1. What’s this
illustration for?
This is a
little machine called SMALL. He is one of the characters in my book
BIG AND ME. In the book Small
tells what happens to him and his partner BIG when Big goes a bit
wobbly.
2.
Do you have to wait for a flash of inspiration - how do you
start?
Usually something
triggers an idea for a book. It might be something someone says. It might be
something I see. The book Big and
Me was inspired by a conversation I had with my cousin Kaye
who is a doctor. We were talking about a family we both know where the father
has a sickness in his head which sometimes causes him to do strange things. This
can be hard for his children. Kaye said to me “David, you should do a book that
would help children like them understand what is happening and what they should
do.” I thought I could make a book about two machines that would do that. And I
did. And it does.
3.
How did you get your start as an illustrator?
I
studied art at Swinburne in Melbourne,
worked as an art Director in advertising agencies had my own design and
illustration studio then wrote and illustrated my first
book.
4.
Who or what has influenced your work?
My father was
a sculptor and a calligrapher, he was a big influence.
My first
employer, Lance Stirling introduced me to paper sculpture.
Maurice
Sendak, Charles M. Schulz, James Thurber, John Tenniel, and many others continue
to inspire me.
5.
What's your favourite media for creating pictures?
Paper
sculpture.
6.
Do you experience illustrator's block - if so, what do you do about
it?
Well
sometimes it can be hard to get started. The best thing to do I have found is to
pick up a pen and just draw. Anything. Sometimes I might go for a ride on my
bike or walk a bit.
7.
What's the worst thing about being a freelancer?
I
spend a lot of time by my self, that’s okay, but I do find I am talking to
myself sometimes.
8.
And the best?
It
is just so good to be able to work where and when I want to and to be doing the
sort of work I want to.
9.
What are you working on at the moment?
Hmm,
I’m not sure I should tell you as I have really just begun. Promise you won’t
tell anyone? You sure? Okay, It is a dinosaur book. Not a book about dinosaurs
but a story about what happened to a little dinosaur. Now don’t forget your
promise.
10.
Where can we see more of your work?
In
books of course;
Boo
to a goose, What’s for lunch, Carousel, Just like you and me, Over the hill and
around the bend with Granny and Bert and me, Ringle Tingle Tiger, Snap went
Chester,
Refugees, Where there’s smoke, The secret life of Hedley Wheelspin, Lofty’s
mission, Big and me, and soon Rufus The numbat.
And
at www.thestylefile.com/
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