Award winning freelance illustrator and cartoonist Fintan Taite lives in Dublin, Ireland. He is a current member and former chairman of the Illustrators Guild of Ireland and has been awarded the Best Editorial Illustrator from the Guild. He has produced work for newspapers and magazines including the Sunday Tribune, The Dubliner, Magill and The Irish Times. As an illustrator he has also created artwork for books, ad campaigns, theater posters and even labels for wine bottles. Fintan’s first comics work was “The Ring” which he drew for the 2009 anthology 'Machines, Miracles or Magic'. “The Ring” was picked up by indie publisher Blurred Books and published in the first issue of ‘Pood’, their Big IF comics imprint. ‘Pood’ is a 16-page, full color broadsheet newspaper anthology that features many of today’s alternative comics creators. Fintan has just finished up a second strip for ‘Pood’ that will be published in Issue #2 coming out next month. Check out his website to see more of his work. You can see even more examples of his art over at the Lemonade Illustration Agency who recently started representing Fintan.
What is your favorite pen to use?
I use dip pens and my favorite nib of the moment is the Leonardt EF Principal.
Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
I usually draw my roughs with a blue or red col-erase pencil.
Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
Both…depends on the job.
If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
Watercolours, acrylics.
What type of paper do you use?
Arches 300 lb hot pressed.
What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Backgrounds!
Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
All of them, but mostly from websites.
Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Eat breakfast.
Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
Talk radio.
Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Spider-Man or anything by MARVEL or DC. I also loved the Tintin books by Herge and Asterix the Gaul by Goscinny and Uderzo.
What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson (Cartoonist Survey #125)...genius!
What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
The collected short stories of Ray Bradbury...and yes, I still have it.
Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I studied animation for 3 years in Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design & Technology in my home town of Dublin Ireland.
Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Both.
Did either of your parents draw?
No, but they had a great love of books, art and old movies which they passed on to me.
Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
My lovely wife.
Do you keep a sketchbook?
I buy a lot of expensive sketchbooks that I rarely end up using…preferring instead to doodle on cheap typing paper...less pressure.
Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
Yes, to school children...nerve wracking but great fun.
Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
I don't think talent develops without passion...so passion wins by a nose.
Do you collect anything and if so what?
I collect cartoonist’s work of the 50,s and 60's particularly Ronald Searle...possibly the greatest draughtsman of the 20th century.
If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Choo Choo from Top Cat!
Are you a righty or lefty?
Lefty or 'Citeog’ which is the Irish expression for a lefty!
If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Write...or sing with a big band swing orchestra.
In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Messy...lots of pens nibs and brushes lying around the desk area with my computer, A3 scanner and filing cabinet on the opposite side of the room.
Do you play any musical instruments?
No, but I like to sing...see above.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Stick to what you believe in and never work for less than you're worth. As my Dad used to say, you'll always be busy if you work for free!
Who is your favorite artist?
Ronald Searle
Thank you Fintan.
Ignatz Award winning comic book writer and artist Jeffrey Brown provides the next set of answers.
What is your favorite pen to use?
I use dip pens and my favorite nib of the moment is the Leonardt EF Principal.
Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
I usually draw my roughs with a blue or red col-erase pencil.
Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
Both…depends on the job.
If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
Watercolours, acrylics.
What type of paper do you use?
Arches 300 lb hot pressed.
What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Backgrounds!
Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
All of them, but mostly from websites.
Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Eat breakfast.
Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
Talk radio.
Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Spider-Man or anything by MARVEL or DC. I also loved the Tintin books by Herge and Asterix the Gaul by Goscinny and Uderzo.
What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson (Cartoonist Survey #125)...genius!
What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
The collected short stories of Ray Bradbury...and yes, I still have it.
Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I studied animation for 3 years in Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design & Technology in my home town of Dublin Ireland.
Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Both.
Did either of your parents draw?
No, but they had a great love of books, art and old movies which they passed on to me.
Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
My lovely wife.
Do you keep a sketchbook?
I buy a lot of expensive sketchbooks that I rarely end up using…preferring instead to doodle on cheap typing paper...less pressure.
Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
Yes, to school children...nerve wracking but great fun.
Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
I don't think talent develops without passion...so passion wins by a nose.
Do you collect anything and if so what?
I collect cartoonist’s work of the 50,s and 60's particularly Ronald Searle...possibly the greatest draughtsman of the 20th century.
If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Choo Choo from Top Cat!
Are you a righty or lefty?
Lefty or 'Citeog’ which is the Irish expression for a lefty!
If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Write...or sing with a big band swing orchestra.
In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Messy...lots of pens nibs and brushes lying around the desk area with my computer, A3 scanner and filing cabinet on the opposite side of the room.
Do you play any musical instruments?
No, but I like to sing...see above.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Stick to what you believe in and never work for less than you're worth. As my Dad used to say, you'll always be busy if you work for free!
Who is your favorite artist?
Ronald Searle
Thank you Fintan.
Ignatz Award winning comic book writer and artist Jeffrey Brown provides the next set of answers.
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1 comment:
Love Fintan's style!
P.L. Frederick (Small & Big)
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