Ones to Watch: Dan Evans

Dan Evans is an artist based in London who might have brought some of your favourite articles to technicolour life. I caught up with the man behind the pencil to discuss illustrating for huge websites, art on the web and what particularly Belgian name he’d give his pet vulture.

1) Hey Dan, how are you?
I’m doing really well, thanks for asking.

2) For the unfamiliar, who are you and what are you about?
I am Dan Evans, a freelance illustrator from London, and I’m all about that bass. And drawing.

3) What would you say inspires your work the most?
The people I work with. I work in a brilliant studio with brilliant people. They’re always inspiring me to do more. Also, rather more obviously, discovering other illustrators work, although that can be as dispiriting as it is inspiring! There’s some seriously talented people out there.

4) What pieces are you working on at the minute? Fancy doing us a vulture?
I’d love to do you a Vulture. I’m a commercial illustrator so most of the work I do is in advertising which keeps me busy on a day to day basis. In terms of personal projects, at the moment I’ve started work on a set of Hip Hop portraits. I’ve also just finished the cover for Saskilla’s new single which was very cool to do. The response to the Grime portraits has been amazing, so I’m sending out a lot of prints for the first time as well which is brilliant. And the editorial work for Vice and Noisey has really picked up which I’m very happy about as editorial work is what I really love to do.

5) How is it working with Vice on article illustrations? Talk us through a regular job.
It’s great fun as the subject matter is always so varied, but they’re in and out so quickly you don’t have much time to sit back and enjoy it! Typically, one of the editors will send the article for me to read, or if time is really tight, a quick synopsis. They might have a few ideas about how the see the illustrations working, which is always good for me as it’s interesting to see how other people interpret the piece. If not I go away, come up with a few ideas and then run it past them just to check they’re happy with what I have planned. Then I get on and draw it! The turnaround is always really tight, usually for the next day, so it’s a great way to sharpen up your drawing skills but also it’s great for making you focus as quickly as possible on an idea.

6) Is the web the best place for an artist to make their money these days?
I don’t think it’s necessarily the best place to make your money but it has opened up huge new audiences to artists work so it’s probably the best place to start making your money.

7) Anyone in particular you’d jump at the chance to do a commissioned portrait of?
Would I get the chance to meet them? I did a portrait of Action Bronson a while ago, &I’d love to sit down with him and eat some fried chicken.

8) How has 2014 treated you? What’s in store for 2015?
Professionally 2014 has definitely been the best year I’ve ever had. I think most of it stems from the work i’ve done for Vice. It’s just meant that i’ve suddenly had a huge audience seeing my work. And I think the Grime work was the pinnacle of that. I had no idea when I started it how interested everyone would be in it and how much it would change stuff for me. This interview is the perfect example! The fact i’m sitting here doing this interview came directly from the Grime work. You wouldn’t know who the fuck I was if I hadn’t decided to draw D Double E one day! As for 2015, more of the same please! I’m hoping to create more work that people enjoy and keep earning enough money to fund my comic book habit.

9) Any sage advice to give to upcoming artists?
Get your work out there. Draw things you love, get them out into the wide world and I guarantee there will be other people out there who love them too and want to see more.

10) And finally, what would you name your pet vulture if they were cultured?
Herge.