|
|
 |
|
Shaun Tan - Freelance Illustrator
|
GETTING my first illustration published when I was 16 - a cover for a science fiction magazine - was very exciting and something of a breakthrough for me.
A year later I won an annual international award for science fiction illustration - propelling me on my career path.
At 26, I have been working as a full-time freelance illustrator for the past five years, producing cover artwork and other illustrations for book publishers (mostly Melbourne and Sydney-based).
I tend to specialise in certain genres, illustrating numerous fantasy novel covers, science fiction and horror stories for both adults and children.
Most of my time is devoted to the illustration and writing of picture books for older readers (including adults), each book taking up to a year to produce.
My income from these is royalty-based, and therefore depends on how well each book sells; fortunately the four picture books I have worked on have been quite successful, gaining several awards and reprints.
A couple of years ago, I saw the publication of my picture book The Rabbits, which last year won the CBC''s Picture Book of the Year Award.
The first book I have written, illustrated and designed, The Lost Thing, has also been published. It is about a boy who discovers a strange creature on the beach and sets out to try to find a place for it in his society.
I have always loved drawing and painting, and also been an avid reader, so the inclination towards book illustration was quite natural.
I looked for a way to support this financially - commercial illustration seemed to do the trick - while having the freedom to work on my own painting/writing projects.
As an illustrator I am essentially self-taught, and began illustrating science fiction stories for magazines in Australia and the US in my late teens, gradually improving with experience.
I graduated with an honours degree in Fine Arts and English Literature from UWA. During my studies, I continued illustrating music posters, prospectus covers, editorial cartoons and lots of science fiction illustration.
To succeed in this line of your work you need to enjoy what you do, to the extent that it is a pleasure to go beyond the call of duty, and to never be happy with work that is merely sufficient.
It also helps to be articulate about your work, and be able to discuss your ideas with confidence and conviction, while at the same time being able to absorb other people''s ideas and make compromises - in other words, having a professional attitude.
Technical competence as an artist is of course necessary, but it is merely a tool for the realisation of ideas; without a strong conceptual imagination, the display of skill is just that - and probably pretty boring in the end.
My working hours are very flexible, and being freelance I am able to control the amount of work I do, and also choose which jobs I would like to do.
It is also a very rewarding job on many levels, particularly as a creative outlet. I get quite a lot of feedback from readers of my picture books, and also get to travel a bit to talk about my work at conferences and schools.
It was quite difficult starting out, building up contacts and developing a reputation that would ensure a regular supply of work - certainly not what I would call secure employment.
I was also working alone like a hermit for a long time out of a small bedroom and felt like a very isolated.
|
Acknowledgements |
Content courtesy of Louise Allan-Johnson. |
|
|
|
|
|
