Funky Illustration

Jan

Funky Illustration

Rob Barrett

What is your motivation behind your illustration?

“I don’t feel that I have any particular, definable motivation behind a lot of my illustration. Commissioned work obviously comes with its own constraints, which plays a huge part in shaping a project.

“As for personal work, I tend to gravitate towards turning things that should be cute into something somewhat ugly – it’s something I’ve always been drawn to, and I guess a lot of the inspiration for that comes from the cartoons I used to watch as a kid (a lot of 90s-era Nickelodeon, whenever I got the chance!), and books such as Roald Dahl’s.

Please tell us a bit more about them!

“Mad Scientist is one of a set of six monster illustrations commissioned by I’m A Monster, a soon-to-be-launched streetwear brand. This and the rest will be available to purchase on a range of t-shirts.
Mad Scientist

“A good friend of mine recently had his first child and, as I had the opportunity to create an illustration for his wedding the year before, I though it’d be a great present to create an illustration that he could hang in his daughter’s nursery. The design came about as I’ve recently been looking at adding an alternative style more suited to the fast pace of editorial work.
Animal Shapes

“Cowboy & Horse was a piece created as part of the Oh GOSH colouring book, sold to raise money for the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.
Cowboy & Horse

Do you have any projects in the pipeline?

“I’ve no big plans in the pipeline at the moment, other than continuing to look for and bring in work! I’m interested in getting into more editorial work this year, and have a few book cover and typesetting projects lined up for the coming months, which allows me to bring my designer alter-ego into the mix as well!”

“Aside from this, I’ll be continuing the running of Yo Illo, a monthly meet-up group for illustrators in London.”

Thank you Rob!