Thomas Bannon : The Daily Illustrator
The Daily Illustrator today is Thomas Bannon, currently completing his final year of university at the Belfast School of Art. We briefly met at the Usfolk launch a few weeks ago and in the midst of preparing his final year show, Thomas sent me through some responses. Check out some of his work below and find more on his Behance page here.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST START ILLUSTRATING AND KNOW WAS IT SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO DO AS A PROFESSION?
I always liked to draw. I was drawing before I could walk, I used to get caught doodling obscenities in primary school on the tarmac and in notebooks and whatnot but that wasn't really encouraged. I didn't really take it seriously until GCSE age. Then after doing a Foundation degree in the Art College I realised I should probably take the illustration road.
WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION?
I'm inspired by the natural world; mountains, sea, that kind of thing. I love music too I spend the time that I'm not drawing, playing guitar. There's definitely a link between the two somewhere. Film and animation play a part also. Cartoons are underrated. And type. Type is underrated.
HOW DO YOU GET THE IDEAS FOR YOUR ILLUSTRATIONS?
I like to mess with real and unreal. Change up traditional colours and lines that you might expect. Throw in a fish here and there. I just try to make work that I think is interesting.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEDIUM TO WORK WITH?
Colouring Pencils.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON?
My Degree Show. Im trying to ensure it wont be a disaster. It probably won't. Not unless there's a fire.
CURRENT PLAYLIST AS YOU WORK?
I quite like Spotify Weekly. They strangely know me better than I know myself. They go beyond the usual John Mayer panic click. Fair play to them.
ARE THERE ANY ILLUSTRATORS THAT YOU ARE A FAN OF THAT DESERVE SOME EXPOSURE?
All the Illustrator's at UsFolk are exceptional. If you haven't already you should check them out!