@c8l.in

Instagram: @c8l.in  

1. What's your story? Where are you from?

I’m an animator/illustrator from London. I studied Illustration, but fell into animation about a year ago when I got the chance to work with director Parallel Teeth on a video for New Zealand musician Merk. I always thought I’d hate how time-consuming 2D animation is but it turns out I love it, and I very very rarely make still work these days.

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

I try to keep things fun, stupid, and sometimes a bit depressing or gross.

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

It’s a lot more time-consuming than digi stuff obviously, but I really love making analogue animations when I can! I usually use gouache for my hand-done stuff, but I recently tried out embroidering an animation which was super fun.

4. What is your artistic process like?

Stupid little situations and images usually pop into my head when I’m on the tube or in bed or whatever and then I get very antsy until I can make them into pictures. I’m quite fixated on the rush of finishing something, so I am definitely not a detail-oriented person or perfectionist.

5. Who and/or what inspires your work?

Anything kinda trashy and low-brow really! I grew up on the same road as a shopping centre with a really ramshackle market section selling cheap hair accessories, crap toys, and tacky homeware which I assume is where I got my love for garish colours and my haphazard approach to making work. Spending a big chunk of my teenage years alone and indoors on the armpits of the internet has also had a huge influence on my sense of humour.

6. What role does art play in your life? How does it change the way you view the world?

It’s something to do! I don’t think art enriches my life in some profound, spiritual way or anything, but I know I’d be incredibly frustrated if I couldn’t spend my time making stuff. Everything else is boring! Plus looking at things is way more fun than reading or whatever.

7. Where did you study?

I studied an Illustration degree at Camberwell college of the Arts. We were definitely pushed beyond the constraints of illustration into weirder territories; for my degree show I made a load of different fake hams out of silicone and filmed them being thrown in the air in slow-motion. It was a lot of fun and for a second there I thought I might be a fine artist but I got back to drawing pictures the day after I handed all my work in.

8. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Hopefully directing and animating! And not living with my mum.

9. What about in ten?

I want to live somewhere where I can have a room that I don’t smoke in, so I can get a pet lizard without killing it slowly.

10. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

I think it’s all just attention seeking, to be honest! I just want people to see my work and laugh a bit under their breath and think ‘that’s cool’, then go on with their day. I could say that I want to brighten peoples days a little bit- but of course it’s still not selfless because I want to be the one brightening them!

11. Now, tell us a little more about you as a person: what is your favourite food?

My very favourite meal and also a top tip for everyone is: A whole pack of vegetarian hot dogs dipped in microwaved macaroni and cheese.

12. Favourite book?

I only have two real books on my shelf: Shock Value by John Waters, and an oral history of The Simpsons.

13. Favourite genre of music?

Girl groups! K-pop girl groups, J-pop girl groups, 50s and 60s American girl groups! Any and every group of girls.

14. What are your hobbies?

I ‘m pretty boring! If I’m not making work, I am probably drinking beer or watching really terrible youtube videos. But most of the time I am doing all three at the same time.

15. If you weren't an artist, what would you be?

Very very bored.