翻譯/ Victoria Wu
嗨，我是 Steph，一個23歲的插畫家，在英國的西伯克郡工作，也住在那裡。在2012年的夏天，我從林肯大學插畫系畢業，拿了個優等。而我現在正剛開始在那裡工作！（祝我好運吧！）
⊿ 你什麼時候開始決定想成為一名插畫家呢？
直到我開始準備英國高考（A-Levels）的時候，才意會到我想從事藝術與設計相關的工作。我之前在學校一直都是走人文和古典學科方面的，所以我一直以為我上大學也會選那些科系。還好，除了那些，我還持續在學習藝術，純粹是因為很喜歡的緣故。在學校的時候，我的老師都很棒，也都很鼓勵我，他們還幫助我選了一個不錯的藝術基礎課程。我在那裡上課後，才真正發現插畫不只是童書或是卡片裡面的圖畫而已。那些課不但拓展了我的視野，還讓我看到插畫界潛力無窮。現在回頭想想，真奇怪我居然花了這麼久才了解我要做什麼：我要像個小孩一樣，不停地創作自己的故事、為它畫插畫，還有替需要的朋友畫圖。
⊿ 你會推薦去藝術學院就讀嗎？
對我來說，這絕對是個很好的選擇。尤其是我的基礎課程，不僅啟發了我，還教我許多不同領域的藝術和設計，讓我在畢業的時候，對我選擇的工作道路能夠有充分的了解。在藝術學院的四年裡，我還加入了一個很有活力的工作室，現在回家之後，真的很想念那裡。因為有很多人可以一起討論、提供意見，所以插畫工作都能夠流暢地進行著。除此之外，那些你學到的設計理論和藝術史也都有相關的講座可以聽。
⊿ 你花了多久讓插畫成為主要的收入來源呢？
唉，這還是一個遙不可及的夢想，不過我還是抱持著希望，希望有一天插畫能成為我主要的收入來源。目前插畫的工作進展得非常緩慢，而且為了要讓我的印刷過程從工作室獨立出來，花了好一段時間。我現在在一間知名的連鎖鞋店兼職，讓我能夠有一些收入。
⊿ 可以描述一下你一天的生活作息嗎？
那都要看我那一天需不需要上班。如果我要印作品的話，我喜歡一次印完全部，所以我會用一整天的休假來做這件事。如果我只是要整理一些想法或繪製小插圖的話，我通常會在八點左右起床，接著吃早餐、看一下新聞，然後瀏覽一下電子郵件和社群媒體，確認我的訊息都是最新的（我要先說，我不是非常會畫畫的）。接著，我會開始列清單（有可能是好幾個），把一堆要做的事情分成容易下手的幾個部分。當決定好了那天要做什麼之後，就會開始想新的作品或開始畫小插圖，最後再著手一些比較好處理的圖像。我不太會中間停下來吃午餐──如果靈感來了，我寧願繼續下去，然後早一點把工作結束。我通常會在六點左右就結束圖畫方面的工作，但接下來還是會繼續檢查電子信箱，如果有一些新的東西，也會更新在社群媒體或我的部落格上。在工作的時候，我習慣開電視或收音機來製造一點背景聲音──太安靜的話，反而會讓我分心，完全不能專注。最後在睡覺前，我也會草草記下一些突然想到的想法或點子。
⊿ 有什麼是你希望在當初踏入這個領域時就能知道的呢？
我覺得大概五年後再問我這個問題會比較好。到目前為止，我可能都還停留在比較商業的部分──都是一些比較關於自體經營的事情。
⊿ 你覺得做一名插畫家最棒的地方是什麼呢？
應該就是不知道接下來幾個禮拜或幾個月會出現什麼吧。一直到有計劃的日子到來之前，不知道每一天會發生什麼事真的是非常刺激。只要你能夠當個全職的自由插畫家，那靠插畫維生可能就是世界上最棒的事了。我說真的！那該有多棒啊！
⊿ 那你覺得做一名插畫家最不好的地方是什麼呢？
跟最棒的地方一樣，就是不知道會不會接到工作。我現在很幸運，因為還能靠兼職工作過著穩定的生活。不過等到以後邁入只靠接工作來賺錢的時候，我應該也會很傷腦筋吧。最近另一個讓我很挫折的，是沒收到什麼出版社和代理機構之類的回應。這些問題都是做一個插畫家會遇到的一部分，你要做的就是承受這些打擊，雖然它們可能會令你很洩氣。
⊿ 你不做插畫家的話，會做什麼呢？
喔 … 我搞不好會去唸歷史，天知道我最後會在哪裡啊！
⊿ 能再分享一些其他的秘訣嗎？
不要還沒嘗試就放棄。你不去試，就永遠不知道會發生什麼事。堅定一點。
Steph Marshall
Hi, I’m Steph, a 23 year old illustrator living and working in West Berkshire. I graduated from the University of Lincoln with a First in Illustration in the summer of 2012 and am the very early beginnings of a (fingers crossed!) career in Illustration!
When did you decide you wanted to be an illustrator?
It wasn’t until I’d starting studying my A-Levels that I realised a career in art and design was for me. I’d always been academic at school so I always assumed this was the direction I’d head in once it came to University. Luckily I’d kept up studying art purely because I enjoyed it so much. My teachers at school were great and full of encouragement and helped me to choose a great art foundation course. This was were I really discovered illustration as more than just pictures in children’s books and greetings cards. It really broadened my horizons and showed me just how much potential there was for a future career in illustration. Looking back it seems strange how it took me so long to realise that this was what I should be doing: I was forever writing and illustrating my own stories as a child and drawing pictures for friends on demand.
Would you recommend studying at art school?
For me it was definitely the right choice. My foundation course was especially enlightening and taught me so much about so many different areas of art and design, allowing me to make an informed choice about my chosen career path at the end of it. During the 4 years I studied at art school I was also part of a dynamic studio environment which is something I really miss now I’m back home. There are so many people around to bounce ideas off and discuss things with so work is constantly flowing. There’s also the lecture side of things and all the theory and history you discover.
How long was it before illustration became your primary form of income?
Alas, this is still a distant dream but I remain hopeful that one day it will happen. Work is very slow at the moment and it’s taken a while to get my printing process sorted, out of the studio environment. I work part time at a well known chain of shoe shops which keeps some money coming it.
Could you describe your typical day?
It entirely depends on whether I have to work the day job or not. If I want to get a print printed then I prefer to get it all done at the same time so I’ll use a day off for this. If I’m just processing ideas and thumbnails then I’ll usually get up at about 8 and have my breakfast watching the news. Then I’ll start by checking emails and social media and making sure everything’s all up to date (I’m not very good at drawing first off). Then I’ll make lists (possibly several) splitting a long list of tasks into more manageable chunks. Once I’ve planned my tasks for the day I’ll get started on either coming up with ideas for a new print or making thumbnails, eventually moving onto more resolved visuals. I don’t always take a break for lunch – if i’m on a roll I’d rather just work through and finish slightly earlier. I usually stop working on images around 6, but will spend my evenings re-checking emails and updating social media or my blog if I’ve got bits to add. The whole time I’m working I’ll have something on in the background whether it be the radio or TV – I absolutely cannot concentrate if it’s quiet, I get completely distracted. I’ll also jot down any thoughts or ideas that come to me while I’m trying to get to sleep.
What do you wish you’d know when you first started out?
Probably best to re-ask me this question in about 5 years. So far it’d probably be the business side of things – more information on being self-employed and what it entails.
What’s the best thing about being an illustrator?
The not knowing what might be coming up in the next few weeks and months. It’s incredibly exciting not having your every day from now until whenever already pre-planned. Once you’re able to freelance full time then the idea that you can make a living out of making pictures seems like the best thing in the world. I mean really? How amazing is that!
What’s the worst thing about being an illustrator?
The same as the best – the not knowing whether or not you’ll have work coming in. I’m lucky at the moment in that I have stability with my part time job but it’ll be pretty nerve racking when I eventually take the leap into earning my money solely from freelance work. Currently another frustration is the lack of response from publications/agencies etc. It’s all part of the job and you just have to take the knocks but it can be really demoralising
If you weren’t an illustrator, what would you be?
Ooo, I’d have probably done a history degree so who knows where I’d have ended up!
Any other tips you could share?
Don’t quit without giving it a go. You’ll never know if you don’t try. Be determined.
- 此訪談內容及圖片來源皆經英國 Questioning Creatives 網站和插畫家本人授權，欲轉載請務必來信告知。All of the text and images from this entry are proprietary to the Questioning Creatives website and used consistent with illustrator's permission. Please contact us for any reproduction and use of these materials.
- Questioning Creatives: http://www.questioningcreatives.com/
