The Town Herald

The netpaper about Elftowners, by Elftowners, for Elftowners.

Featured Artist Interview

Name & Age: Ash Cruikshank, 22
Country of Origin & Residence: Canada, Toronto
Work: Office Asst., Framer, part-time illustrator, full time student
Hobbies: art, music, design, fashion.

Education: full time student at the Ontario College of Art and Design, Degree: Design, Major: Illustration. Certificate in Art Fundamentals from Sheridan College.

[Kaimee]Q:What are your favourite Medias and Techniques?
[Asrun] Digital, watercolour, acrylic, inks. No favourite techniques, I just play around.

[Kaimee]Q: Who are your favourite authors and books?
[Asrun] Neil Gaiman, Stardust, American Gods. Kate Forsythe, Witches of Eileannan series.

[Kaimee]Q:What story, artwork, author or artist are most inspirational to you?
[Asrun]I'm really inspired by the visuals in Pan's Labyrinth right now. They are equally beautiful and terrifying. I also love Tim Burton, but what illustrator doesn't? Kozyndan are amazing as well. They are a couple out of California (Kozy and Dan) that do some amazing work. Check out their bunnies.

[Kaimee]Q:Has your work been published, and if so, where can we find it?
[Asrun]First published at age 12, in a nationally syndicated magazine (Owl, December 1997). I'm embarrassed of the drawing now. :P Since then I've only 'published' work online for companies such at SmartPhones inc.

[Kaimee]Q:Where is your work is available for sale?
[Asrun] fearn.deviantart.com/store

[Kaimee] Q:Where can you be contacted professionally?
[Asrun] ash.cruikshank@gmail.com

[Kaimee]Q: How did you get started with your art, how long have you been drawing?
[Asrun] I just started drawing... I sucked. Seriously. I was always being yelled at for not drawing between the lines and not cutting on the lines. Then all of a sudden, stuff started looking 'okay'. I started showing actual talent between the ages of 12-15, but even then it was very average work. I just made sure that I drew every day and kept refining my work.

[Kaimee]Q:How would you describe your pieces in general, and what they mean to you?
[Asrun] My pieces are usually dream and fantasy imagery. I like pretty things, I'm not going to lie. I'm trying now to encorporate some concept, cause if I don't my instructors fail me. My pieces as of right now, don't mean a lot to me. I'm still learning, so I see them as stepping stones to hopefully, something greater.

[Kaimee]Q:What sort of technique do you use when painting or drawing?
[Asrun] I use different techniques, so it's hard to settle on just one. Right now, I'm enjoying digital collage with texture pieces using layer modes over and under my line work.

[Kaimee]Q:What would you consider your favourite or best piece and why?
[Asrun] I have two. 'Morella', cause I like the painting a lot and I proved that yes, I can draw and paint without the computer. And one I just finished tonight 'Fauno' which was inspired by Pan's Labyrinth.. I just think it looks pretty neat with the textures.


[Kaimee]Q:Where do you see your art going, are there any different styles, artists or subjects you’d like to experiment with?
[Asrun] I see myself going more conceptual. Mostly because I have little choice, cause that's where the market is for illustration. I experiment all of the time (most of these I don't post) and I try to utilize what I learn from these experiments into my work.

[Kaimee]Q:Will you stay with your fantasy subjects, or do you think you’ll branch out?
[Asrun] Heck no! I have lots of work that isn't fantasy that I choose not to post on Elftown and Elfwood (being fantasy communities). I love drawing humourous stuff and images that make people think. I'm not there yet, but I'm learning. I like getting a laugh out of people. I also want to explore political activism in my work. Such as what Sue Coe does.

[Kaimee]Q:What is it that makes the genre of Fantasy special to you, what makes it so magical and capturing for you that most of your artworks spring from it?
[Asrun] I like the unreal, and the idea that the unreal may actually exist, even if it just inside of ourselves.

[Kaimee]Q:And, finally, What do you have to say to those aspiring Elftown fantasy artists and writers? What would you love to see from them, what do you warn them against, and what do you think they should remember?
[Asrun] Mostly that asking other artists "how do you draw?!" really is a silly question! You just draw. You draw ALL the time. Draw stuff that you don't like, that you do like, just draw. I have 5 sketchbooks on the go at any given time. Believe me when I tell you that less than 4 years ago, I couldn't draw. I was rejected from illustration at different colleges. I was told that I would never be able to handle it. Sure, it brought me down, it hurt, but if you truly love something and have the passion to do it, you'll be able to get something from it. I have one year left of illustration at OCAD and I'm one of the top in my classes now, I even had one teacher this year tell me that I couldn't draw. I worked hard to bring myself up to the level I'm at now, and even though I'm far from the best, I'm learning from a lot fo great people and finding my own way. Just remember to that it's important to follow your passions and your dreams, and if you work hard enough you'll be able to overcome obstacles in your life you never thought you'd be able to.



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