嗨，我是 David Sparshott。雖說即將邁入 30 歲，但是我今年 28 歲。你應該很好奇這個叫大衛的傢伙來自哪裡吧？我住在倫敦南區的 Lewisham，目前在倫敦東南區 Peckham 的一家工作室進行我的創作。自從 2006 年畢業於布里斯托 (Bristol) 的西英格蘭大學，直至今天為止，我想 ... 我已經以自由業身份接受插畫委託案足足滿六年了。離開了預科學校之後，我馬上在羅浮堡大學研習了一些基礎課程，接著大學時期便主修插畫。從此，一頭栽進了插畫世界。
應該是在基礎課程的那一年開始讓這個想法騷動我。說實話以前在學校我從來都不知道「插畫」為何物，當時我選擇念基礎課程也只是因為想更瞭解平面設計和文字設計。但有幸的是，我們在基礎課程中見識到許多實作手法，也同時創作出一些我從沒接觸過的類別，像是各類型素描等等。透過一張張畫作，我開始發現自己似乎真的能畫出美麗圖畫，而逐漸確定這個潛力必定是以插畫的型式能獲得最佳發揮。
⊿ 你會推薦有志青年就讀藝術學院嗎？
毫無疑問啊，當然推薦！雖然說成果可能會在一段時間後才浮現。我想很多大學生應該都和我一樣吧，上了大學之後前兩年過得渾渾噩噩、不知怎麼地就晃眼溜過了，直到大三才開始奮發振作。現在回想起來，曾經就讀藝術學院的經驗真的是有說不完的好處與優勢。如果你是藝術生的話，請一定要好好把握機會，盡其可能地獲得來自各方的協助或指導。
大約曾經有三年的時間我一邊接插畫案，一邊在其他的正職、兼職和待業之間打轉。但這三年情況就好轉許多，似乎是我的插畫作品已經在大家和自己心中建立了某種可被信賴的關係了吧，現在的我不必像以前一樣擔心朝不保夕，更唯恐手上的委託案即將成為最後一個希望。
我都還蠻早起床的，起床之後我會花一小時溜狗，之後再騎單車到工作室去，每天大約十點就會到工作室。接著就看當時工作量的情況而定，我會投入於一整天的工作直到傍晚五點～八點間才回家。其中大部份的時間都在蒐集圖象參考資料、畫圖、掃描、還有 photoshop 上。
其實我並不會特別期望別人事先提點了我什麼。我想我是個非常實作主義的人，看事情也比較實際，因為我知道在有穩定的插畫工作之前，我一定得投入許多時間在這上面，義無返顧的堅持也是必要的。
某種程度上，自我創業又可以為了熱情而工作實在有太多迷人的優勢了。
真的想不到有什麼可以抱怨的。除了有時後客戶喜歡鑽牛角尖，工作的某些細項開始變得有點惱人之外，我並不會特別哀號什麼耶。優渥的酬勞當然不會是家常便飯，但如果你做這一行是為了高薪，那麼不是入錯行就是初衷已偏。
應該是 ... 地圖或與地理相關的吧。
如果你志在插畫，千萬不要覺得一開始有個正常的工作很丟臉或違背了自己的心意，你隨時隨地都能執起畫筆開始創作。然後記得在某個階段要試著找一間不錯的設計(經紀)公司，先以實習的身份磨鍊看看，這對將來的發展都有很深遠的影響。
David Sparshott
I am 28 years old and live in Lewisham in London, I work from a studio in Peckham. I graduated from UWE Bristol in 2006 and have been working freelance for just over 6 years. I studied a foundation course at Loughborough University straight after leaving Sixth form then went on to do a BA in Illustration.
When did you decide you wanted to be illustrator?
I think this was probably during my foundation course. I never really knew anything about illustration at school and my main reason for doing a foundation was to get into graphic design and typography. During my foundation year we were introduced more and more to a hands on approach with lots of life drawing which I had never done before. I think from this I quickly became more aware of my ability to draw well and the potential this had to working in illustration.
Would you recommend studying at art school?
Certainly, however the benefits are far more apparent in hindsight. I think there is a tendency which I certainly had which is to go to University and just pissing around for a couple of years and then working hard in the third year. Looking back there is a huge benefit to studying at an art school and it’s really important as a student to make the effort to get as much support and tutoring time as you can.
How long was it before illustration became your primary form of income?
For about three years I was flitting between working full-time, part-time, and being unemployed along side gaining illustration work. For the past three years my work has become very reliable and without the nagging fear that this current commission could be the last.
Could you describe your typical day?
I’m up fairly early, walk the dog for an hour, then cycle to my studio aiming to get there around 10. Then depending on how busy my workload is i’ll work all day heading home any time between 5 and 8. Most of my time is spent getting reference imagery, drawing, scanning, and then photoshopping.
What do you wish you’d know when you first started out?
There’s nothing really that I think I wish i’d have been told before hand. I think I was quite pragmatic and realistic with myself in that I knew it would take a lot of time and persistence to actually get regular illustration work.
What’s the best thing about being an illustrator?
Working for yourself has so many benefits.
What’s the worst thing about being an illustrator?
I really can’t think of any major complaints. Apart from minor bitching about certain clients and specifics of some jobs there really isn’t much to moan about. The money isn’t always great but if you’re doing it for the money then you’re in it for the wrong reasons.
If you weren’t an illustrator, what would you be?
Something to do with maps or geography.
Any other tips you could share?
There’s no shame in getting a regular job initially, you can do illustration work anywhere and at anytime. And try to get an internship at some point with a design agency it can be really beneficial in the long run.
- 此訪談內容及圖片來源皆經英國 Questioning Creatives 網站和插畫家本人授權，欲轉載請務必來信告知。All of the text and images from this entry are proprietary to the Questioning Creatives website and used consistent with illustrator's permission. Please contact us for any reproduction and use of these materials.
- Questioning Creatives: http://www.questioningcreatives.com/
- David Sparshott: http://www.davidsparshott.com/
