PPP3: Chat with Tom Eglington

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have been working with artist and author Tom Eglington as part of the progression workshop. I took the opportunity to ask him a series of questions via email.

I have  had similar conversations with Tom in person, but I sent the emails in order to secure something for documentation purposes.

What are your opinions in regards to fan art?

1. As far as fan art is concerned, I guess it depends on the artist and the context. I think the attitude has changed over time as fan art has become more sophisticated. There are some very good artists being creative with it, and the whole thing has moved on from simple copies of popular characters. As a general rule I do always like to see original ideas and artwork, but realistically people are more inclined to buy work that involves the imagery and iconography of pop culture so a lot of artists use this as a way to get their work noticed. It does attract a bigger audience, particularly online, and that can then introduce people to other aspects of that artists output that is more personal and original. There are also some great, inventive approaches to stuff. A recent trend to create prints of re-imagined film posters has produced some fantastic work, and although it wouldn't be the first thing I would classify as fan art, it really is, just dressed up in different clothes. 

Do you use business cards or some other form of promotional ephemera as well as your online presence?

2. I occasionally use business cards but my self promotion is my weakest skill. To be honest, as far as work is concerned, I find networking hugely important, as well as targeting particular people/businesses for work. Knowing what an organisation is looking for is very important. Although I have handed out business cards, I never seemed to have gotten much work out of this, but it is a useful way to share contact details with strangers.

Would you suggest that you have an advantage as an artist and a writer, as opposed to specialising in one particular discipline?

3. I guess being a writer and artist has it's advantages. If one thing goes wrong with one discipline, I can switch to the other! The worry is that it is also dividing my energies, especially when I have lots of work on at once. However, I have found that it helps to have income from different areas so that if one line of work dries up, you can still pay your bills. I would say that is useful advice if you're either an artist or writer. You have to be spinning plates if you want to survive. 

Tom is a pretty charismatic chap, it's easy to see why he might find it easier to network in person or directly through social media applications like Twitter, as opposed to handing out business cards. Fan art is a bit of a heated topic, so I like to take the opportunity to ask practitioners about the subject, Tom mentioned that fan art acts as a lure for viewers, although is generally not considered as valuable as an original idea. This is something that I have come to appreciate, that creating fan art appeals to the id of the creator and viewer. It is a quick reference to a recognisable design or concept and appeals to nostalgia and fanatical emotions.