Interview: Illustrator & Cartoonist Tom Dearie Keeps it Surreal
Since graduating from the prestigious Royal College of Art in London where his focus was painting, Tom Dearie has made a successful leap over to the world of comics and illustration. Last year he received the coveted ‘Grand Prix’ award at the 31st International Comic Competition (Komiksus) in Poland for his comic F is for Fire. Inspired by the fire department Tom lives near in Warsaw, the comic tells the story of a heroic firefighting father who is injured in service.
With satisfyingly simple forms and eye-catching colour palettes, Tom’s work feels both completely current and strangely familiar. It would be equally at home in a classic comic or on a New Yorker cover. While the commercial potential of his work is obvious, it’s also playfully surreal and often catches you off guard – his Steamy Pete illustration for example looks like some kind of psychedelic Where’s Wally or Tintin in a parallel universe.
I was intrigued, and asked Tom a few questions about his career, influences and transition to comics and illustration..
You studied Fine Art at Falmouth University and Painting at the Royal College of Art. Had you always intended to be an illustrator and cartoonist, or did that happen along the way?
Yeh, illustration did kind of happen along the way for me. Cartoons were my introduction to art when I was a kid and I drew cartoons all the time. As I got older and learned about painting and art history I thought that was what I wanted to do. I think my attraction to painting was that it seemed like the artistic discipline with the most freedom. Whilst in Falmouth I really started to take painting seriously and then went and studied further at the Royal College in London. Even whilst making paintings though, cartoons were a big influence. I loved Philip Guston’s work and I followed in that vein really, essentially just making big cartoons using paint and canvas.
It was only after graduating from the Royal College of Art and being in a position where I had to assess realistically how I could make a career out of my work that I made the decision to focus on illustration. I felt like what talent I had was more suited to the act of drawing and telling stories than in a contemporary art field. So I made a decision to put the paints away and focus on learning how to be an illustrator which has taken a lot of work and step by step I hope my work is improving.
Your art can be playful, surreal and even psychedelic – where do you get your inspiration? Which artists or cartoonists have you been influenced by over the years?
Over the last few years, I’ve realised that inspiration comes from the process of drawing. Just sitting and doodling and letting things happen can be invaluable. It’s such a cliche but just drawing all the time means that you always have a well of images to go to. Initially, I think I overthought what style I wanted my work to be in and would bounce from one style to the next and it was only when I really embraced my natural drawing style that my work started to grow.
I have so many influences and I’ve shamelessly stolen little things from all of them! Some of the people who I continually return to are the likes of Osamu Tezuka who created Astro Boy, I love what he is able to do with just black ink. Another illustrator I love is the Dutch artist Joost Swarte. His work is in the tradition of Hergé but he makes more surreal subversive illustrations. I also love Nick Drnaso and Luke Pearson. I think subconsciously the content of my work is informed by books I’ve read or films I’ve watched. Different images and ideas seem to bleed through and sometimes I don’t know where they come from which is often the most satisfying outcome.
Which digital art tools do you use, and do you still enjoy traditional painting as well?
I work predominantly at the moment on an Ipad Pro using Procreate, which is an incredible tool for illustrators. When I started illustrating I was working exclusively on paper with ink and scanning everything and coloring on Illustrator or Photoshop which was very time-consuming. A friend of mine who is an illustrator showed me his iPad and Procreate. It was like someone showing me witchcraft! I was so used to working with paint and canvas in an analog kind of way that it hadn’t even crossed my mind to work digitally, so that was a big shift in my work but one that has been a huge help. Working digitally isn’t for everyone, I still love drawing on paper but my style lends itself to the iPad really nicely.
I haven’t painted in several years now which is a shame as I spend all my time drawing illustrations and comics. For the time being this is where my passion is but definitely one day I will dust off the old oils and brushes.
You’re currently living in Warsaw, Poland. Has this environment influenced your work or perspective at all?
I think a person’s environment has a big effect on the work they make. Certain opportunities come along in different places and certainly, for me, I have worked on projects in Warsaw that I wouldn’t have done otherwise.
I was fortunate enough to win the Grand Prix at the Komiksus awards in Lodz, Poland last year for a short story comic that was directly inspired by the fire department I live opposite in Warsaw.
Opportunities like that feel more accessible than in London where you can feel slightly swallowed up by the place. I think also the lifestyle my girlfriend and I are able to live in Warsaw which is a bit quieter and more reflective has helped me focus on making more of the work I want to make.
I have lived in Warsaw for a year now and think the past year has been the most productive for me and I can see that my work is going in the right direction so moving to Warsaw and a new environment has definitely had a positive impact.
What are you working on at the moment, and what’s next?
I am currently working on a series of illustrations and posters which will go on sale on an online shop in the new year and hopefully at some illustration fairs in 2021 if the world can get back to some normality. I’m always on the look out for editorial work and commissions. I also hope to continue making short comics and zines and working my way up to starting a longer format graphic novel or children’s book this year! Fingers crossed!
About the Artist
Tom Dearie is a British illustrator and cartoonist currently living in Warsaw, Poland.
He studied Fine Art at Falmouth University and Painting at the Royal College of Art in London.
Copyright: All pictures in this post are copyrighted Tom Dearie. Their reproduction, even in part, is forbidden without the explicit approval of the rightful owners.
