Marcos Chin graduated from Canada’s Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) in 1999. Since then, his work has appeared on book and CD covers, in advertisements, fashion catalogs and magazines (Time, Rolling Stone and Sports Illustrated). He has received a gold medal from the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles, and has had his work published in Communication Arts and American Illustration award annuals. Perhaps most recognizable are the illustrations he’s done for Lavalife's international advertising campaign that appear on subways, billboards, in print and online. Marcos currently lives in New York City and teaches Fashion Illustration at the School of Visual Arts.

04.02.08

Hard Work Counts (Perhaps More Than Talent)

If you have a degree in what field is it? Actually, I have a diploma in communication and design: illustration. I attended the Ontario College of Art and Design, in Toronto, and at the time it wasn’t a degree-granting institution. It is now.

Have you always been able to draw or was it a skill you learned in college? I have been drawing since I was a little kid. Really. I drew on the walls of my parent’s home, on my pillow cases, in the pages of my storybooks (which I regret now because I probably could have sold them as classics on eBay).

What was your first paid assignment? My first assignment was for an instructor of mine at OCAD, James Ireland. In addition to teaching, he also owned a design firm that published trade magazines throughout Canada. Fortunately, he agreed to take a look at my portfolio; two weeks later I got my first illustration assignment. It was an illustration of the exploitation of the South American bean farmer.

Which illustrator (or fine artist) do you most admire? This is a very difficult question, primarily because my interests and influences continue to shift over time. I have to say, however, that Anita Kunz has unknowingly been one of my greatest  mentors. By that, I mean that when I was starting out, although we did not know each other, I was already familiar with her work. It’s strange how you connect, for whatever reason, with the work of certain artists when you're a student; it is a very magical experience, almost like you’re finding treasure. For me, it was Anita’s concepts and dexterity, her color palette and cleverness that drew me into her pictures. Her paintings are never just pretty or fun to look at, there is always mystery, and some sort of story or message that I, as a viewer, always want to figure out.

What would you be doing if you weren’t an illustrator? I’d probably still be working in retail. No kidding. I'd probably be giving folding seminars and lectures—it’s not even funny. I worked at the Gap for about five years to help put me through school and then shortly after until I began to receive illustration work on a more consistent basis. Honestly, I don’t have many other skills besides those that I learned at art school. Apart from that, I fold clothing extremely well and can make a pile of jeans on a shelf look like Chiclets.

From where do your best ideas originate? My best ideas originate from doodling and sketching for hours until something appears on the page that engages me. Sometimes it happens in the first few sketches, other times, it happens after what seems like hundreds. But I think that the continuous brainstorming, trying to come up with as many ideas as possible, eventually gives way to ideas that are golden—and forces out those that are not, to sink.

How do you overcome a creative block? I’ve found, if I’m extremely tired, that it’s very difficult for me to come up with anything I like. Of course there are those bad drawing days, where I just can’t seem to come up with anything at all. When that happens, I either open up some illustration/art/design books to become inspired, or I physically leave my studio so I can separate myself from my work. When I return to my sketches, I usually see them with fresh eyes.

In one word describe how you feel when beginning a new assignment? Excitedlyintimidated. (OK, that's not a word, but I think you get my point.)

Do you have a personal philosophy? My personal philosophy is quite simple: Work begets work. Although surely success, in this industry, requires talent, people also need to work hard to achieve their goals.

Do you have creative pursuits other than illustration? Yes I do. I spent the past summer enrolled in a summer painting residency at the School of Visual Arts where all is did was paint and draw. It was a refreshing experience because it made me more aware of the contemporary fine art world, and taught me different methods for conceiving ideas and mark marking. Lately I’ve been trying to balance my time between my personal and commercial work.

What music are you listening to right now? The Magnetic Fields.

What’s your favorite quote? “Dem chickens is ash and I'm lotion.” Mariah Carey is my guilty pleasure. She has no expiration date, and despite the fact that she’s flamboyant and over-the-top, she’s also extremely committed.

Do you have any advice for people just entering the profession? 1. Have a professional Web presence; it’s where most people will see your work. 2. Work hard. Talent alone does not make people successful, it takes more than that; talent is only a small fraction of what is necessary. 3. Love what you do. The passion that you feel for your work will make you want to continue and make you better.