Erick Ingraham

Interview

Hutchinson, Kansas January 23, 2002
Mr. Erick Ingraham:

Hello, my name is Aron Gelineau. I am a senior at Buhler High School in Kansas. At this point in time all seniors at BHS are organizing a senior project. The subject I chose to present is illustration. This is why I am contacting you. Looking at your work, I know you are a gifted artist. Having your input on my project would be excellent. I know you are a busy person, but I have a short interview below. If you could find the time to complete and return this interview on or before February 16th, it would be much appreciated. any other valuable information you are able to include, would also be helpful. Thank you, for your time and effort, put forth for this interview. Sincerely, Aron Gelineau

Thank you for contacting me, Aron . I'm always happy to answer questions. E-mail makes it easy. I answered these questions off-line so I could take my time.

1. How many years have you been a professional illustrator?

Back in 1972, graduating college with a Fine Arts Degree I was building a portfolio aiming at children's book publishing. After a brief periods of being a janitor, a carpenter and a draftsman in 1973, I started getting small illustration jobs from a local publisher. Book projects followed ( I'll attach a bibliography to the end of this letter) and my career began.

2. What do you enjoy most about being an illustrator? Why?

The ability to lead a varied and flexible life. It could be the state of relearning the business at the same time continuing to perfect my art skills. I like challenge, adversity, and going further - pushing myself.

3. Why did you choose this profession?

From a very early age I was certain that I was good enough to make a living at drawing. There was a strong influence from my love of illustrations in children's books, especially when books by Arthur Rackham were discovered in my college library.

4. Typically, who and what do you illustrate for?

This answer varies from month to month. Depending on the day, I might be designing a logo, resuming the illustration of a book, presenting a book talk at an elementary school, commercial illustration, or updating a web site. My client list over the years has included PC Connection, Inc. (the raccoon character), Scarborough Nantucket Briar, (now part of Crabtree & Evelyn), Vermont Lottery (logo), Peterborough Players (theater) and D.D.Bean & Sons (Matches).

5. What company do you work for? There has never been a time since 1974 when I could call any place or person an employer. A few times I could refer to a client as a steady client.

6. Was it hard to become "known" as an illustrator? Explain.

I'm glad you asked that, because I feel very lucky to be known at all in this "media heavy" world. "Cross-Country Cat" was my second book! It's been in print since 1979. It gave me the lucky break I needed. Hot-Air Henry becoming a featured book on Reading Rainbow (PBS- TV) in the 80's was lucky too.

7. How many years did it take to get where you are today? Explain.

Since 1974, I worked in the art field as a jack-of all-(art)trades . A blend of book and commercial illustration, watercolor and oil painting, logo design work, and school presentations. The whole mix goes on to this day. Twenty-eight years in total.

8. Did you attend college, an art school, or neither? If neither explain how you "fell" into the business.

I went to Kutztown U., in Pennsylvania. It's a school well-known for producing teachers and particularly art teachers. I was in a graduating class of six Painting majors. I liked the idea of getting paid to fill an assignment and quickly let go of the ideal of "art for art's sake". It didn't take long before I was was making a decent living illustrating full-time.

9. Did you originally want to be an illustrator? If no, tell what you wanted to be and why.

I started college as an Advertising major. That may have worked out, but I switched right away to Fine Arts - Painting. I guess I was turned off by commerce in general. It was the Sixties. Drawing skills are needed in illustration and painting is an extension of drawing. I was gaining the experience needed to become an illustrator.

10. About how much does an illustrator make as annual income or is an illustrator paid for each work done?

I know there are staff illustrators working for companies, like interactive game producers but generally speaking, most prefer the better money freelancing despite the uncertainty of income, paying your own taxes and no built-in insurance coverage. Yearly incomes can vary in one's career from 20 to 100 thousand. A few make a lot more than that.

11. How much schooling does it take to become an illustrator?

Illustration is visual teaching. The best teachers know the subject inside and out. Being an illustrator is the art of reading, learning, researching and understanding. One can learn this in many ways, but I recommend college because the project assigned have real deadlines and you get to see varied solutions to a single project.

12. What medium do you prefer working in? Why?

Pencil, watercolor. I like oil and sometimes acrylic. I stay away from pastels.

13. Is there any advice you can give to an aspiring illustrator?

Fine tune the balance of "perfecting your artistic abilities" with keeping an "organized office" (an uphill battle). Get set up and stay busy, even when the deadlines seem far away. Weave in projects for your self-promotion. Be very conservative with money, but don't forget to invest in yourself; equipment and promotion.

14. How long does it take to complete a project?

I put as much time into a project as needed. Some work can be done in a few hours and projects like a fully-illustrated children's book can take 500 hours.

15. Explain the process you use in your illustrating, the steps involved, and how you end up finishing a project in a given amount of time.

I start by closing my eyes trying to formulate what the final would look like . My imagination is fueled by collected memories combined in different ways. Then, quick sketches, done in a hurry, capture the best thoughts. Some development follows and then I usually do some research to clarify my subjects. A final rough is arrived at after a lot of hard work. After a transfer to a final surface the painting is rendered as well as possible, leaving enough time at the end for the "dessert work".

Thank you for your help. Good luck with your continued success.

Best of luck to you,

Erick Ingraham