EFII Podcast Episode 80 – Gerard Dubois
October 20, 2011
Episode 80 of the Escape from Illustration Island Podcast features an audio interview with Illustrator Gerard Dubois. Together we discuss his distinct approach to his art, as well as his conceptual and technical process.
Here are links to some of the things mentioned on the show:
- Gerard Dubois Website
- Gerard Dubois on Drawger
- The Milk Brick Project
- Gerard’s Book Illustrations for Jonathan Franzen
- Illustration Age
- Mark Kaufman
- Marc Scheff
- Marjolein Caljouw
- Kelly Stanley
- Michael Byers
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It’s interesting seeing Gerard’s printed pages on his folio and seeing how a well designed magazine page can let an amazing illustration ‘breath’ and do it’s job. Thanks for the great interview.
I particularly like Gerard’s gothic work. The cover painting for the Edgar Alan Poe collection has a perfect sense of a ghostly, classic tone.
The part where you talk about how precise the first sketch is, when you send it to an artdirector is very interesting. I’m figuring out which way is the best…
You can send your client a few very rough sketches and some notes and let him/her choose the concept. This is something I would do for an magazine illustration. The artdirector is happy because you show different options and because there’s a deadline he won’t give a lot of adjustments. BUT if it’s another project, for example: a story, and you have to draw the character or you just know that the client has more specific wishes, I should share the process more often.
I had this experience recently. I had to make a few bookcovers and with the first illustration I showed him a rough sketch, moodboard and notes. After that I gave a color impression and notes. After that I made the final version. Very happy client, but there were a lot of adjustments though in the end, so I thougt let’s do it different with the second cover…
So I made a rough sketch first and thought: “I’m going to surprise the client with the finished version, without sending the clean sketch or color options” This way I thought I would minimise the adjustments.
But the client had something else in mind and I had to make the illustration again, from scratch. I’m wondering what the experience of other illustators is!
I typically work up 3 or 4 ideas in rough sketch form (spending no more than 15-30mins on each) and request feedback on those. In almost all cases the client likes bits of each and requests new roughs, often just one or two, on which they give approval to go ahead to final art. I find this is a good way of presenting your ideas and making the client feel part of the process. As the artist it’s reassuring to know that you’re constantly working in the right direction too.
Thank you Thomas for introducing me to Gerard’s work, I became an instant fan.
Also, I’m very glad you’re starting up the podcast again! Thanks.
Thanks, Mathew. It’s good to be back, and I was also immediately drawn to Gerard’s work. And, it never ceases to amaze me that awesome artists are very often awesome people as well. Thanks for listening!
Gerard Dubois is a genius. There is something beautiful and magical about the quality of his paintings.
I enjoy the challenge of working with concepts given to me by my clients because it gets me out of my comfort zone and I always learn something new about myself after I’m done. However, I sometimes run the risk of losing myself while immersed in these foreign ideas that are not my own. So, I have lots of respect and admiration for illustrators like Gerald who is more selective with the type of projects he takes on.
Thank you Thomas for the great podcast!