Interview with an Illustrator : J o n a s C l a e s s o n

Interview with an Illustrator : J O N A S   C L A E S S O N

I'm thrilled to kick off this new series by introducing readers to Jonas Claesson, freelance illustrator and owner of Shopscout.com.  I've been following his work for a while now and I love when one of his illustrations pops up on my Instagram feed.  His playful and graphic style features everything from hippy-dippy surfing moose to dreamy campsites under watery skies. With clever titles like Global Roaming for an illustration of campers hitching a ride on a swimming polar bear, his work delights and arouses the mind.  Originally from Sweden, Jonas now lives in Freshwater on the northern beaches of Sydney, Australia.  Before moving to Australia to complete three years of industrial design school, he spent three months in Portugal (studying Portuguese) and completed a year of art school in Sweden.  In 2005, he was awarded Best Eco Design Concept at Interior Motives Design Awards for his creation of a modern VW camper.  In addition to drawing on a regular basis and running a business, Jonas is getting ready to launch his first children's alphabet book of surfing animals.  I was very excited when Jonas agreed to an interview since he's a pretty private guy - not to mention he's a tad busy.  Check out what he has to say below, and don't forget to scope his impressive collection of art at shop.jonasclaesson.com!

Global Roaming

How did you get started in illustration?

I always liked drawing from when I was really young. I used to make my own comic books with my best friend growing up.

What are three words to describe your art?

That’s hard to say about my own stuff… Adventure, Animals, Surf?

What are the primary tools you use to create your illustrations, starting with most used to least used?

Pencil

Pen

Paper

Erasr

Scanner

Computer (Illustrator and Photoshop)

What type of environment do you work in?

I work from home, so mostly from my kitchen table or desk.

Walk us through a typical day.

I wake up, feed the cats and walk down to the beach to check the surf and drink coffee with my girlfriend. If [the surf] is good, I usually go in a bit later.  Otherwise I go home and read emails and work.

What is success to you?

To be happy with what you have, while still working hard towards your goals.

Would you mind sharing what some of those goals are?

One of my short-term goals right now is to finish the Surfing Animals A-Z book and get it out before Christmas.  Other than that, I just want to keep having fun with the illustration thing and hopefully grow it as a business at the same time.

Was there ever a time when you wanted to give up on being an illustrator?  If so, why and how did you get over the “hump”?

I never really gave up on it.  I just focused on other stuff.  I worked for Billabong for four years as a product designer and also started a web business which turned into Shopscout.com.  I also did some illustration projects, mostly working with a Swedish brand called Nord.  I think a lot of the current momentum I have [with respect to my current art] is thanks to the time we live in.  Instagram is a huge part of it for me.

You have nearly 23,000 followers on Instagram!  How long did it take you to reach such a large audience, and what are your tips to other artists who are trying to grow their reach on Instagram?

 

I started to put things up probably 2 years ago… The only tip I have is to draw everyday, put it out there, and see what happens.

Winter Mornings

What are three important qualities an illustrator must have to succeed?

Persistance

Creativity

Happy with failing

Can you explain what you mean by “Happy with failing?”

Sounds a bit strange maybe.  It's like the concept of failing forward… I think for me it is important to create things kind of fast and imperfect and then release it instead of overthinking it - to understand that failing is part of the process. Does that make sense?

It definitely does!  What single piece of advice would you give to others who are trying to make a living as an illustrator? 

Draw something every day and share it with the world.

Speaking of the world, what made you move from one side of the it (Sweden) to the other (Australia)?

Me and a couple of friends wanted to combine studying at university with surfing, and for that it is hard to beat Australia…

Black Sea

What's your favorite thing about surfing? 

Pretty much everything. The beauty of all the elements coming together when the waves are good. I love surfing when there is no wind and it's raining - which I did today. 

Do you have a favorite break?

Aussie Pipe – I just went there with a friend for a couple of days on a camping trip.  It was amazing.

Favorite board?

A Chopper from Yoshi.

  

What about a favorite Pandora station?

Fionn Reagan

What would you recommend a traveler to see while they are in Sweden?

Stockholm and the surrounding islands plus Lappland (the north). 

What are some websites you visit on a regular basis?

Coastalwatch (surf forecasting) and Facebook L

What is something new that you’ve recently learned?

I am trying to learn to paint with watercolour at the moment…

Milky Way

What is your personal motto?

I don’t really have a motto, but I like this quote: 

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." -Mark Twain

Besides drawing and surfing, what else are you passionate about?

Good coffee, food, travelling and good TV series.  (His favorites are Breaking Bad, Fargo and Narcos.)

I love the Wilderness (hence, wilderlis).  I know you must love the wilderness too based on your work.  Why?

I love being outdoors. It makes me calm and charges me up. I love the ocean and the mountains.

Whale Shark

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To see more of Jonas's work, check out his Instagram and Facebook! If you are a fellow illustrator and are interested in being featured on wilderlis, drop me a line!