Interview with Philip Grisewood

q)What is your name and what do you do?

a)Hello, my name is Philip Grisewood and I am an illustrator/graphic designer based in London.

q)When did you really get into art?

a)I have always been a very keen artist; I liked to draw from still life at an early age.

My parents saw this and have always encouraged me. I also liked to glue broken fossils back together, varnish them and keep them in clear cases labelled with there scientific name. I have always been geeky too.

q)How did you come to the realization that you should try your luck at art on a more serious level?

a)I enjoyed science at school but really I was not very academic so it felt like I had no other choice than to succeed with my art. At our end of year assembly I won two awards, one for art and one for graphics. After this­­ I went to attend a two-year course in general art and design in my hometown Worthing. By the end of the

Course I decided to study fine art in Liverpool.

q)How did you discover the particular style that you have?

a)My painting style partly comes from my fine art background. I never finished my fine art course because

I felt I wanted to pursue something more commercial. A few years later I started Illustration at Camberwell College Of Art in London. This really suited me because it combined fine art and graphics with direction on characterisation and story telling. After graduating I started a job designing graphics for a couple of fashion labels. Most of this is done on a computer and it uses more iconic imagery and pop. So my style goes through cycles and changes depending on whom I am creating work for.

q)How would you describe your style?

a)I would describe my illustration style as very graphic and painterly. I have always been obsessed with materials and layering which seems to come out in all the work I do. It is important my illustrations have a lot of texture and a dark edge.

q)Who or what influences your art?

a)Everything influences my art – fashion, advertising, music, and of course my feelings and my experiences.

Artists that influence me include Eduardo Paolozzi, Sigmar Polke, Jun Takahshi, Henrik Drescher, Gary Taxali, Michelle Thompson, Arnaud Loumeau and Zeroten.

q)How often do you create a new piece?

a)Everyday!

q)What kind of success have you had with your art?

a)Everyone’s idea of success is different. I have a creative job which is a start, as for money……..

q)What would be the ultimate goal for you and your art?

a)The ultimate goal for my art and me would simply be to change people’s views in a positive way. And to start my own fashion label and win a prize like a huge cake.

q)What do you see as an accomplishment in the way of art?

a)What is sometimes seen as a small accomplishment can turn out to be a very large one­­. For instance Marcel Duchamps Urinal changed the boundaries of art forever.

q)What kind of message, if any, do you try to convey through your art?

a)I always try to convey some kind of message through my art. My illustrations often deal with political issues such as Capitalism and pollution.

q)Sum up your art in one word.

a)Bubble.

q)Any additional comments?

a)Thankyou.

q)…your contacts…

a) www.grisewoodillustration.com

www.myspace.com/grisewoodillustration

Philipgrisewood@hotmail.com

Mobile – 07746 795477