Illustrator Interview: David Zacharis
David Zacharis has made the cover art for Northern Spies’ single on EardrumsPop, and this is our illustrator interview with him.
Can you give us a short presentation of yourself and your art?
I would like to think that I draw images that would live in the world that Jonathan Richman paints with his music. Most of the works that I am most proud of have been for my band the Smittens. For the Smittens I have mixed illustration with creations made of Clay, and Felt. My Friend Ted refers to it as “Craftic Design.”
What are you working on right now?
Right now, I am working on a poster for my nephew. I do I have a couple of Smittens related projects that I am working on. And I always have a graphic novel that I am working on, but don’t we all?
What are your favourite tools?
Canson 8.5×5.5 Inch Black Sketch book, Palomino Blackwing 602 and Abode Illustrator.
How do you begin / conceptualise a project?
I keep a folder in my dropbox called inspirations that I am constantly adding images too. I also have draw in my sketch book constantly. So for most projects there is an easy starting for inspiration.
Please tell us about the process of making the EardrumsPop-cover! Is this the way you usually work?
It came naturally out of a conversation between Astrid and I. It was really an easy project for me and a pleasure to work on.
Who / what are your greatest Visual Inspirations?
It sounds pretentious but the discovery of the Mid Century Mass Market Big Eyed Artist such as Margret Keene, Ozz Franca, Eve and Lee really shaped my drawing style. For current artist I really love the works of Yoshitomo Nara, James Kochalka (http://kochalka.tumblr.com/), Abby Manock (http://www.abbymanock.com) and Susie Ghahremani (http://boygirlparty.com).
Is music or other forms of art an inspiration? If so, what do you listen to?
My life is a Boy, music, his kitty and his sketch book against the world. I love to listen to indiepop (I am not just saying this) as I draw. Many times I will incorporate lyrics from the songs into the drawings. Music inspires me to make draw without it I don’t think I would be drawing.
Describe an average working day.
I spend too much of my day hastily stapled to a keyboard designing websites for accountants
.
What are your future plans? Any exciting things you are looking forward to?
I have two project in the works called “Lo-fi and in love” and “They Don’t name High Schools after Robots”
. That is all I can reveal.
What question and answer would you like to end this interview with?
