|
Demain Publishing has in recent weeks been receiving many plaudits. Of course that has something to do with the amazing stories our authors have created (that goes without saying!) but some of the congratulations MUST also go to cover artist Adrian Baldwin (thank you to Trevor Kennedy for making the introductions) who’s work has gone above and beyond what was asked of him. As well as designing covers / artwork etc Adrian is also an accomplished author and screen-writer – in fact he has many strings to his bow as the recent chat between Dean and him goes someway to prove: DEMAIN PUBLISHING: Hello Adrian, your turn now (and I’ll be next don’t worry) for an interview – I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while... ADRIAN BALDWIN: Hello, Dean. Thanks for inviting me along to participate in a Demain interview. Rather than plead the 5th I have decided to answer all your questions - you only have yourself to blame! DP: Don’t worry, I think I can live with it on this occasion ha ha. Okay, so for those that don’t know you, can you tell us a little about yourself and your background. AB: I am an artist, writer and designer. Back in the 90s I wrote for a number of comedy television shows; I have written 3 novels (to date) and I’ve had several short stories published. DP: Yes, your cv is very impressive. I have seen a lot of those shows you wrote for (and watching them again on the ‘net brought back some happy memories)...if someone (well, me in this case) asked you: “why do you do what you do” – how would you answer? AB: I’ve always been a big reader and have written comedy material since I was at school. I have no idea what compels me to write / create. I think it might have a lot to do with being allowed to stay up late and watch Monty Python when I was a kid! I’ve always been interested in art too so I attended art college for four years to avoid having to get a real job! I studied photography layout, format, and typography. I never thought I’d be designing book covers one day but I’m very happy to be doing so for Demain, Phantasmagoria and the like. DP: It was only when we started talking that I realised how much of your work I had seen without appreciating fully it was all by the same artist. You do really have a keen eye and I love that for each publisher etc you work for that the art / cover etc is unique to that particular brand – so for example, what you do for Demain is very different to what you do for Trevor Kennedy which again is very different to what you’ve done for Alex S. Johnson – I definitely raise my glass to you my friend. How do you work and do you you think your work has ‘developed’ over the years? AB: I have an idea; I run with it. I scrub what I don’t like and work over what I do until it hopefully reaches a point where I feel it’s good enough to share. I’m really unmoved by a lot of modern book covers, I think so many just look the same. The covers I saw on books when I was a kid seemed to have so much more colour and character. I now draw on these covers from the 50s and 60s for inspiration. Retro is the new trendy! DP: Yes, I know what you mean – I personally love those old garish Grand Guignol posters too...would you say that your personality is reflected in your work? AB: Well, I guess it shows what moves me and that I like fun and eye-catching forms but basically I just go with whatever feels right to me. DP: Of your many talents / mediums – what do you enjoy doing the most? AB: I enjoy both writing and creating covers but which do I enjoy most? I guess it just depends on my mood for that day. Primarily though, I would class myself as a writer who moonlights as a book cover designer. DP: In your work (stories or art) do you think there are particular themes you return to time and time again? AB: Well, for covers, the themes are usually dictated by the publishers’ outlining brief, plus my spin on what I think works for that particular volume or individual story. As for my writing, I think that probably has a lot to do with using my dark sense of humour as a coping mechanism for dealing with setbacks of any kind - including death and illness. Especially since my father passed away a few years ago. Deep huh? - maybe - but if you can sometimes laugh in Death’s face, at least you won’t be too sad all the time. DP: That’s a good outlook and philosophy to have. My father also passed away a few years ago (actually just as I was having success with the anthologies etc) and I noticed that my writing ‘changed’ following that. I’m not sure how it changed exactly but I know that it did – saying that, I suppose my style has always been a little bit ‘out there’ (I’m getting better though and am trying to be more mainstream ha ha) and I remember my parents coming to see one of my plays in London (about serial killers – natch!) – afterwards, in the bar, some of the cast spoke to them and asked what they thought. My mother smiled politely but my dad said: “Don’t worry, I’ll speak to Dean when we are alone! I think it’s time we had a little chat!” What would you say was your favourite piece of work to date? AB: I couldn’t choose a favourite from my stories (I love all my children). Covers wise I like those that include the art of others, such as Roberto Segate or Les Edwards. I do have a favourite sketch: The Predictable Lighthouse Keepers (which I wrote for Smith & Jones). Link follows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esxPp8stiSc DP: Oh my Lord! Griff is amazing isn’t he – he reminds me actually of one of those silent film comedy stars...hang on, I’m going to watch it again...I’m laughing...brilliant, brilliant, well done. Let me get a grip of myself...so as you are (more than) capable of creating across the mediums do you feel that the two disciplines of writing / art are connected? AB: Yes, for sure. As a writer I’m basically painting with words. With either discipline I am aiming to amuse, disturb, entertain - invoke a reaction of some kind in the reader / viewer. (I say disturb because dark comedy can often venture into the arena of the troubling; I think of Dark Comedy as Horror’s weird cousin.) DP: Definitely, which is something which I wager the League Of Gentlemen would also agree upon. What (if any) is Adrian Baldwin’s artistic outlook on life? AB: I always aim to create what pleases me, and hope others will enjoy the results. And if they don’t: Oh well, never mind. Artists should always be true to themselves. As David Bowie once said: Never play to the gallery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_Rsx-3RoY8 DP: The response to your work for Demain has been overwhelming – I really mean that. We have received so many amazing comments – I hope that as time goes by and the output continues that you are recognised in some way – how have the responses been your end? AB: I’d have to say mostly positive, which is really cool. My work isn’t for everyone of course but that’s fine. My writing can be quite strange at times too and I have heard from a few who just don’t get it. I don’t think I’ve heard from anyone yet that they dislike the covers I’ve done but maybe it’s just a question of time! DP: I will also be grateful that we were all on the same level when we launched the Short Sharp Shocks! Series – as soon as we spoke, you just got it...some quick questions then if you don’t mind: Does food, drink or music inspire you? AB: Food and drink, no. Music, books, films, and people I’ve met, yes. DP: Do you have to do a lot of research for the covers (and / or for your stories)? AB: I research all the time; details often need to be accurate. Sometimes I feel I need to add an “I’m a writer!” footnote to my Google searches. Example: How much does a human head weigh? Would it float? - that kind of thing. DP: Ha ha – I know that...I won’t say any more but I know exactly what you’re talking about there. Advice: I suspect you’ve been given lots (haven’t we all – often by people who’ve never written a book / created a piece of art!) – what’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? AB: Go with your instincts. DP: What’s your professional goal (if you have one obviously). AB: Books: as I’ve said, to entertain, amuse and disturb. Covers: to catch people’s eye and if I can, build a brand for a publisher. DP: Well, for us you’ve certainly achieved that. Would you say your work aims to say something (or is it just a ‘distraction’?) AB: Covers: Look over here! Look at me! Books: All sorts of things. If you’d like to know more why not try one? DP: For the covers / as an artist who are your biggest influences? AB: Salvador Dali, Edward Hopper, and David Bowie. DP: Three amazing artists in their own fields aren’t they? For those that may want to hire you...do you seek out opportunities or do Clients come to you direct? AB: I’m usually pretty busy so I tend not to actively seek out opportunities; most jobs come from word of mouth recommendations / requests from friends of friends. Sometimes I say yes, sometimes no; depends on my workload and/or the attraction of individual projects. DP: Yes, knowing what you’re doing for Demain alone I imagine that you are very very busy. Do you ever have writer’s / creative blocks and if so, how do you overcome them? AB: Take a break from that particular section; work on a different part; come back to the ‘tricky’ bit later with a fresh eye - seems to work in the end. DP: Finally Adrian, what is your most important tool as an artists and is there anything you couldn’t live without in your studio? AB: Gimp. And it’s free! Amazing tool. Thank you so much for your time and again for everything you’ve done for Demain, may it long continue! If you would like to connect with Adrian direct – please visit him here: https://adrianbaldwin.info/ https://www.facebook.com/AdrianBaldwinAuthor/
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
CategoriesArchives
July 2024
AuthorDean M. Drinkel |