Skwak’s work is amazing, bold, intense, and full of vibrant colour! Our easy going French friend is getting quite the reputation for his talents, and of course why not!

Infact… he is so busy right now it was hard to get a chat with him, but we persisted, and managed to bring you this excellent interview.

FMCS: How’s things with you today Skwak?

Skwak: Everything is fine, thanks!

FMCS: Tell the boys and girls a little bit about yourself! At FMCS we know about you and your habits (especially the nocturnal ones), cause we have been sitting at the bottom of your garden for the last 6 months, peeping through your windows, and making notes. But our readers may not know you so intimately…

Skwak: Hmmm… How is it going in my garden? OK, to sum up, my name is Jim but I’m also known as SKWAK , I live in the north of France…In the real life I draw all day long, and if not I meet my friends in bars…That’s the way of life for me.

FMCS: Is Lille (France) your true base cause of friends, family and positive energy? Or cause the rents cheap?

Skwak: For many reasons I live there. As you said I have some friends here and I really love this town. People are friendly, life is nice, and it’s close to Paris (just one hour by train)…And you find in Lille some good bars.

FMCS: At what point in your life did you start to concentrate on the creative arts and visual production? Was it a natural evolution (something you were compelled to do) or were there specific influences and situations involved?

Skwak: I have drawn since I was a child. I’ve always represented situations or people around me. Then I studied Arts and developed both my culture, and artistic style.

I studied Keith Haring, Basquiat, Combas, Armand, Bosch… I inspire myself with everything I see around me: people, situations in the street, things I see on television… Anything even anecdotic is transposed into my universe.

FMCS: Would you describe yourself as being a perfectionist?

Skwak: I don’t know. For me, everything has to be coherent. That’s why any detail is important and can make the history I’m telling change. In fact, my illustrations can seem chaotic but each element has its precise place and means something.

FMCS: Your visuals are very intensive…the amount of component within each piece is mind blowing. Pieces like ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ (see above), and ‘The Maniac’ (see below) in particular illustrate this very well. How do these kind of artworks develop? Through unplanned thought development? Or careful planning and sketches beforehand?

Skwak: Each of my illustration start by a simple idea… For example, ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ is what could have happened if this story had taken place in my world…

So I start by imagining a story, and after that during some days I imagine the rest of it, how it could end, what if someone had taken the control if it… All of my illustrations (the main) are telling a story, so every character is important and is at the good place. Of course these stories are for some people completely crazy, but it’s the truth. The main idea is the idea of “too much” (people want more power, more beauty…) It’s like in our world, but exaggerated.

All the characters become what I call “maniacs”, so envious, so focused on an absurd goal… Just Maniacs!

FMCS: Would it be too obvious to mention that some of more visually intensive work shares similarities to aboriginal paintings?

Skwak: Maybe… I’m inspired by a lot of different things in art, in life, and maybe the aboriginal paintings influenced me. I pick up some inspiration in the contemporary arts like the one by Keith Haring, Combas, Armand, but I also pick up on absurd TV show, the world of movies and TV stars… It is a big melting pot.

FMCS: Your ‘Qee’ range of toys are amazing. Let’s chat about this for a while… How does working with toys and plush work for you? You seem to have pursued this new medium with enthusiasm, and it seems to work well for you. Have you any plans to get a full range going?

Skwak: I use these toys like I use a canvas. It’s another way to extend my universe. I have started to work on toys meeting the people from Artoyz, and I have developed a real addiction for this way of art.

The possibility to work in 3D, to appropriate a shape, and to give a new identity and life to a toy is amazing. So I passed another stage in the toys universe; I have created my own character in 3D, the Maniac, which will be available in Spring and produced by Kaching Brands.

FMCS: We see a lot of good stuff coming out on sites like Artoyz, Kidrobot and Rotofungi featuring artists like Dalek, Jamie Hewlett, Pete Fowler etc… (to many to mention). Where do you think this is all heading? Personally at FMCS we would love to see these toy characters made into robots using high end Japanese technology…then we could have cute little Dunnys wandering around the office greeting guests, and serving us tea & cakes!

Skwak: Why not, everything seems to be possible… I’d like my Maniac to be animated for real!

FMCS: What have you got in the pipeline for 2007?

Skwak: Many things… I’m preparing an exhibition in Bruxelles, I work on a book against HIV, and I’m going to Lisboa to custom an Adidas store…Some other things will come this year, with Nike and Kaching Brand.

FMCS: When do we get to see Skwak in animation/film format…you know people are gonna dig that right?

Skwak: It will be so cool if one day my characters “live” in animations. I have already worked with Gunshop company on some different animation for TV but nothing really totally “Skwak”. But don’t worry, it’s coming!

FMCS: Well Skwak it has been a pleasure to chat with you for a short while. We know you gotta run to catch your bus right now! So any shout outs before you hit the road?

Skwak: BE MANIAC!

FMCS: Thanks Skwak and all the best for 2007!

Skwak: Thank you for this interview it was a pleasure!

SKWAK SITE: www.skwak.com
SKWAK MYSPACE: CLICK HERE
Skwak t-shirts are available at: Beautiful Decay, Mass Mayhem and the Owl Movement.
KOOGAI SITE

MORE ILLUSTRATOR INTERVIEWS…

JEREMYVILLE (Illustrator)
Evgeny Kiselev (Illustrator)
Fafi (Illustrator)
Luke Feldman (Illustrator)
Sauerkids (Illustrator)
Nate Williams (Mr Illustrationmundo)

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