Part 2: Jon Burgerman – Master Doodler explains why you don’t need lots of cash or fancy resources to be successful.
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Were you encouraged to pursue life as an artist by those around you or was there any opposition?
A bit of both, most people have been very encouraging and a few art tutors along the way were disparaging but I think you have to expect that. If you can’t stand up to criticism and argue your case at that level you’re probably going to crumble when confronted with any real criticism you may face outside of an educational institution.
Heroes of Burgertown Mini Figures
Did you have any particular people who helped mentor or guide you when you started out? Not really but lots of professionals I emailed did kindly email back offering bits of advice here and there. You pick up advice where you can and treat all your early jobs as learning experiences – always ask plenty of questions. That’s great advice, too many people are scared to ask questions and it’s an important part of learning. You mention emailing some professionals for help, can you tell me who has been particularly helpful to you? The Association of Illustrators are really helpful. I wish I’d invited other artists out to lunch to quiz them about their practices but I wasn’t clever enough to think of that at the time. I did kind of work in a vacuum for a while. Monsters What things do you find challenging or scary about being an artist? I’m afraid of everything – what if it’s crap and people hate it? What if I hate it? Exhibitions are probably the scariest things, which is why I like doing them the most. That’s great, so you’re saying – face the challenges head on. Tell me more about your thoughts on fear, does it help or hinder you? As it’s all in the mind you can choose to let it limit you or force you to push on and conquer it. If you want an excuse you can happily find one in almost everything. Card Paint2 How often do you find yourself failing at something or abandoning a piece of work? I fail at lots of things, you should of seen the porridge I made last weekend. Failure isn’t to be feared. Everything is just practice for the next time you’ll attempt it. Apart from good culinary skills, what does it take to be a successful in this industry? You need to be ready to learn, be nice to people, work hard, be reliable, have ideas, be clean and tidy and have some common sense. Someone told me to always offer a little more than is required. Be enthusiastic too, no-one like a sullen sad-sack mopping about the place. Offer to help with things and to make tea every so often. Is life in the public eye what you thought it would be when you set out? I’m hardly in the public eye – I draw for a living, it’s not like you get to sleep with supermodels and drink Champagne from glass slippers, I’m not Gary Baseman you know! It’s strange if someone recognizes me at an exhibition or something but that’s quite rare and I often run away before I can get embarrassed (or indeed embarrass myself). We’ll have to ask Gary about those supermodels, but until you reach that point :) what would you say are the biggest benefits of this type of life? No boss to answer to, you’re in control of what you do and when you do it, and it’s fun! Koolaid Thank you Jon, some wise words there, it’s been a pleasure talking with you as always. Pens Are My Friends Interview by Angel Greenham“Treat all your early jobs as learning experiences”
“You can choose to let it limit you, or force you to push on and conquer it”
“Always offer a little more than is required”
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