Sometimes comical, even when it is finished it could be furthered.
What items are an essential part of your creative space?
An open mind, it is much easy to pull things together in that space.
Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Not exactly, I’d love to be able to paint a lot better, though I enjoy drawing.
Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Everyone loves Frederick McCubbin and Namatjira, so I’m part of that group too. Eric Jollife, he is an illustrator I can relate to as he used a lot of humor in his work. Nick Bland is very approachable about in the Children’s Book Industry. Julie Vivas and her movement on paper. Any three of them.
Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
When the Heidelberg school was founded late 1800’s – Roberts, McCubbin and co. Imagine sitting there and drawing on their talents, creating similar works of the Australian bush, though I would have painted the Indigenous society of that era which may have held some history.
Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
The North Australian wet season. When it became too wet to play or too hot to be outside a pencil and paper did the trick.
Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often?
Kitchen Table!
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
The unknowing, which is the creative space half a minute in front of your pencil.
What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
It would be to have fun. I know it’s so cliché, for instance if you let your creative mind control your pencil you will come up with something originally awesome.
Paul Seden is an Indigenous Australian author, artist and illustrator. His previous books for children including the picture book Kick with my Left Foot (illustrated by Karen Briggs, published by Allen & Unwin). His latest book, which has has both written and illustrated, is Crabbing with Dad, published by Magabala Books. Visit Paul Seden's Facebook page for more information about his books and artwork.
