Burgerman on doodling, and salad

Jon Burgerman is one of the busiest illustrators around. If he's not jet setting off to New York, India, or some other place far away he's travelling the length and breadth of the country spreading his infectious line work where ever he goes. He talks through some of his upcoming appearances, how he got to where he is, and what goes in to making a decent salad.

Where might people find you doodling in the near future?

I'm off to NYC for a couple of weeks soon, I might do the odd doodle there. Then I'll be in Hamburg for my exhibition Lossy Botnay Lab which opens on July 1st at the Heliumcowboy gallery. I'll also be at the Apple store in london tomorrow (20th May 7-8pm) but i suspect I wont have finished this interview in time for that to be relevant, so it's kind of stupid even mentioning it. oh well but info and images from that will appear here www.inkstrumental.com

When you're not pacifying pens you're also in a band, can you tell us a little bit about it?

The band is called Anxieteam and it consists of Jim Avignon on keyboards and electronic noises and myself on ukulele and squeaking sounds from my mouth (sort of singing). We formed in the summer of 2009, and what a wonderful summer that was. I spent two months in New York having a great old time. Burritos and bagels, wine in the park and walking home after dark, ice creams from blue marble and roof top parties in manhattan...

We've played about 10 or so gigs, some in NYC, some in Germany and a couple in Rome. Later this year hopefully we'll play a few more in Germany and some in Brazil too.

It's a fun project and a nice way to try and express some of my thoughts in a non-visual way. Of course both being artists we like to make the performances a little different so often make a big painting for the stage background and have lots of masks for us and the audience to wear.

It should be noted I have extremely limited musical talent. In fact talent probably isn't the most appropriate way of describing it, musical willingness perhaps. I'm willing to be musical but my skills always fall a little short. I'm not doing a good job of bigging this up am i? Ignore what I just wrote, we're the best band in the world and one day will be bigger than Shed Seven and The Longpigs combined! Check www.anxieteam.com for more info!

What's the best advice you've got to give someone who's just starting out as an illustrator?

Work work work. Smile whilst you're doing it too. Get a website - keep it simple - add lots of lovely things to it - be patient - be nice - learn - listen - work - get your work 'out there'!

With little experience how did you go about approaching clients?

I emailed or wrote to them. Sometimes I scored meetings with people and eventually people started to invite me to meet them. You don't need experience to say hello to someone, just say hello! Don't pester anyone though, remember, you can't spell pester without pest. Or er.

How did you get your first commission?

A company working locally invited me to pitch artwork for an album cover. The musician liked my work and then in a short space of time I'd painted the LP cover and everyone was happy. Looking back it was because the company knew me a little bit and that I worked quickly once I was given the smallest slice of an opportunity. I actually had just one evening to come up with some ideas to present the following morning. You snooze and yes, sometimes, you will lose, but at least you'll wake up feeling refreshed and your eyes wont be all pink and fluffy.

Aside from your talent for drawing what other qualities do think have helped you become a success?

I'm not a very good drawer. I think you need a little bit of some sort of talent, but also you need to have a strict work ethic, be able to communicate clearly to people and I think it helps to have a personality. This should come through in your work. Sometimes I see very technically proficient work but it's bland and boring. Keep it interesting and keep having ideas. Don't always do what you're told! Unless you are told three times to do something, in which case the person telling you might get annoyed if they have to tell you it a fourth time.

Finally what the readers are really after... what is you favourite salad and why?

I don't have a certain salad I like - although the Green Goddess I had in LA last year was quite special. I just like a jolly big salad, with fresh ingredients and a variety of textures. I like it when salads have a special ingredient in or two. Favourite salad items include; peas, bean sprouts, hulumi, toasted mini pre-baked potatoes, beetroot, pickles, round lettuce, grated carrot (no raisins please! ), softened/roasted cauliflower, humous, falafel, rice wrapped in vine leaves, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, seeds in general, Engaveta flakes, good old cucumber (lots of it please), tiger cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs and brown rice.

If  haven't seen much of Burgerman's work before, because you've hiding in a darkened room, then head on over to Burger-Town and stuff your face with all manner of quirky characters. Thanks Jon for taking time out of your busy schedule to share your experiences with us, and your rather useful list of tasty salad ingredients.