Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Paul Weiner - Cartoonist Survey #257





Paul Weiner is an illustrator and Flash animator from Boston, MA. His love for drawing and painting began when he was a young child and has continued to guide him towards his career in the arts. He graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art with a BFA in Illustration. Paul specializes in electronic illustrations, using Illustrator CS2, Photoshop and Flash. Since 1995 he has created artwork for numerous magazines, education publishers, design studios, and IT companies. His illustration style ranges from bright, colorful, humorous drawings to realistic black and white renderings.


A few of Paul’s many clients include, Macmillan/McGraw, Pearson, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, E Retailing World Magazine, Little Brown & Company and Oxford University Press. In addition to illustration he has been an academic instructor at Montserrat College of Art and New England School of Art. He was also a guest speaker at Wentworth Institute and has given private instructions in the art of electronic illustration. When not drawing, Paul enjoys playing a wide array of musical instruments including, the guitar, accordion and harmonica.


Visit his website and blog to see more of his work. You can also follow him here on Facebook.


What is your favorite pen to use?
Micron pens and Faber-Castell's.


Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
Most of the time it's a mechanical pencil.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
Coloring is done on the computer.


If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
Using brushes with acrylics.

What type of paper do you use?
Strathmore or Utrecht brand.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Tight or technical images.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
Local store called Utrecht or Blick Art Materials.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Drink coffee, music and exercise.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
Jazz and Blues.


Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Yes, Wizard of Id, Dennis the Menace, Dogwood, BC.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Too many. I like Broom Hilda, Adam, Get Fuzzy, Dilbert, Mother Goose and Grimm, Non Sequitur, Cul De Sac.


What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
There was a little frog, No.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
Yes, Mass. College of Art.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
The Internet is amazing and great.

Did either of your parents draw?
Not really, no.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
No one really until I attended Mass College of Art and met artists.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
I have many sketchbooks.


Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
No, I am sure I would enjoy it.


Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
It certainly helps. I would say both.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Yes, I try to collect my thoughts.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
A jelly bean.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Give tours on a remote Caribbean island.


In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Quiet, remote and just enough room for me, a pencil and pad.

Do you play any musical instruments?
Several musical instruments.


If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Draw, draw some more and draw even some more.

Who is your favorite artist?
Too many artist to mention just one (Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Howard Pyle, Rackham, Froud, Dulac, etc).


Thanks again Paul!

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