JAKE PAGE

In follow-up style to yesterday's blog post about the release of Jake's new children's book, I thought I'd do a little "interview with the illustrator" today.

Kinda feels silly to interview your own husband, but it was fun, too.

I'll start off with a few of my favorite images he's drawn.

And without further ado, the artist's interview:

1.       When did you first feel a calling to be an artist? How did you get started?

I've been drawing for as long as I can remember, drawing dinosaurs and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I've always wanted to draw as a career, but it's shifted from things like shoe designer to comic book illustrator to children's book illustrator, etc.

2. What medium or mediums do you work with?

 In almost all of my work, I'll use pen&ink and pencil as a starting medium. I've gone to watercolor for a few pieces, but lately I've been turning to digital.

3.   Do you have any formal training or are you self taught?

Like most kids, I had art classes in elementary, middle and high school, and I attended Winthrop University for five years studying as an illustrator. But I think as it is with any artist, that there's always some self teaching and discovery along the way.

4.   Do you have any favorite art supplies, books, videos, or other resources that you'd like to recommend?

My favorite supplies are my .03 mechanical pencil and my micron pens. They're used most often. McFarlane toys have become a great help to me when drawing the human figure - some of them have remarkably accurate anatomy. Also, a site to visit is Escape from Illustration Island. Tons of good stuff there.

5.   How do you get ideas to create a piece? What inspires you?

Tough question. Sometimes it's words that spark something, or an interaction between a couple of things. I like juxtaposition, too - combining elements of exaggeration with realism, for instance. I also probably like puns more than is healthy for any one person.

6.   Are there any artists that have influenced your work? Do you have a favorite artist?

Goodness, there are tons of artists who have influenced me...sometimes to the point where I can't go look for inspiration because I'm flooded with it already. I love Oliver Jeffers' children's book works and I think that Andrew Zbihlyj is an amazing illustrator.

7.   Do you collect art?

I wish I did more. Maybe once I get a few more jobs under my belt and my wallet gets a little less emaciated! I do, though, mostly by way of children's books and comic books these days.

8.   What are you working on currently?

At the moment, I'm working on another Illustration Friday drawing, the topic being "Prehistoric". And there's some promotional pieces I'm working on, as well as a logo for an independent movie production company, and some ongoing illustration for an iPhone game app.

9.   Any words of advice for beginner artists?

Explore illustration and illustrators, get in the know, get your work out there and make it available to as many eyes as possible.

10.   And finally, just for fun, what would your ideal day be like? 

Again, tough question! It would definitely consist of a lot of eating of good food, and making good use of a wormhole to travel to all of the places that I have yet to go. Also, if they have it available by the time my ideal day arrives, a trip to Jurassic Park. 

All with my lovely wife, of course. :)

Of course. :)

Hope you enjoyed the interview with professional illustrator, Jake Page!

For more of his work, check out his website.

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