Continuing our series of posts previewing the contributors to THE STATE OF US, a new pop-up exhibition from Illustrators Ireland opening this Friday, Facebook details here.
Niamh Sharkey – Illustrator & Author.
Contessa L’Estrange, Towers & Tales Lismore Story Festival, Portrait Exhibition
How did you approach the brief? Were you more concerned with likeness or trying to capture essence/personality? Are you conscious of the “sitter” response?
It was an expansive brief in so many ways, and I loved that we had to work big. I was very much inspired by the text from the sitter, although only a sentence long it gave me a glimpse of his true character. I tried to be more playful in my approach to the illustration, using different media to my norm and had fun with giant Japanese brush pens. I do admit that I googled to seek out more images but instinctively went straight for capturing the personality and essence. I have no idea if I’ve nailed it at all but will find out on the night. Every now and then I’d get a wave of panic but I reckon either we will become lifelong friends and he’ll immediately commission me to be his personal portrait illustrator or he will hire a hit man!
Sneak Peak from Niamh’s piece for THE STATE OF US
Do you know the sitter personally?
No, but I cannot wait to meet him on the night.
Detail from Beatrice Alemanga “The Marvellous Fluffy Squishy Itty Bitty”
Can you share a portrait by another artist you admire and explain why?
I greatly admire Beatrice Alemanga’s portraits of children from her picture book ‘What is a Child?’ I was lucky enough at the Bologna Book Fair to see Beatrice’s original illustrations up close and was struck by how fragile, honest and truthful they were. Beatrice seems to be able to capture children’s inner strengths and their true personalities, her illustrations are incredibly moving, both strong and intense.
Matt Griffin – Illustrator & Author
How did you approach the brief? Were you more concerned with likeness or trying to capture essence/personality? Are you conscious of the “sitter” response?
Likeness is obviously important, but what I was really hoping to do was to capture the lightness and humour of the sitter’s description. It was only a short bio, but full of personality. So I went solely on that (rather than getting in touch to find out more). If ‘sitter response’ is the sitter hating how you’ve portrayed them, then yes – still am!
Sneak Peak of Matt’s piece for THE STATE OF US
Do you know the sitter personally?
We’ve met a few times over the years, but being based in Clare, it’s more online than real-world (like a lot of people I ‘know’ these days)
Francis Bacon “Three Studies for a Self Portrait.”
Can you share a portrait by another artist you admire and explain why?
I’ve always loved Francis Bacon, and especially his portraits. I love how they are gestural, visceral.. More like a memory of a person than a recreation.
Colm Tobin
How did you approach the brief? Were you more concerned with likeness or trying to capture essence/personality? Are you conscious of the “sitter” response?
I don’t see any separation between likeness and essence/personality. People’s features march to the tune of their owner, and it’s this effect that I try to capture rather than an accurate map of the sitter’s features. Where a sitting isn’t possible I try to watch some video of the subject, in addition to working from stills.
Sneak Peak of Jon’s piece for THE STATE OF US
Do you know the sitter personally?
No, though I’m familiar with his work.
Lucian Freud’s ‘Portrait of the Big Man’
Can you share a portrait by another artist you admire and explain why?
Lucian Freud’s ‘Portrait of the Big Man’ is a good illustration of what I admire in great portraiture. This looks to me like a painting of the sitter’s entire life, written on his features.
Jon’s Website.
We will be continuing to add more interviews and sneak peaks over the next few days.
We sat down with one of the co-organisers, illustrator and artist Steve Doogan, last month
THE STATE OF US
Presentated by Illustrators Ireland in asscociation with OFFSET.
Friday 16th June, 7:30PM
The Chocolate Factory