OFFSET 2014 speaker and daydreaming illustrator, Mike Perry has a new book, My Mother Caught Me Doodling, launching this weekend to an eagerly awaiting audience.
Following on from the exhibition of the same name, the 160-page book is jam packed with bright colour and awe-inspiring images of the female form. In his usual playful approach, Mike has created beautiful tributes to women with his patented spontaneous energy and vivid imagery. The humour and attitude of the naked ladies, frolicking in flowery meadows or along geometric mirrored halls, mean these drawings are far from being seedy and instead take us into Mike’s imagination and show us his celebration of the female form.
The book also features three essays by Frank Nicholas and you can get your hands on a copy here.
As well as the new book, Mike also created the ever-changing opening titles for Comedy Central’s hit comedy, Broad City. We caught up with Mike to see what he’s been up to since OFFSET and what’s in store for the future.
You spoke at OFFSET 2014, do you have favourite memory from your time in Dublin?
The group of speakers you brought together was brilliant. I had so much fun just sitting around with the crew talking about life, art and the journey.
Some of Mike’s previous books in the OFFSET library.
Since OFFSET 2014, amongst many other projects you’ve released a new book, My Mother Caught Me Doodling. Which begs the questions has she caught you, and what does she think of your new book?
As a kid I always wanted to draw naked ladies. I would do a drawing. Be super afraid someone would open my sketchbook and find it. So I would destroy them a day or two later. As for her opinion on the book. She hasn’t seen it yet. Not sure why. I think she will be into it!
The book looks great, from initial concept to finished piece, how long did it take you to complete?
I started it last year around the time of OFFSET. Worked pretty diligently on it ‘til June. It was supposed to be released by a small UK publisher. I sent the files off and waited. Part of the book release was a show at the KK Outlet in London. While the book was supposed to be at the printer I worked on the show. Continuing to develop ideas. We left for London in November. I was thrilled. I would finally see the book. We would have a show and things would go off with a bang. I arrived in London, met with the publisher and the book looked like shit. They had not printed to the specifications we agreed to. To be honest I think they just printed it digitally. So I shut it down. We had the show but did not release the book. I know a few copies are out in the world and if you purchased one I’m sorry that you did. That is not the book I made.
So I came back to New York and waited ‘til I had the resources to release it myself. And it is a beautiful object. The book feels good to touch. The book is an experience. Lots of fluorescent colors. It was a journey but it’s done and now I can share it with the world.
We’re huge fans of Broad City here at OFFSET. You originally turned down the job of creating the opening titles as you were overbooked but later reconsidered. What’s it like working with Ilana Glazer, Abbi Jocobson and the Broad City team?
It’s brilliant. They want me to be myself, have as much fun as they are. I’m very fortunate.
In the first meeting you blew them away with multiple ideas. This led to the titles changing for every episode. Do you think this makes them a vital part of the show, a kin to The Simpsons’ opening titles?
Big time. I have been told multiple times that the openers are one of the characters on the show. And they keep asking me to do more so everyone thinks they are important.
With your animations you don’t have to abide by laws of gravity or physics. Do you find working with animation very different to illustration? Are there fewer limitations for you?
Massively different. Animation comes to life. It blows my mind when something works. I think the element of time has always been something I have thought about but having to make something that exists in time is inspiring.
We heard that working on Broad City inspired you to begin your own television series. Can you tell us more about that?
Not really. I’m working on it with Jim Stoten. It’s going to be insane! We are looking for large sums of cash to make so if anyone wants to be an investor hit me up!
Any more exciting plans in the pipeline for 2015?
There is always something exciting around the corner!
If you haven’t already, take a look at Mike’s awesome talk at OFFSET 2014.