Ask an (IGI) Illustrator no 11: – Una Gildea – Una Gildea
Una was born in Manchester and brought up on a small farm in Sligo.
After completing an Arts Degree in UCD she traveled to Athens and lived there for a year. She then traveled to Amsterdam and lived there for fourteen years.
She studied Painting, Drawing and Printmaking at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam and animation at the University of the West of England; she also spent time at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Her work has been widely exhibited and her animation films have been selected and screened at international film festivals.
Her work is in the collections of Dublin City University and the Irish Contemporary Art Society. She now lives and works in Dublin.
After completing an Arts Degree in UCD she traveled to Athens and lived there for a year. She then traveled to Amsterdam and lived there for fourteen years.
She studied Painting, Drawing and Printmaking at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam and animation at the University of the West of England; she also spent time at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Her work has been widely exhibited and her animation films have been selected and screened at international film festivals.
Her work is in the collections of Dublin City University and the Irish Contemporary Art Society. She now lives and works in Dublin.
Q: Explain how you work?
A: For commissioned work, I first get a good sense of the brief. If the deadline allows, I walk and think. I write down thoughts, ideas, words related to the subject; I sketch out ideas, linking words and images; I keep mining until the ‘click’ happens, then I can start. I sometimes draw, sometimes use collage and Photoshop.
In my own art practice, I work in collage and stop-motion animation, and my work is more stream of consciousness. I love the challenge and the excitement of creating something new from that which already has its meaning, its context; leafing through old books and magazines, the connections made, the associations formed, the thought processes involved are all intuitive, happening in the subconscious. Abstraction of form and transformation of imagery are driving forces behind my collage work. My work is analog. I also work in animation using traditional stop-motion, working with cut-outs. This is a natural extension of my passion for collage, a moving collage, as it were!
A: For commissioned work, I first get a good sense of the brief. If the deadline allows, I walk and think. I write down thoughts, ideas, words related to the subject; I sketch out ideas, linking words and images; I keep mining until the ‘click’ happens, then I can start. I sometimes draw, sometimes use collage and Photoshop.
In my own art practice, I work in collage and stop-motion animation, and my work is more stream of consciousness. I love the challenge and the excitement of creating something new from that which already has its meaning, its context; leafing through old books and magazines, the connections made, the associations formed, the thought processes involved are all intuitive, happening in the subconscious. Abstraction of form and transformation of imagery are driving forces behind my collage work. My work is analog. I also work in animation using traditional stop-motion, working with cut-outs. This is a natural extension of my passion for collage, a moving collage, as it were!
Q: Do you enjoy / or specialise in a particular area of illustration?
A: I enjoy editorial illustration.
A: I enjoy editorial illustration.
Q: Where do you find inspiration?
A: I find inspiration inside and outside my head.
A: I find inspiration inside and outside my head.
Q: Being an illustrator you juggle a lot of things from illustration, project management and financials. How do you structure your time?
A: I also teach, so that gives a basic structure to my time. Outside of that, I organise my time around what is the most pressing thing to be done. It is easy with commissioned work as there is a deadline!
A: I also teach, so that gives a basic structure to my time. Outside of that, I organise my time around what is the most pressing thing to be done. It is easy with commissioned work as there is a deadline!
Q: Do you use a special technique/medium in your work?
A: My specialty is collage and cut-out animation, and I also paint and draw.
A: My specialty is collage and cut-out animation, and I also paint and draw.
Q: What tools do you use?
A: Collage, acrylic, pastels, print techniques, pen, pencil, digital.
A: Collage, acrylic, pastels, print techniques, pen, pencil, digital.
Q: What do you think makes a good illustrator?
A: Someone with a creative and passionate head; someone who looks at things differently; someone who can listen, interpret and meet deadlines.
A: Someone with a creative and passionate head; someone who looks at things differently; someone who can listen, interpret and meet deadlines.
Q: What are your challenges?
A: Finding the energy to continuously promote me and my work.
A: Finding the energy to continuously promote me and my work.
Q: What was your first ever commissioned illustration?
A: It was for a computer magazine in the early 90’s. It was for an article about web design and I used analog collage, as I wasn’t working digitally at that time!
A: It was for a computer magazine in the early 90’s. It was for an article about web design and I used analog collage, as I wasn’t working digitally at that time!
Q: How do you find time for personal projects?
A: Personal projects generate creative energy, so I have to find the time.
A: Personal projects generate creative energy, so I have to find the time.
Q: What illustration- or illustration related project have you been most proud of?
A: I did the zodiac signs for a magazine article. The editor liked my work so I was pretty free to do it my way. I did them using collage, traditional cut and paste method, and the resulting series is up there with my ‘art’ collages!
A: I did the zodiac signs for a magazine article. The editor liked my work so I was pretty free to do it my way. I did them using collage, traditional cut and paste method, and the resulting series is up there with my ‘art’ collages!
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I am working on three portraits, commissioned by Dublin’s Culture Connects, for a project called ‘Local Heroes’. I am also organising Collagistas Festival #5, a festival of collage art with over 50 international collage artists. It will take place in September in Dublin!
A: I am working on three portraits, commissioned by Dublin’s Culture Connects, for a project called ‘Local Heroes’. I am also organising Collagistas Festival #5, a festival of collage art with over 50 international collage artists. It will take place in September in Dublin!
Q: How do I go about commissioning you as an illustrator?
A: You can telephone me or send an email
Instagram:@unagildea
