IGI features
Roger O’Reilly interview
| Aug, 06, 2007We talk with Roger about his work and running his own gallery in Kilkenny.
So how did it all start?
Like most people who ended up illustrating, it was never my primary intention. I started running a nightclub, enjoying the design aspects of the business, setting up a product and interior design studio and subsequently finding that it was the layout and development part of design that I got a kick out of.
That led me to storyboarding. This was at a time when illustrators were happy to do work in a variety of mediums and through the storyboarding, I was landed with commissions illustrating in guache, watercolors, shoe-polish, whatever.
Eventually I found a style of my own and was surprised when my comic style work immediately became popular not just with the advertising and design community, but with newspaper editors too.
I always had a problem describing what I did to the uninitiated. Was I an illustrator, a designer, a storyboard artist. Eventually I settled on cartoonist, mainly because it frightened bank managers who didn’t have a clue how to handle you, but mainly because the public could at least understand what I did (and do you write the stuff in the bubbles too?!).
Having given up the big smoke for a more laid-back country life, how has this effected you work?
I’ve deliberately taken a sabbatical from commercial work, though some of my ex clients have tracked me down and commissioned pieces from me. Juxtaposing running a gallery, painting and doing some commercial work has its difficulties, because in the illustration game, clients expect you to be at or near your desk at all times and I tend to be flying around the country with gallery work, painting or checking out exhibitions.
You now run a gallery in Killkenny. Is this completely separate to your illustration work or is there a point where they merge?
I tried exhibiting illustrative work at the gallery, but it just didn’t fly. The narrative nature of illustration means that interpretation is too confined and customers these days seem to favour abstract or semi-abstract work for that very reason. The art market in Kilkenny would tend on the conservative side too, so clever-clever art and semi-instalation pieces are hard to move.
Who are your favourite artists/illustrators alive today?
Rodge: Stephane Kardos (stef) who does some Guardian work. Love his linework. Lucinda Rogers ; again superb linework and just the tiniest touches of colour. James Jean ; incredible subtlety with photoshop. Daniel Egneus. Don Laurence (is he still alive?) : Storm, Rise and fall of the Trigan Empire. Speaking of which - Look and Learn are back in business with an edited version being produced for subscription only. Go to www.lookandlearn.com - amazing site.
You’ve been working in illustration for around 20 years. What do you see as the major changes during this time?
The golden age of Illustration was over by the time I started. What I didn’t realize was that I was working during the silver/bronze period. We’re down to nickel now. Pickings are slim. There used to be four main sources of revenue for illustrators ; Book jacket and internal design, Advertising, editorial illustration and illustrating for product design. Most of these have disappeared or now use stock photos. For the brightest and the business savvy there is still a rewarding career out there, but it’s unlikely to ever buy you a mansion in the Hamptons. Photoshop : a blessing and a curse. Everyone’s an illustrator now. And they’re mostly appalling.
Do you have a dream project that you would like to develop in the future?
I would love to see a Centre for the Applied Arts set up as an exhibition and interactive space. I had ideas of trying to instigate it years ago, but had too many other commitments. The museum of design at Collins barracks is the obvious partner. There are so many visual arts outside the “Fine Arts” or “Crafts” fold that deserve recognition ; Illustration for sure, but also architectural model making, comics, stained glass among others.
What’s next in the pipeline for Roger O’Reilly?
I’ve a bunch of projects in the pipeline if I can just find the time.
Just finished building a treehouse which was a blast and I’ve been asked to join a blues band, so that’ll keep me busy.
Professionally, I’ve a limited edition print series coming on line in the new year and some books I’ve to finish writing, but I’m so used at this stage to great ideas being derailed by work or family commitments, that so long as I’m productive and earning a buck, I’m happy.
Visit Roger’s portfolio
