“I have always thought of myself as a commercial artist, an illustrator is essentially an artist who makes a living working for commercial endeavours. I have shown in galleries, had my own solo exhibition in Melbourne and applied my illustration to art projects because the lines are very blurred between illustration and art,” Eamo Donnelly introduces himself straight up—without those vague connotations. But what Eamo really is to the eyes of those who’d see his handdrawn, character-driven illustrations is a tourist guide who brings us back to the 1950s-1980s with the crazy colors, imaginative and detailed caricature, infusing it with his own Aussie humor and layering it with nostalgia and sunshine. We’d all love to tear off his two spreads from our own magazine and post them up on our walls to put more life in our workdesks. Now let’s stop the reading and get on to the watching.

Hi Eamo! You got clients from Advertising Age to VH1, what’s keeping you busy right at the moment?
I’m working on a secret new project, something completely different that will be launched in early 2012.

Do you have thoughts of branching out perhaps to a darker aesthetic or new medium?
Recently I have experimented with a new body of work focusing on children’s illustrations. The colour is still there but they are stripped back and more geometric and shape-driven. Very influenced by the 1950s Golden Books and vintage French poster design, I am enjoying spending more time with colour and less time on the detail.

How do you deal with repetition and routine?
It’s very hard to stay fresh, you can tend to replicate pieces and concepts that have worked before. I guess taking a risk each time you undertake a new work is the best way to stay relevant. Research and learn about new artists, trends in design, even study disciplines that are completely unrelated to your profession.

In line with this, you mentioned in one interview that “the great thing about nostalgia is you only remember the good times.” Tell us about the best times you had so far in your creative career.
Some highlights so far, illustrating for Rolling Stone USA, winning awards in Cannes and New York for a campaign for VH1, speaking at Melbourne’s international design conference AGIdeas, breaking into the prestigious American Editorial market and overall being able to illustrate for such a broad range of clients all over the world.

What’s your dream project?
This year I was lucky to get approached to illustrate a portrait for Rolling Stone Magazine USA for their famed album review page. My childhood dream was to illustrate for Rolling Stone, I can remember reading issues of it as far back as ten years old.

What’s the next adventure for Eamo?
2012 is going to be a very different year for Eamo so keep an eye out for new adventures, there will be quite a few surprises.

FIRST THINGS FIRST
People always ask: when was the first time you did something for the first time? You seem to be an adventurous bloke. Tell us the top 5 things you’ve never done and would want to experience in 2012 (before the world ends? Haha).
Visit New York and Paris
Marry my sweetheart
Have babies
Publish a book
Break into the French and Asian market

eamo.com.au
Introduction by Reena Mesias
Interview by Kristine Dabbay
Artwork courtesy of Eamo Donnelly

For the full story, grab a copy of STATUS February 2012 issue

Post a Comment