Illustrator Marc Burckhardt lives in Austin, Texas—the Live Music Capitol of the World—in a 1910 farmhouse in the shadow of downtown.
Born in Germany and raised in Texas, his work is a cross between American Folk and Flemish Primitivism. His paintings have been commissioned by Rolling Stone, TIME, Fortune, SONY Records, the New York Times, Volkswagen, Target and Major League Baseball. His work has received multiple awards from CA, American Illustration, D&AD, and gold and silver medals from the Society of Illustrators of New York. His paintings have been exhibited in galleries across North America and Europe as well as at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and he was recently named State Artist Laureate for 2010 by the Texas Commission on the Arts.
08.11.09
The More You Practice, The Luckier You Get
If you have a degree in what field is it? I have a BA in art history, a BFA in printmaking, and another BFA in illustration. I think I’ve logged enough semester hours to become a doctor, but all at the undergraduate level.
Have you always been able to draw or was it a skill you learned in college? Like most kids, I drew as soon as I could pick up a pencil. I just never stopped. I think most artists would agree that obsession is the best teacher.
What was your first paid assignment? Drawing naked girls for a quarter a pop in grade school. I had a good imagination and endless commissions.
Which illustrator (or fine artist) do you most admire? Robert Crumb, Phil Hayes, and Anita Kunz rank among my favorites in illustration. In fine art, my current list would be Cranach the Elder, Ingres and Neo Rausch, though it’s a changing cast.
What would you be doing if you weren't an illustrator? Digging ditches!
From where do your best ideas originate? They seem to drop out of the sky, though I’m a firm believer that the more you practice the luckier you get.
How do you overcome a creative block? A hot bath helps concentrate the mind.
In one word describe how you feel when beginning a new assignment? Nervous!
Do you have a personal philosophy? Work hard, play nice, arrive on time.
Do you have creative pursuits other than illustration? Travel, if done correctly is about as creative as it gets.
What music are you listening to right now? Asobi Seksu, Sigur Rós and Beethoven.
What’s your favorite quote? “No man is a hypocrite in his pleasures.” —Samuel Johnson
Do you have any advice for people just entering the profession? Look at your career as a marathon, not a sprint: pace yourself, keep up your energy and put one foot in front of the other.
What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started your career? Arthur Hochstein’s phone number.