@barryp

Instagram: @barryp Website: www.barryp.me  

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

I’m originally from Brisbane, Australia, but have been living and working in Sydney for the past 8 years. I come from an architectural drafting background which slowly evolved into a desire to draw more than just buildings.

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

I'm not very good at putting this into words in a really simple concise way. So i would say: isometric imaginary worlds meets NBA culture meets 80s cartoonish doodling.

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

My favourite medium is black pen on paper. It’s definitely the medium where I feel I have the most control over whatever it is I’m drawing. Plus you can do it anywhere - no fuss. I go through a lot of A3 sketchbooks.

4. What is your artistic process like?

It doesn’t always happen like this but I usually like to have a loose idea of the piece mapped out in my head before putting anything to paper and elements can grow from there. The actual drawing process isn’t too groundbreaking. I sketch the picture in pencil, then hand ink it in, and take over to Photoshop to refine or clean up the lines. From there do what is needed – colouring etc. I’m red-green colourblind, so Photoshop is a huge help in avoiding getting a key element of an image catastrophically wrong!

5. Who and/or what inspires your work?

Movies, retro cartoons, plants & my wife.

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

That’s what I love about art in all forms, everything is exactly that: a changed view of the world. I love how, say, something like a simple illustrated piece made up of a few pen strokes can get a message across to its viewer quicker and easier than two-paragraph of words. I am an art fan, and I like how looking at work by other artists and illustrators gives me a sense of what other worlds look like, how other societies function and how different people think. My pictures often have small details of my own reality woven into them - even if it’s just the leaf pattern of a plant in my apartment or the line from a song I’ve been listening to a lot. The real world creeps in without you realising.

7. Where did you study?

I originally studied Architectural technology to become a Draftsperson but in regards to art and illustration I’m self taught.

8. Where do you see yourself in five years? Working in an agency?

With many more great clients, a bigger (physical) office! & just to get better and better at telling stories / getting the message across in my drawings.

9. What about in ten?

Same as above - but without having to hustle to keep the flow of clients coming in!

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

For people to smile when they see it. And, let’s be honest, to get paid.

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

Anything Vietnamese, sign me up.

12. Favourite book?

Watchmen by Alan Moore (Author) & Dave Gibbons (illustrator)

13. Favourite genre of music?

Is Fleetwood Mac a genre?

14. What are your hobbies?

Playing basketball, cooking, the beach & drawing beers (see @beersinthesun)

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

Drawing houses