Chitchat: Si Clark
Your Full Name
Si Clark
Tell us about you
I am a freelance illustrator/animator working in London. I have been working professionally for about 4 years now and spend most of my time working. I’m pretty obsessed with my work but see it as too much of a problem as it’s something I love doing.
In your opinion, what would be the secret ingredients to become a great illustrator?
A great imagination and a huge passion for your work
Where are you located?
NW London
What is the most fascinating part of being an illustrator?
The fact that people pay you to do what you love. Admittedly not all jobs are exactly what you want to be doing but most of them are, for me anyway.
Where do you get inspirations from?
This is a hard question to answer. I guess for me it would be mainly from music. Or it could be random things I see throughout my day. I could see a certain colour combination on a building and then BAM I have an idea in my head. Or when I’m just about to go to sleep I get loads of ideas.
How do you promote/ sell/ showcase your work?
I’m represented for my illustration work by The Bright Agency and I also put my work on pretty much every free online gallery I can find. I also enter lots of competitions and put adverts up on job sites.
What is your long range goals in your life?
To become a successful animation director and illustrator
What types of assignment/ project are you attracted the most? Why so?
Music realted projects. One of my main passions in life is music so the idea that people will pay you to listen to music and then pour your imagination onto paper is just amazing. I illustrate lots of album covers and a couple animated music videos.
Who is an illustrator that you look up to? Why so?
Marc Craste, for his illustration work and animation work. He has an identifiable style but mangages to still make each project look unique.
Describe a difficult work/ project situation and how would you overcome it?
If I’m finding it difficult to come up with an idea the best thing is to just leave it and do something else. Once I take my mind off it my unconscious gets to work and then after a while a completed idea pops into my head.
What do you think about the Internet and how it is affecting our lifestyle?
It’s changed the way in which illustrators work. I work with clients from all over the world because they have found my work online and got in touch. It’s so easy to promote yourself for free (once you have a website, though of course you could use the many free online galleries out there). There are lots of fears that it is effecting the way people communicate but I can’t say I agree with that point of view. It seems to come from older people who are just worried about change.
If you could turn back time, how would you do things differently?
I’m pretty happy where I am right now and if I went back and changed things I might not have the same friends as I do now.
How do you keep your work fresh? Do you need to consciously adapt your style or does it progress naturally?
It seems to progress naturally. I experiment a lot in my personal work and then that shapes the work I do professionally.
Name 3 of your favorite (art) books/ magazines
- Une Semaine de Bonte – Max Enrst
- Twilight – Photography in the magic hour
- World without words
What is your life motto?
I don’t have one. I just work insanely hard and hope something good will come from it.
In what kind of a work environment do you do your best work?
On my own, usually in the evening.
What do you like the sound of? Why so?
Crackling from old vinyl. I love the texture of the sound.
If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
www.si-clark.co.uk
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