James Hackett
http://shizzies.com/blog/
Hello James, can you give me some insight into your working process.
what's your avarage day like?
Well I do not have a routine per se. I just usually work early in the day. I am usually awake around 4-6am in the morning. Early in the day it is just a little bit quieter and peaceful so I focus better when compared to later on in the day with noise, heat etc.
2. Your interest in comic book illustration has always informed your work, tell me about this against your background in carnival.
Comics pretty much gave me my start in art, my brother kind of initiated me with it and later on I became an avid collector and fan of these books. I was drawn to all the bold imagery and colours and pretty much the fantastic way that only a comic book can tell a story in graphic details.
It is the design and illustration aspect that got me very interested in carnival and the way one can tell this visual story through sequential layout of costumes. I believe I benefitted a lot by having experienced working with various local prominent artist involved in carnival and art locally like Peter Minshall for example and all the talented artists that were part of the camp in the 90s.
Over an extended period I worked alongside Marlon Griffith who is also quite an interesting creative mind and doing well creatively and getting more and more recognition worldwide for his work. He is also an artist that travelled some similar paths to mind and quite fond of carnival and comic art.
3. What do you think about the way both Art and Design are evolving?
It is a fun time for me I think. I like playing around in various media and discovering different ways to tell my story. It is kind of the reason I am doing fashion, but now there are so many advancements in print and film that you are starting to see interesting narratives in art occur now beyond just the traditional fine art painting. That is fun and exciting to me.
4. What are your views on design education and what would you like to see being done for Artists and Designers now?
I think new designers need to be able to work on a world level. We cannot learn about processes and styles and techniques that are outdated we have to keep abreast of what is going on worldwide. I think designers and artists now have to get off the back seat and be proactive about their world. No one else will understand what needs to be done other than us. This is why I like what the people at Alice Yard and the folks behind Draconian switch are doing for example.
5. You have always embraced alternative ways of seeing, how does this work for you?
I bore really easily. I am a restless individual. Anything routine or static I cannot do for very long. My big adventure involves some risk taking but most times it has benefitted me in the long run. As an artist I try to pay attention to what is happening what people are doing and most importantly find my own spin on something. For example I am a fan of anime and Japanese manga. I started illustrating to find my own interpretation of it, rather than just using the style wholesale with Trinidadian names, I wanted to create a visual animated, illustrative style that was Trinidad. This style however was still informed by the techniques and processes by the Japanese and even some American influence as well as local illustrative stalwarts. Alternative can just mean finding your own voice and being confident enough to use it.
6. Any advice for the student out there who likes drawing but doesn't know how to move forward?
Have to become confident, and never be afraid of mistakes. I spent several months sketching on cheap books and old drawing pads. It built up my confidence to move on to bigger projects and simply made me want to draw more.
7. What are you working on next?
I scrapped quite a few plans I had for this year, now I am just focusing on fashion illustrations and my other fashion related work. I have put off any solo exhibition attempts until I graduate because I am putting most of my energy towards these last two years of school.
Thanks so much James.
Thanks. I enjoyed answering the questions.
PS: You can get James' prints on his site, here -:http://www.shizzies.com/shop/products-page/
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