Interviews

De opdracht was om 3 interviews te regelen waar van eentje face-to-face.

Het interview in persoon is nog niet gedaan, maar komt er wel, het is alleen een beetje moeilijk om een datum te prikken want de persoon is heel erg druk, omdat deze ontwerper wel heel erg tof werk maakt en ik hem graag zou spreken ga ik gewoon toch daarheen, ookal is het te laat voor de opdracht.

De twee interviews die wel zijn gelukt zijn met Jeremaine Rogers; een (voornamelijk) posterontwerper voor bands en festivals, en Eric van den Boom van Boomartwork.

NAME: Jermaine Rogers
OFFENSES: Poster Artist, Painter
VITALS: Human male, age: changing daily
LOCATION: Brooklyn, NY



HISTORY: Jermaine Rogers is most widely known as one of the leaders in the field of modern rock poster art. This involves the creating and production of promotional poster artwork featuring concerts, musical events, and musical releases by certain rock and roll artists. Jermaine Rogers has created these pieces of advertising since the year 1994. By 1996, due to growing workloads and collectible popularity in this field, Rogers abandoned his secular job to pursue the creation of poster art on a full-time basis. For the last few years, Jermaine has chosen to concentrate more on fine art, design, and other personal pursuits.

Jermaine has designed nearly 800 posters for a wide variety of musical acts, including RADIOHEAD, NEIL YOUNG, TOOL, WEEZER, TORI AMOS, DAVID BOWIE, THE DEFTONES, THE MELVINS and literally hundreds of others. See his most recent editions: here

Jermaine's corporate clients have included VERIZON, CLEAR CHANNEL ENTERTAINMENT, SONY, INTERPLAY GAMES, XATRIX, INTERSCOPE RECORDS, TMG, BUDWEISER, and various others.

Jermaine's illustration work has appeared in ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, NEW YORK NEWSDAY, NME, ESQUIRE, HOUSTON PRESS, THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, THE FREE PRESS, BANG, CIRCUIT and various other periodicals and news weeklies.  

STRENGTHS: Rogers has achieved a significant following of fans and collectors alike. His distinctive style of line art has become instantly recognizable, and his original use of color has been praised and derided alike. Rogers' artwork is collected worldwide. He deals with galleries in the USA, Europe, South America, Asia, Australia, and online. His screenprinted concert posters, art prints, original artworks, and paintings have achieved a rising collectible value in the eyes of collectors.

WEAKNESSES: Rogers has an unfailing belief in the spiritual power of art as an aesthetic exercise. His decision-making prowess can be affected by these yearnings to reach out and explore the random thoughts and whims of his mind. Therefore, one cannot predict what Rogers will do next. His artistic influences include such men as Vincent Van Gogh, Andy Warhol, Graham Ingels, and Goya. These men were known to posses the same curious trait of decision-making, based on emotional and spiritual notions regarding their profession. Conclusion: what Rogers will do next is completely unpredictable.
VICES: Rogers has several curious 'hobbies' and interests. These interests are always undulating, moving in and out of focus in the topical surface of Jermaine's life. Provided is a list of the ones that have been identified: old pulp writings, inner-earth theory literature, Ancient and Biblical texts, 1970's children's culture (including television programming, toys, and reading materials), old-time radio shows, and wax museum figures and figure-making.
MUSICA: Rogers seems to enjoy all types of fringe music.

(In het thema van samenwerking)
we're looking for someone to help out just a bit at the spot down in texas. know something about my work, art (in general), have social skills, be sane, and have a tough skin (for when im in 'business mode'). Adobe CS knowledge a plus. understanding the mechanics of screen printing, a plus plus.
and you've got to be trustworthy, on all fronts. i do not give 2nd and 3rd strikes.

end up being phony? i never knew ya...

Deze meneer lijkt me niet erg fijn om mee samen te werken, een foutje en het is gedaan, dat kan niet goed zijn om onder deze omstandigheden te moeten werken.

Boom Artwork

Is BoomArtwork the official name of your business?
Yes, BoomArtwork is the official name. Van Den Boom is my sure name which is Dutch
for 'from the tree'. BoomArtwork is a simple and easy to remember name that describes
my style a bit as well.

Is there a certain type of art buyer that commissions your work frequently? What is
that particular market and why do you think your work is desirable to them?

I’ve a wide range of clients, very diverse. Most of my clients are Art Directors at
advertising agencies. I love working with Art Directors as they usually hire me because
my style suits a particular project they are working on. But I also work for bands, clothing
labels, I work for large companies as well as for non-profit organisations. I really like the
diversity of job. Working with all sorts of people and companies.

Can you tell me who some of your clients are?
I work mostly for advertising agents, clients in cultural markets, fashion and music
industry. The projects I've been doing include poster and flyer design, T-shirt artworks,
adverts, portraits, packaging, logo and identity, editorial illustrations, book covers,
CD/DVD sleeves, website design, murals.

Are you clients all in the same type of business? What are some of your main
types of clients?

I work for a wide range of clients and fields, fashion and apparel like T-shirt designs,
music industry like festival promotion artwork for album sleeves, cultural markets,
Advertising agencies, editorial like magazines and book covers etc. The projects I've
been doing include poster and flyer design, T-shirt prints, adverts, portraits, packaging,
logo and identity, editorial illustrations, book covers, website design, murals.

What mediums do you most often work in for illustration? Why?

I always start with a pencil on paper in the sketch/concept phase, it's the easiest way to
visualise the ideas I have in mind. When the sketch is ready I usually go on by refining
the lines with a brush and pens. You need a lot of practice to get control over the brush,
but I really enjoy using it. I use different materials for shading and colouring like
watercolour, colour pencils, markers combined with digital editing as well.

How did you get started in illustration? The beginning, the hardest parts, the best?
Your first client?

When I was a kid I always liked drawing and I've always been attracted to the
underground illustrations and logo artworks on skateboards, T-shirts, album sleeves and
gig posters. This interest inspired me to become an illustrator and designer. The hardest
parts where the times when I was almost broke, no money and working day and night to
make tight deadlines. But finally it paid off and I can make a modest living out of my
illustrations at the moment.

How did you first get interested in illustration and design?
I've always liked drawing and as a kid I've always been attracted to the underground
illustrations and logo artworks on skateboards, T-shirts, album sleeves and gig posters.
This interest inspired me to become an illustrator and designer.

Where did you go to school and what did you study? Did you teach your self ?

I studied Multimedia Design in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, and after that I studied
illustration at the school of arts in Utrecht, The Netherlands. And of course I learned a lot
from others and through googleling the internet, which can be a great school as well.

What is your process when working on a job? Do you sketch it out first or start
from scratch at a computer?

I always start with a pencil on paper in the sketch/concept phase, it's the most easiest
way to visualise the ideas I have in mind. When the sketch is ready I usually go on by
refining the lines with my brush and pens. I really like the brush because it gives a lot of
character to a line. You need a lot of practice to get control over the brush, but I really
enjoy using it. I use different materials for shading and colouring like watercolour, colour
pencils, markers combined with digital editing as well. I edit the image with illustrator and
photoshop finally.

What inspires you, how do you use that inspiration?

I find my inspiration in daily life, arts, dreams, music, film, stories, friends, other designers
etc. In fact everything can be an inspiration to me, I don't try to focus on one particular
thing and try to be open to all that can be inspiring. I always start sketching, doodling,
writing, brainstorming, collecting, doing research on the internet, talking to others about it.
I also have a little book where I write down ideas when they pop-up, sometimes they are
used if it fits a concept for a commission.

When you feel stuck and uninspired, what do you do?
I’ll start surfing the internet, I would go outside for a walk, search in my sketchbooks for
ideas. Best thing is usually just start with something you think isn’t going to work, and
usually it will lead to something that does work.

You work through a wide variety of media, ranging from posters, tees, logos,
adverts, etc.

The business side/ self promotion side of illustration is very intimidating to many
students, any advice about this? How you got started?

Make sure to have your work online, on as many places as possible, blog, portfolio sites,
facebook etc. It is quite easy to use the internet for promotion, It doesn’t have to cost a
dime and you have enormous exposure. Also, direct email your favourite adverting
agencies and design studios with a simple PDF overview of your work, and try to
introduce yourself. Don’t be scared most people in the business are very nice and willing
to help.

What type of programs do you use? Do you use any special equipment?

I use Photoshop and illustrator, brushes, pens, markers, pencils, colour pencils, water
colour, ink etc. I try to mix it all together

How long does a typical illustration take?

This depends on the complexity and how detailed the illustration is going to be. Can be
anything between a day and a week and a half.

How much time do you spend on illustration vs. design?

Sometimes an illustration blends completely with the design work, and the other way
around. It also depends on the project, but in general I would say 70% illustration and
30% design.

I would love if you would share anything else about your work, yourself, thoughts,
or any words/advice to share from your experience in general!
Try to have fun in what you do, it sounds easy but it can be hard sometimes.

In your opinion, are you free as a freelancer and why?

In some ways you definitely are, and in some ways not I guess.
When working for a boss, you don’t need to worry a lot about the business side of things,
pricing, marketing, acquisition, administration, insurance, pension etc.
So you have more time to do the actual design work. Whilst working as a freelancer, you
do need to have a good range of work coming in otherwise it might be hard to pay the
bills in the end of the month.