sort of spiritual attachment, however, my art is too fun and frivalous for that!
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Teaching
If you were to teach others your art techniques would it be the young child or an adult that you prefer?
(ArteDar, this site)
A child, I would think. Adults tend to get caught up in their own techniques and I don't think I'm really qualified - or good enough - to instruct on art. I learned everything I did by trial and error and experience. I'm not sure how I would pass that on to someone else. Advice yes, lessons no.
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Would you or have you ever written and published an instructional art book?
(ArteDar, this site)
I don't think I'm qualified to teach as mentioned above. I have done a few tutorials on my techniques, but I am under no illusions that they will work for anyone but me.
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