Artist of the Week: Julia Pott

Until I talked to London's Julia Pott I had never contemplated the fundamental difference between illustrators and animators. They initial process of creating is the same, but it is the animator that is not satisfied until the creation moves. Julia is both an animator and an illustrator and studied both at the University of Kingston. Her work combines a sense of whimsy, fantasy and humor to convey and cope with substantial situations. More often than not her characters find themselves asking questions about relationship, and how they fit into the world in general. There are questions of love, family, friendship and all of the other vital connections we hope to make in our lives.

What is unique about Julia's illustrations are the slightly humorous commentaries that typically accompany her pieces. They work to further emphasis the true purpose of the drawing and to make you smile. Julia's work is rapidly growing in popularity, she recently completed animated videos for both Casiotone for The Painfully Alone and Of Montreal. She has been involved in numerous shows around the world, and has a very popular storefront on Etsy. She is currently being featured in a series of "net giveaway" at the on-line zine Supersweat. As she continues to grow as an artist she is only going to find more inventive and exciting way for her visions to move and I can't wait to see it happen.

Recently, Julia was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.

Orange Alert (OA): How would describe your work?
Julia Pott (JP): My work is very autobiographical and most of my illustration is based on an experience or an emotion..I treat my work as a kind of cheap therapy, helping me deal with the things that get me down or make me really frustrated. I try to add humor into most of my work as most stuff in life is usually pretty funny, whether it's obvious or more of a 'we'll laugh about this later' kind of way. I first started using animals as characters when I create my graduation film 'My First Crush' but I prefer drawing them as I feel they add a different dimension to the work and you can characterize them better and link certain people to certain animals depending on how you feel about them.

OA: What I find most fascinating, aside from the characters you have created, are the little commentaries that you add to each piece. Do the words come after the character is created or does the phrase come first and then you illustrate? What is your process like?
JP: It totally depends, each piece of work is different. Usually the characters come first and the phrase later but I always start off knowing what I am trying to convey whether I am successful or not. I find that if I try and plan a piece of work it goes all over the place and I over think it so it's better for me to just put on some music, start drawing, and see what happens!

OA: I really enjoy you animated shorts. How did you first get into animation and is that ultimately where you want you art to lead?
JP: I did a BA in animation and illustration in London, and I mainly created animations on the course and the illustrations I make are sort of a like a way of brainstorming ideas for animations. I would definitely say that I see myself as more of an animator than an illustrator. When we were all trying to decide our specialty my teacher told us that an animator is someone who is never satisfied until an image is moving and I think I definitely feel that way. Once I have finished an illustration I always think..yeaaah but it would be better if it was jumping up in the air or there were diamonds flying out it's head...or other such nonsense.

OA: My favorite video right now is the Casiotone for Painfully Alone video you did. How did you get involved with that project and what has the response been like?
JP: I went to see Casiotone play in Chicago a few years ago and I had never heard his work before. I instantly fell in love with his words and music and became a bit obsessed..emailing him as soon as I got back to the UK and showing him and my work and suggesting a collaboration. He was up for the idea and just left me to it on the creative side with his only condition being not to include any birds in the animation. I had total creative freedom which was great and it was the first time really that I had directed a project alone after graduating so it was great learning experience. The response has been better than I expected, it is now playing on MTV2 in the UK and I have had quite a few well known bands contacting me about creating their music videos which is great because I really think it's a genre I would love to continue with.

OA: On your blog you mentioned new teatowels that are being made by To Dry For, which look very cool, but as an artist, is there a limit to what type of products or merchandise you want your images attached to?
JP: I think there definitely is. With the recent surge of hand made and craft goods on sale now through places like etsy and dawanda I think everyone is becoming a bit more creative and experimenting with different mediums and merchandise and I've definitely tried out lots of different things but I would never want to tack my work onto any old thing. My work is currently being printed on teatowels and wallpaper which are both things that I see as pretty ace so it's all good at the moment. So far I haven't had to turn anything down because it seems ridiculous or unethical but we shall see!

OA: What's next for Julia Pott?
JP: I am currently working on an animation over at Passion Pictures in Soho and once that's over I am starting work on the new music video for Frightened Rabbit. I am moving to New York for 2 months on the 10th of april for a change of scenery. I have lots of meetings and projects lined up over there and it's just a great opportunity to make new contacts and have new experiences. I am also (fingers crossed) off to Guadalajara in Mexico in July to set up a one month solo exhibition of my illustration and animation. I am so very excited about that!! And after that I have a few things on the horizon but they are too far off to talk about just yet!!

My First Crush

Bonus Questions:
OA: If you could sit down to coffee with anyone (alive or dead) who would it be?
JP: This is one of the most difficult questions..it's like asking someone what their favourite food in the world is or what they would take to a desert island...there's so many options!! I think one of the people high up on my list for a nice cup of coffee and a sit down would be Miranda July..mainly just because she seems like a stand up lady and someone I could really talk to..not to mention her super ace directing skills and general train of thoughts.

OA: What type of music do you enjoy and who are a few of your favorites?
JP: Well of course Casiotone of a major music love..if not the top of the list! I am also a massive Of Montreal fan and had the honour of helping out with the animation on the recent Id Engager video and we met them all and they were the most lovely people!! I also love Kimya Dawson, the Microphones, Frightened Rabbit and Born Ruffians..just your general ace lyrics, great tune type of bands.

For more information on Julia Pott please her website and don't forget to check out her blog and etsy shop.