Jon Carling
What are you up to at the moment/ what projects are you working on?
I am always working on drawings, that's how I spend most of my time.
Random subject matter, whatever I feel like at the moment.
I am trying to finish my illustrated book of short stories, extremely short stories.
Its pretty much done, I am hoping to have it out by Feb.
I keep pretty busy selling prints on my
Etsy shop.
Also, there are a few animated videos I am working on, a couple more for a series I
have been working on for Brian Jonestown Massacre, the whole process of
collaborating with them and their music has been really, really fun.
I am also working on a short for the incredible music of Ema and the Ghosts.
Its a cartoon about a Narwhal.
Its exciting for me, because animation is really what I want to do more of. And
this past year has been a real learning experience that I can apply to more realized
work in the future.
There are some of my videos available
on my channel.
What's your routine on a typical working day?
Hmmm, sleeping in, getting my head sorted out enough to make it to one of a few different coffee shops, where I listen to music and just draw until I am hungry.... I usually take a break until the evening begins, and then I draw some more.How difficult has it been for you to make a living on your own terms?
Oh its very difficult, you have to work all the time. Its really not good to think about whether you are making a living or not, the best work comes from a different place than that, its a tricky balancing act. Selling prints on Etsy and Gallery shows have been really great...but its not consistent enough to base a reliable income on.
What are your ideal surroundings for sitting down to illustrate?
Airplane flights are really ideal i think, I can draw endlessly on airplanes. Busy coffee shops too. I think there is something wonderful about background noise....especially white noise. All of my best ideas come from showers, which are essentially white noise chambers.
What is it you like about drawing with ink onto books/ do you use many other materials/ techniques?
I am totally confident and comfortable drawing with an ink pen on old paper, theres nothing better. I don't need anything else to satisfy my work....I am really hung up on ideas, not really the way they come out.
How much planning goes into a drawing/ where do the ideas come from?
Every drawing is a little different. Many just come out, without any provocation, while others are more nurtured works. Its fun to draw some ideas out, in several variations, just to see the possibilities. I love to research a myth or ancient personality, and just kinda let my impressions of that take over. I am never very concerned about an accurate depiction of a story or animal...It might actually be out of pure laziness....but inventing the gaps of knowledge of a particular subject can bring out the best in me.
What do you do when you're not illustrating?
I spend time with the girl I love. Visit my dear friends. I like to play music, recording primitive guitar songs at home. I enjoy learning about our natural and supernatural worlds. I love the northern coast of California, its really magical. I also design furniture and woodwork....it pays bills.
What are you most looking forward to in the near and distant future?
Traveling. I haven't been many places, I haven't even left the continent.... I can't wait to see England and Europe. Looking forward to foraging for old paper.... and all the sights of course. I have been considering some sort of gallery studio place, something really quaint for my work and friends', but that has no chance at the moment.
[Dec 2009] Back to Top
