Scott Gustafson
website : http://www.scottgustafson.com/
images copyright Scott Gustafson
10 Questions With Scott Gustafson
1.... who is your favorite artist?
There are many artists that I admire and new ones are always being added, but there are some whose work continually inspires (and frustrates!) me. They are, to name a few: Rembrandt (link), Chardin (link), N.C. Wyeth (link), Charles Dana Gibson (link), Norman Rockwell (link), Arthur Rackham (link), Edmund Dulac (link) and William Heath Robinson (link).
2.... do you offer workshops for artists?
As of yet I haven’t held any workshops. I’m afraid that after about 45 minutes I’d run out of coherent information.
3.... what do you like to listen to while you work?
I listen to a variety of things while working everyday from a classic music station to NPR. I also listen to CDs, which included classical, folk, pop, rock and some jazz. And once I’m actually involved in a painting, as opposed to sketching or drawing, I have listened to books on tape – most recently, The Cunning Man by Robertson Davies.
4.... what medium and tools do you use to create your art?
Primarily, I used the old fashioned methods of drawing with graphite pencils and painting with oils. Recently, I’ve been experimenting with a product called liquid pencil, which is much like acrylic paint in consistency but which dries to look like graphite. It comes in a few values, but I like 3 and 9, and it has been very interesting to play around with. It’s primary benefit is that you can brush it on like paint, either filling a large area or applying it like an ink and brush line. When it dries it looks remarkably like pencil and can be used along with traditional pencils to get some interesting effects. I also use a xerox machine a lot for sizing and positioning drawings and sketches.
5.... during an average week how many hours a day / week do you work on creating art?
I usually work a fairly standard 8 hours a day, unless, of course, there is a deadline crunch. This last January through April I worked seven days a week, without a day off, but I’d really rather not do that if I can avoid it.
6.... are you working your dream job?
I’ve had the opportunity to work on several dream jobs – some of which had nightmarish moments – but all in all I’ve been very fortunate. I really enjoy what I do.
7.... do you feel its important for others to pursue their dream jobs?
I may be overly optimistic, but I think there is a perfect job for everyone out there somewhere –whether circumstances align in the right way or whether opportunities come at the right time is another thing. As much as I believe in that theory, I also feel that people have to be realistic about their abilities and realize whether or not they possess the necessary talent and have acquired the right caliber of skills to attain the job of their dreams. Often happiness is achieved by appreciating and developing the talents you have been given as opposed to dreaming about the ones you don’t possess.
8.... where can people see your work (online, conventions or exhibits)?
Much of the work I’ve done over the last ten years can be found on our website: www.scottgustafson.com. There are a number of prints that we have available from The Greenwich Workshop, and also links to my books: Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose (link), Classic Fairy Tales (link), Alphabet Soup (link), Animal Orchestra (link), Peter Pan (link), and due to be released in August of this year, my first illustrated novel for young readers entitled Eddie: The Lost Youth of Edgar Allan Poe.
9.... was there a certain moment that you knew you wanted to be an artist?
Ever since I’ve been aware of what artists and cartoonists are, I’ve been interested in becoming one. Being fascinated by animated cartoons, I first wanted to become an animator, but later found that illustration was better suited to my particular set of skills and temperament.
10.... is there anything else you would like to add or say to other artists?
No matter what kind of artwork you aspire to, or how much money you think other artists make, try first and foremost to know yourself. If you can assess your strengths as well as your weaknesses, tap into your passions and be willing to work and work, and then work some more, you might be surprised at the personal goals that you can achieve.
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