Treasure trove
I present to you my ever-growing treasure-trove of internet-based inspiration.
This precious list is a collection of conversations, interviews, tours, tutorials and stories from some of my favourite creative people from all over the world - writers, illustrators, picture book makers, sculpters, poets, philosophers, songwriters and more.
Whenever I feel I’ve lost my way in my creative life, I can dive in to this list and recalibrate with something on this list - remind myself what on earth it is I am doing on this planet making things.
I hope you find some gems that help you too.
Shaun Tan
Shaun is probably my favourite Australian artist - he is versatile, humble, patient, philosophical and exceptionally masterful at all of the mediums I have seen him work in. His calm, analytical approach really defies the incredible weirdness of his art, and I think its the generous depth of rational thought he puts into the worlds that he builds and way he executes the art with such precision that makes them so immersive and believable. His work makes me want to always strive to be an exceptional draftsperson while also soaring to strange worlds with my imagination. We are so lucky to have him in Australia, advocating for storytelling, visual arts, Australian culture and the blending of reality and fantasy.
Shaun Tan Interviewed by actor William McInnes in his home studio in Melbourne (2011)
Digital Artists Talk based on Q&A from students around Australia (2020)
An article by Shaun Tan about his book Rules of Summer - great samples and sketches
Interview on Talking Drawing (2020) in depth interview about Shaun’s career and influences
Short interview on his background (2013) and the influence of suburban Perth and Brunswick
Interview: The Daily Heller: One-Eyed, One-Horned, Flying Purple People Eater (October 24, 2022)
Interview: The Illustration Department with Giuseppe Castellano (October 25, 2022)
Interview: With Kyo Maclear for Orion Magazine (October 2022)
Kim Gamble
Gamble was an Australian artist perhaps best known as the illustrator for the Tashi series, but he was oh so much more. He died far too soon of cancer and is someone who I would love to have met. He had an extremely insightful, instinctive way of making art that naturally tells a story - but he was also an exceptional craftsman in mixed media, and could make a dead blank page come to life with a few strokes of coloured chalk and inject it with pure magic. His pencil work was particularly detailed but never overworked - theres a softness to the edges and his use of light is absolutely magical - no wonder he was the perfect person to create the world of Tashi.
Heres some of the online media featuring him that I have managed to track down. If you know anything about his work legacy or archive, I would love to hear from you!
Part 1 of Kim drawing a scene from Tashi in chalk pastels, featuring a gorgeous evening landscape with the moon reflecting on the water, and Tashi and his friends aghast at the Gollum they have brought to life. And heres Part 2
Some glimpses at his gorgeous original pencil sketches for Tashi
I would love to see some of Gamble’s illustration work up close, especially the pencil sketches and watercolours from Tashi. I know a very small collection is held by the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature in Canberra - but where oh where is the rest of it? I imagine Allen and Unwin still have it given they are still publishing new books, such as the alphabet books they produced in a collaboration with his two daughters. I must ask! Imagine digging into those archives! What a delight.
If you know anything about the whereabouts of such a collection, let me know.
Jon Klassen
Storytelling workshop with Jon Klassen (2016) presented by Writers Victoria in Melbourne.
At 36 minutes Klassen shows the powerful impact of simply moving a character’s eyes!
Detailed 3-part interview with Klassen (2017) hosted by comic artist Jason Brubaker:
Part 1: Learning your Strengths and Weaknesses
Part 2: Pushing through the struggle of writing
Part 3: The Business of Children’s Books
Draw a Turtle with Jon Klassen (2016) by Wall Street Journal
Matthew Forsythe
Watch Matthew Forsythe paint live in this interview with the New York Times (2016)
The Making of Robin Robin - Panel Discussion with the film makers (2022). Film creators Dan Ojari, Mikey Please and Matthew Forsythe discuss the making of Robin Robin - a gorgeous and funny short animated Christmas film made by the company behind Wallace and Gromit (Aardman Productions). Matthew shares original art, title typography, character development (even collage) and colour palette right through to set design.
And much more…
Quentin Blake: As Large as Life (2016) an interview coinciding with an exhibition of over 60 pieces commissioned for four UK hospitals - I love the levity he brings to these huge works made for the traditionally long, sterile, plain walls of hospital wards, especially those for the mental health ward.
Kurt Vonnegat Lecture (2016) this genius writer muses on the meaning of life and death, demonstrating his pure delight for the English language, and chuckling and wheezing wirily at his own jokes throughout - pure delight. Sad he’s gone.
John Cleese on Creativity (1991)
Neil Gaiman on How Stories Last (2020) and Interviewed by Tim Ferris (2019). Also here is Neil reading one of his best creepy short stories Click Clack the Rattle Bag (2014) while The October Tale (2015) is so perfectly crafted that it practically teaches you how to write The October Tale (2015)
Diana Wynne Jones on the Studio Ghibli interpretation of Howls Moving Castle (1986) DWJ is my hero and I wish there were more interviews with her. Her book, Reflections on the Magic of Writing is a great collection for superfans.
Terry Pratchett in conversation at the Wheeler Centre (2013)
10 Years with Miyazaki (2020) - detailed doco about the daily life and workings of the founder of Ghibli studio
Jim Kay talks about process and inspiration at Create Expo (2015) and A gorgeous tour of Jim Kay’s home studio (2015)
Michael Leunig interview (2013) and on One Plus One (2010) Michael discussed in his typically shy but insightful manner the role of cartoons, worry about bushfires and his surprise at controversy from his work.
Ken Done’s lockdown studio tour (2020) provides a great peek inside his working space, including his delicious messy palettes and big old brushes and Ken Done ‘Looks at some nice colours’ (2020) - a quick painting tour through the ‘journey, adventure and struggle’ of one of his works in progress. I love his approach to making art, and his Youtube Account is fabulous.
FishInk Blog - Craig is an artist and discerning collector and sharer of wonderful quirky influences. His blog is a delight and somehow every artist or illustrator I want to find out more about ends up being profiled on his blog. An endless deep dive for the curious.
TOP PODCASTS AND EPISODES
Design Matters with Debbie Milman
Annie Atkins - Dublin-based designer/writer - learning through copying, the role of graphic design in film, working with Wes Anderson, her first childrens book
Carson Ellis - illustrator and book maker on farms and making up your own language
Jessica Hische 2011 and again in 2020 (post kids) - designer and type designer on valuing your work
Rick Rubin?
Oliver Jeffers?
Stefan Sagmeister?
Steven and Nicholas Heller?
Jad Abumrad of Radiolab Fame
Radiolab
Conversations
This American Life
Serial
Still to come:
Cressida Cowell
JK Rowling
Felicita Sala
Neil Gaiman
Dianna Wynne Jones
Ghibli/Miyazake - more on the creative process
John Marsden
Enya
Tony Ross
Chris Riddell
Katharina Rapp - https://studiorapp.com/
Sir Lesley Thornton - https://sirleslie.com.au/
Mitch Vane - https://www.mitchvane.com/
Elise Hurst -
Favourite Quotes
‘I’m into this world (he says mimicking the flick of a brush) and nothing else…those little dots unfolding, I don’t know how to put it into words really’ - Eric Carle
My colours are impressionistic, my work is expressionistic. Its like prayer for me. - Eric Carle
‘Use the biggest brush you’ve got’ - Ken Done