Brian Cronin – archived

To celebrate the launch of the new Candy, let’s dip into their archive for an interview I conducted with legendary Irish illustrator Brian Cronin way back in early 2007 in Candy issue 6 – The Craft Issue…

When I told my mum that I was going to interview Ireland’s Greatest Living Creative Export who has made it big in the good ol’ US of A she got very excited thinking it was Colin Farrell (I get my creativity from my Dad). In contrast my interviewee has made his mark without swearing at Award Shows, without having sex romps with prostitutes, without drinking gallons of Jack Daniels and smoking 80 cigarettes an hour, I presume anyway, I didn’t ask him! Ladies and gentlemen, behold the beautiful and delicate world of Brian Cronin.

Where I grew up in the Ghetto™, the laws of the streets dictated you had to be a member of one of the two major gangs. It was tough but you had to show your colours or you were as good as dead. Who did you choose, Tony Hart or Rolf Harris? And how do you think it effected your artistic growth?

I was more of an “etch-a-sketch” kind a guy.

Mid-eighties Dublin is generally regarded as a golden period of opportunity for its citizens particularly those with a creative bent, why did you leave to go to New York?

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!! Good question! I was broke!

You have lived there for some years now, is it home or is there still a little bit of you pining for the motherland? Do you get Tayto airlifted in? Have you ever been mugged by Woody Allen?

Unfortunately you have Starbucks we have Tayto! I left Ireland in 85 and went back to live in Dublin in the early 90′s for two years but it just wouldn’t stick second time round. So I shuffled off to Buffalo (NYC that is). I go back to Dublin a lot to catch up with family and friends and have managed to keep up with the most of the changes since I left, so it’s never a real shock when I go back, the changes I see are for the better.

When I draw my pictures I prefer to squeeze into as tiny a space as I can and be very constricted in my movement, (it probably stems from being locked under the stairs as a child). Can you describe your workspace and how important it is to your working process?

I used to lock myself under the stairs. My studio up state is in a large 18th century converted barn. The space has plenty of natural light which is what I like most. The main part of the painting studio has a large 12 x 12 foot sliding wooden door behind this is a wall of glass which let’s in ton’s of light when opened the studio itself is divided into two spaces, library and materials in one half and a painting studio in the other the dividing space is storage and a slop sink.
Although once I get into work they cross pollinate as I like to utilize the entire space so basically it becomes a big mess but when it’s clean its kewl.

Colour is such an integral, and may I say beautifully executed, part of your work. Is it instinctive or do you have a copy of ‘How to use Colour in Contemporary Illustration in 3 Easy Steps’ book on your desk? Who and what inspires your use of colour?

Cost! But seriously I have always tried to limit my palette, I like to hold back rather than lash on color for color sake. When I came to the states first there was a kind of back lash towards my use of minimum color as they were paying for full and that’s what they wanted. The same thing could be said for filling up the piece with clutter too much stuff, i like to keep things to a minimum so the viewer can enjoy the space take a walk inside it light up a cigarette if they choose and absorb it.

Obviously there is a high level of draughtmanship in your drawing, is this the basis of good illustration or just your personal style? What about illustrators who draw like they can’t draw? Do you dig that? Or is it just a fad like Frisbee’s or Democracy?

It could be “it’s not what you do but how you do it” OR “it’s not what you’re wearing when you do it” OR “it is what it is and draughtmanship helps”.

There is a subtle, delicate, refined and surreal wit in your work but if you saw someone slip on a banana skin would it raise a smile? What makes you laugh?

Thank you! Norman Wisdom makes me laugh every time. Unfortunately it’s near impossible to get to see much of his work as most are not on DVD, hey if anyone knows where I can get some let me know?

The ideas and precise execution of your work seems more inspired by HIGH rather than POP cultural references, whether that’s the paintings of Magritte or Japanese Prints, so what tickles your fancy art wise these days?

Yes I agree I’m usually HIGH when I work. I was recently at a collection of works by Edward Hoppers at the Whitney and I was struck by his honesty (and it hurt). I am used to seeing his works as reproduction in books but seeing such an over view of his originals and how messy they were was inspirational. Not that I aspire to being messy or that I thought he was messy what I mean is he knew what he was doing and just got it down, there was an immediacy to them even though the subject matter is very calm. I suppose his training as an illustrator thought him to work fast, unfortunately that’s all we have in common.

Without naming names have you any horror stories of clients who were obviously Satan worshippers? On the flip side if you’d prefer to stay positive, who have been absolute dreamboats to work for?

hannah, fred, john, skip, robert, amid, erin, tom, victoria, rodrigo, emily, lee, bhairavi, cynthia, todd, hannu, david, susan, mike, kevin, hillary, christopher, gina, eric, robin, amyrobin, julie, sara, lisa, ++++++++++++ all dream boats.

What should our discerning readers be watching out for in the next year from you? Any plans to come to visit the old Emerald Isle?

I’m taking some time out from commissioned work to paint. I’m hoping to work on a body of work out side of the commission world and see what develops! I was in Ireland in the spring too bad we missed each other we could have shared some crisps and a pint or two, next time! What’s your number?

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God was that really 2 years ago? you can see what Brian has got up to since then by visiting his website including his recent work in the Society of Illustrators show in New York. And look out for more interviews from the Candy Illustration Archive over the next few months. Oh and by the way I sorted him out with a link to norman Wisdom DVD’s.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 20th, 2009 at 11:03 am and is filed under Illustration, Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.