It is all about timing – I arrive two minutes before the interview, which for me is late, but artist John Biddle points out I am still technically early.
Two years into a career, John has carved out a niche for himself doing murals, illustration, gig posters et al on a local level, but has started to move into more esoteric areas internationally.
His work is playful, yet sinister at the same time, referencing both his influences and his interests.
So, would John define himself as an artist or an illustrator? And what is the difference between the two?
“I’ve been typecast as an illustrator. That’s the problem,” he says. “I’m not an artist; I would say I am an illustrator. I did a lot of design for a while, having done a graphic arts course at University.
“I kind of just fell into illustration, it’s probably what I’m best at. Illustration’s got less pretence. I appreciate art, but I myself couldn’t create something that is art.
“If you look at some of my illustrations I always give them really pretentious names. It’s kind of a joke. I just draw something because I want to draw it, there’s no reason behind it.”
His work could be described as Pointillist in style. But unlike that style, he generally uses only one colour or wash at the same time.
Working digitally has changed the nature of painting as much as aluminium tubes of paint and sable brushes did in the 19th century.
And John admits the advent of digital editing has allowed him to unleash his creativity.
“It started off that I was afraid to use colour,” he explains. “The more colours the harder it is, but now with the advent of Photoshop, it’s just so much easier.
“You can put colours in, you can change them, you can alter them. But when you’ve got an actual painting in front of you, unless you get it palette perfect before you start, once you’ve done it, you’ve screwed it up.
“Recently I’ve put loads of colours in, because I can, once you do it digitally, it’s easy.”
Like me, John loves books, expressing a love of Frank Herbert, Orson Scott Card and others. The name of his website is “This Pendant World”, a reference to Milton’s Paradise Lost.
One of his works The Kraken Wakes tells John Wyndham’s story of a seaborne alien invasion in ten panels.
John explains: “It’s just questioning the world, just like Milton questioning the Bible, the religion that kind of thing.
“Wyndham questioning human society ripped apart. It’s always a disaster befalling the Earth and how humans react in this terrible situation. I like reading really.”
He lives on the Wirral coastline, in the midst of bright stars, birdwatchers and animals. The latter has fed into his work, but also influences the way he works.
“I was born on a farm, I lived on a farm my whole life before I moved to the city,” he says.
“I have kind have had two distinct areas – I’ve lived on a farm with trees around me, having cows, pet ducks, pet geese, all these crazy animals.
“And then lived in the city in a small apartment for a couple of years, and now I’ve kind of got back to that. I can appreciate city living, I can appreciate country living. I’ve had experience of both.
“It’s good to get away from people, and have your own little space because in an apartment, you find yourself walking round in circles, like a lion in a zoo.
“Whereas now, I can just go for a walk along the seashore or take the dog for a walk – much nicer to clear your head.”
So, with an assignment to hand, John has a very specific way of working. His work is constantly revised, and like the best artists he claims to draw inspiration from everywhere.
“If I had a new job coming in, I would get the brief,” he explains. “Work on something for a bit of that day. Then get up the next day and discount everything I’ve done.
“It will take about two or three attempts and eventually I will discount everything I’ve done the day before and then get it the way I want it and kind of make it work for the job.
“I never purposely go out, looking through other illustrators work looking for ideas. It’s just something random like a pattern on a carpet, or I will see something weird.
“I will use the pattern of the outline on the carpet, and try and draw something. That’s kind of what I do.”
John is soon to start working in Milan, New York and on various commissions in Liverpool. A friend is starting a blended whisky company “Malt of the Earth” and John is designing the labels.
This puts him in the hallowed company of one of my favourite artists, William Kentridge, who designs wine bottle labels. So, with this in mind, what motivates John Biddle?
“You’ve got to stick at it, that’s the main thing,” he says. “Being self-motivated is incredilbly difficult, especially for me, cause I’m quite lazy!”
Indolent, he may be but talented he most definitely is. John Biddle’s time is now.
Discover John Biddle’s work at http://thispendantworld.tumblr.com
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