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Featured Artist Interview - Jon Burgerman
BY
Sylvia
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Without doubt, you will recognize Jon Burgerman’s doodles at once. ‘Duudles’ – the term used by him – are playful, hand drawn characters (to my opinion mighty monkeys, short, stout, cute, interestingly with big brains) that are captivating enough to appear on BBC, Levis, Sony, MTV, Puma, Computer Arts and abundant others.
Not only a hectic schedule, Jon is additionally an active contributor to Pixelsurgeon as well as a member illustration collective Black Convoy. If you’ve heard that the best thing ever to him is new pens and clean sketchbooks, then you’ll believe in Burgertown.
TAXI >>Greetings to you Jon, could you please start with a little introduction of yourself and some early history of your life?
Jon Burgerman >>Hello there. I started doodling at nursery, then at school, then college, then university, then at home and in my sleep.. until I realised I liked doodling and I should try and make a career out of it. I’ve been a freelance doodler since graduating from Fine Art at university in 2001.
TAXI >>What influence has your education background had on your development as an artist?
JB >>Studying Fine Art was pretty much an excuse to do what I liked for three years. This gave me a lot of much needed time to develop my work, decide what I wanted to do and learn the basics of various computer programs. People underestimate how important it is to take time and develop, experiment and mull. Thinking is very useful.
TAXI >>People love Jon Burgerman.. and people copy Jon Burgerman. How do you handle that?
JB >>To me it’s a very strange thing, but very flattering. I try not to really think about the copying thing too much though, otherwise I’d be too scared to ever get my work out there. Copying or being influenced by someone is fine up to a point. That point is probably where people are making money out of copying you. Being exploited and ripped off isn’t nice and is pretty much bad manners. It’s as bad as stealing from a friend.
TAXI >>Being a contributor for Pixelsurgeon and one of the members of illustration collective Black Convoy, what benefits does being in these groups bring?
JB >>It’s beneficial to bounce ideas and concepts off like-minded people. Being a solo freelancer can be lonely so it’s good when in a group to be able to work together on projects and use each others different strengths in a particular field.
TAXI >> “Burgertown.. Population: Doodles”. What are the lifestyles within it and the characters you wanted it to contain?
JB >>I want it to be an entertaining foray into a strange yet inviting world. The characters are like you and me and all your friends only with bigger, sillier, wilder exaggerations . Overall it should be fun.
TAXI >>The strength of your work is..
JB >>Hopefully it’s got an instantly recognisable likeable, interesting style. Also it should be different and unexpected.
TAXI >>What, in your opinion, is a lucrative trade, which you will never go into?
JB >>Football player, rock star, actor, musician, geography teacher.. etc all more glamorous and better paid than illustration!
TAXI >>What, in your opinion, is a non-lucrative trade, which you wouldn’t mind doing?
JB >>I’m doing it now, freelance doodling and colouring in! I’d also like to be a vegetable gardener and win prizes for my marrows.
TAXI >>Do you see yourself as belonging to a tradition?
JB >>Loosely I guess, a sort of image-making tradition.
TAXI >>You also contribute to quite a couple of magazines. What are some of the magazines you personally read?
JB >>I exclusively only read the magazines I am featured in. That way I feel I’m staying loyal to those kind enough to feature my work ?
TAXI >>How will doodle drawings develop in the future? What are the next leaps you have in mind that will enable you to produce more exciting and exclusive undertakings?
JB >>It’s too difficult to say what might develop in the future, also I don’t want to give away my ideas too early! (note – I might not of had any ideas yet and am just try to weasel out of answering that question)
TAXI >>How do you respond when a stranger walks up to you and say he likes your work?
JB >>I’m a little shocked but happy they like my work. I’d probably give them a sticker or two as a thank-you for saying something nice.
TAXI >>Looking forward to your first foray into the world of video games, and your upcoming vinyl toys with Flying Cat – a Hong Kong based manufacturer. Do you see yourself settling in Hong Kong, or any other part of Asia? What would you expect then if you do?
JB >>I think that setting in HK might be a little premature – I’d like to just have the time to visit first of all. I do think it’d be really fun to move somewhere very different to where I am now though. A change of scene can really do strange things to a mans doodles.
TAXI >>To conclude, where would you like a taxi bring you to right now?
JB >>Dear Taxi please come and pick me up and take me to a yummy restaurant as I’m too lazy to cook anything and I’m getting really hungry!
Thank you Jon!
Thanks
TAXI
Not only a hectic schedule, Jon is additionally an active contributor to Pixelsurgeon as well as a member illustration collective Black Convoy. If you’ve heard that the best thing ever to him is new pens and clean sketchbooks, then you’ll believe in Burgertown.
TAXI >>Greetings to you Jon, could you please start with a little introduction of yourself and some early history of your life?
Jon Burgerman >>Hello there. I started doodling at nursery, then at school, then college, then university, then at home and in my sleep.. until I realised I liked doodling and I should try and make a career out of it. I’ve been a freelance doodler since graduating from Fine Art at university in 2001.
TAXI >>What influence has your education background had on your development as an artist?
JB >>Studying Fine Art was pretty much an excuse to do what I liked for three years. This gave me a lot of much needed time to develop my work, decide what I wanted to do and learn the basics of various computer programs. People underestimate how important it is to take time and develop, experiment and mull. Thinking is very useful.
TAXI >>People love Jon Burgerman.. and people copy Jon Burgerman. How do you handle that?
JB >>To me it’s a very strange thing, but very flattering. I try not to really think about the copying thing too much though, otherwise I’d be too scared to ever get my work out there. Copying or being influenced by someone is fine up to a point. That point is probably where people are making money out of copying you. Being exploited and ripped off isn’t nice and is pretty much bad manners. It’s as bad as stealing from a friend.
TAXI >>Being a contributor for Pixelsurgeon and one of the members of illustration collective Black Convoy, what benefits does being in these groups bring?
JB >>It’s beneficial to bounce ideas and concepts off like-minded people. Being a solo freelancer can be lonely so it’s good when in a group to be able to work together on projects and use each others different strengths in a particular field.
TAXI >> “Burgertown.. Population: Doodles”. What are the lifestyles within it and the characters you wanted it to contain?
JB >>I want it to be an entertaining foray into a strange yet inviting world. The characters are like you and me and all your friends only with bigger, sillier, wilder exaggerations . Overall it should be fun.
TAXI >>The strength of your work is..
JB >>Hopefully it’s got an instantly recognisable likeable, interesting style. Also it should be different and unexpected.
TAXI >>What, in your opinion, is a lucrative trade, which you will never go into?
JB >>Football player, rock star, actor, musician, geography teacher.. etc all more glamorous and better paid than illustration!
TAXI >>What, in your opinion, is a non-lucrative trade, which you wouldn’t mind doing?
JB >>I’m doing it now, freelance doodling and colouring in! I’d also like to be a vegetable gardener and win prizes for my marrows.
TAXI >>Do you see yourself as belonging to a tradition?
JB >>Loosely I guess, a sort of image-making tradition.
TAXI >>You also contribute to quite a couple of magazines. What are some of the magazines you personally read?
JB >>I exclusively only read the magazines I am featured in. That way I feel I’m staying loyal to those kind enough to feature my work ?
TAXI >>How will doodle drawings develop in the future? What are the next leaps you have in mind that will enable you to produce more exciting and exclusive undertakings?
JB >>It’s too difficult to say what might develop in the future, also I don’t want to give away my ideas too early! (note – I might not of had any ideas yet and am just try to weasel out of answering that question)
TAXI >>How do you respond when a stranger walks up to you and say he likes your work?
JB >>I’m a little shocked but happy they like my work. I’d probably give them a sticker or two as a thank-you for saying something nice.
TAXI >>Looking forward to your first foray into the world of video games, and your upcoming vinyl toys with Flying Cat – a Hong Kong based manufacturer. Do you see yourself settling in Hong Kong, or any other part of Asia? What would you expect then if you do?
JB >>I think that setting in HK might be a little premature – I’d like to just have the time to visit first of all. I do think it’d be really fun to move somewhere very different to where I am now though. A change of scene can really do strange things to a mans doodles.
TAXI >>To conclude, where would you like a taxi bring you to right now?
JB >>Dear Taxi please come and pick me up and take me to a yummy restaurant as I’m too lazy to cook anything and I’m getting really hungry!
Thank you Jon!
Thanks
TAXI