{"id":2626,"date":"2013-08-27T00:01:33","date_gmt":"2013-08-27T06:01:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2626"},"modified":"2013-08-27T21:21:21","modified_gmt":"2013-08-28T03:21:21","slug":"seven-questions-over-breakfast-with-antoine-revoy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2626","title":{"rendered":"Seven Questions Over Breakfast with Antoine Revoy"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

This morning at 7-Imp, I welcome illustrator Antoine Revoy<\/a><\/strong>. Antoine was born in France and grew up in Tokyo, Japan, as well as Mexico City, Mexico, and Barcelona, Spain. He received a B.F.A. in Film\/Animation\/Video from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1999, and after that, moved to China, followed by some time in Dublin, Ireland (as well as Paris again), working as a visual and interaction designer. All the while, he worked as a freelance illustrator as well. He now works full-time as an illustrator, including editorial work. <\/p>\n

And, as you can read below, he also now teaches art and illustration. (Fun fact: He is married to illustrator Kelly Murphy<\/a><\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

As you’ll see below, Antoine has a very stripped-down style in his pen-and-ink drawings, often with a compelling use of line and occasional bursts of color. Surreal and mind-bending, his illustrations take us to new places. <\/p>\n

Let’s get to it then so that we can see some art. As for breakfast, Antoine tells me, “I used to have a preference for the medically questionable combination of coffee and cigarettes (referred to by some as ‘French breakfast’). I no longer smoke nor drink coffee, and my current breakfast-of-choice would be bread and cheese (which sounds rather French as well).”<\/p>\n

Oh, but you see, that’s very good with me. I think we’re set. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

* * * * * * *<\/strong><\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Are you an illustrator or author\/illustrator?<\/font><\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: Illustrator, as far as recent published work goes, but I write my own stories and comics as well.<\/p>\n


\n

2013, Year of the Snake<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you list your books-to-date?<\/font><\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: I co-illustrated the chapter book Haunted Houses<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, written by Robert D. San Souci<\/a><\/strong>, with my wife Kelly Murphy<\/a><\/strong>. I have also single-handedly illustrated the upcoming Anubis Speaks!<\/a><\/strong><\/em> by Vicky Alvear Shecter<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n


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Cover and illustrations from Vicky Alvear Shecter’s<\/a><\/strong>
<\/em>Anubis Speaks!<\/a><\/strong> (Boyds Mill Press, 2013)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What is your usual medium?<\/font><\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: I favor traditional media, drawing by hand with pencils and pen and ink on paper or illustration boards.<\/p>\n


\n

Baba Yaga<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Where are your stompin\u2019 grounds?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: I currently reside in Providence, Rhode Island, which has wonderful Federal\/Colonial architecture and enjoyable New England seasonal weather.<\/p>\n


\n

Cyborg self-portrait<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you tell me about your road to publication?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: Kelly<\/a><\/strong>, who is a veteran illustrator compared with me, was one day contacted to illustrate a collection of horror short stories, and she identified this project and manuscript as an opportunity for she and I to work together as a duo for the sake of artistic experimentation. She generously suggested to the publisher that we collaborate on this book and, after careful consideration, the client agreed that a hybrid of our styles would be an interesting experiment and appropriate for these particular stories. Prior to this experience, I had primarily worked as an editorial illustrator, creating single illustrations for newspapers or magazines.<\/p>\n


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Cover and illustrations from Robert D. San Souci’s<\/a><\/strong> <\/em>Haunted Houses<\/a><\/strong>,
illustrated with Kelly Murphy<\/a><\/strong> (Henry Holt, 2010)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you please point readers to your web site and\/or blog?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: www.revoy.net<\/a><\/strong> and blog.revoy.net<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n


\n

Ape Planet<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n


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Visions<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: If you do school visits, tell me what they\u2019re like.<\/font> <\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: To date, I have only visited colleges, which I hear is no different from visiting elementary schools, tattoos and piercings aside.<\/p>\n


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Antoine’s <\/em>Flowers series: <\/em>Amaryllis, Hibiscus, and<\/em> Orchids<\/center><\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/font><\/strong>: If you teach illustration, by chance, tell me how that influences your work as an illustrator.<\/font><\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: For the past three years, I have been teaching at the Rhode Island School of Design<\/a><\/strong> and Montserrat College of Art<\/a><\/strong>. While this occupation has had little influence on my art, it has done good things for my mental health by allowing me to leave my studio and lead a less solipsistic life as an artist.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Any new titles\/projects you might be working on now that you can tell me about?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: I have been working on various comics\/manga personal projects, as well as picture book dummies, and my future works should be sequential.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n


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Karts<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n


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Mouse Planet<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n


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Above: “Editorial images created for Neil Armstrong’s passing and
Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm”<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

\"Mmm.Coffee’s on (for me), and it’s time to get a bit more detailed with seven questions over breakfast. I thank Antoine again for visiting 7-Imp.<\/font> <\/p>\n

1.<\/font> Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What exactly is your process when you are illustrating a book? You can start wherever you\u2019d like when answering: getting initial ideas, starting to illustrate, or even what it\u2019s like under deadline, etc. Do you outline a great deal of the book before you illustrate or just let your muse lead you on and see where you end up?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: I typically alternate pacing in my studio and going out for long walks to stimulate my imagination. I then make quick drawings for hours, during which other images come to mind. Anything and everything else about my production methods is unremarkable, I suppose.<\/p>\n


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Sketches<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

2.<\/font> Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Describe your studio or usual work space.<\/font> <\/p>\n

Antoine<\/strong><\/font><\/strong>: Messy, save for a flat surface to draw on. I tend to escape to other rooms and take over the dining room table or television room coffee table.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

3.<\/font> Jules<\/font><\/strong>: As a book-lover, it interests me: What books or authors and\/or illustrators influenced you as an early reader?<\/font><\/p>\n

Antoine<\/strong><\/font><\/strong>: Greek and Egyptian mythology, the Iliad<\/a><\/em><\/strong> and Odyssey<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n


\n

Halloween Treat<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n


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Halloween Trick<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n


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Noah’s Ark<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n


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October Twelfth<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

4.<\/font> Jules<\/font><\/strong>: If you could have three (living) authors or illustrators—whom you have not yet met—over for coffee or a glass of rich, red wine, whom would you choose? (Some people cheat and list deceased authors\/illustrators. I won\u2019t tell.)<\/font><\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: Dave McKean<\/a><\/strong>, Tomi Ungerer<\/a><\/strong>, and Shigeru Mizuki<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>.<\/p>\n


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Manhattan<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n


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From <\/em>The Seed<\/center><\/p>\n

5.<\/font> Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What is currently in rotation on your iPod or loaded in your CD player? Do you listen to music while you create books?<\/font><\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: The Beatles<\/a><\/strong> have been my work companions for the past twenty years. I also like drawing while listening to Tom Waits<\/a><\/strong>, Sigur R\u00f3s<\/a><\/strong>, Pet Sounds<\/a><\/strong><\/em> by The Beach Boys<\/a><\/strong>, the Pixies<\/a><\/strong>, The Clash<\/a><\/strong>, David Bowie<\/a><\/strong>, the Velvet Underground<\/a><\/strong>, Autechre<\/a><\/strong>, Plaid<\/a><\/strong>, Depeche Mode<\/a><\/strong>, or Aphex Twin<\/a><\/strong>. For some odd reason, the obscure album Zooropa<\/a><\/strong><\/em> by a maligned Irish band is a favorite work soundtrack. <\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

6.<\/font> Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: I have hyperthymestic syndrome<\/a><\/strong>. (The existence of this condition is a matter of dispute, but I fit the general definition.) <\/p>\n


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The Wizard of Oz<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

7.<\/font> 7-Imp<\/strong>: Is there something you wish interviewers would ask you — but never do? Feel free to ask and respond here.<\/font><\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: Q: \u201cCan I buy you a drink?\u201d<\/p>\n

A: \u201cCertainly.\u201d<\/p>\n


\n

Year of the Dragon<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

* * * The Pivot Questionnaire * * *<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What is your favorite word?<\/font><\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: \u201cSesquipedalian.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What is your least favorite word?<\/font><\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: An expression rather than a single word: \u201cfine art.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: Walking.<\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What turns you off?<\/font><\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: Moral relativism. <\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/font><\/strong>: What is your favorite curse word? (optional)<\/font><\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: Too rude for publication on this tasteful blog, I fear!<\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What sound or noise do you love?<\/font><\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: The sound of Japanese cicadas (semi), rain, aluminum baseball bats making contact, the squeaking of shoes on a basketball court, and cats purring. <\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What sound or noise do you hate?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: The characteristic sounds of incivility and lack of manners (e.g., car horns as alternatives to walking up to doorbells).<\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?<\/font><\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: Oceanographer.<\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What profession would you not like to do?<\/font><\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: Public servant. (Despite all of the risks and financial vulnerability of making a living as a visual artist, I enjoy being something of an outlier in an increasingly Kafkaesque corporate and consumer society.)<\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?<\/font><\/p>\n

Antoine<\/font><\/strong>: “Pets allowed.”<\/p>\n

* * * * * * *<\/center><\/p>\n

All artwork and images are used with permission of Antoine Revoy<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The spiffy and slightly sinister gentleman introducing the Pivot Questionnaire is Alfred, \u00a9 2009 Matt Phelan<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This morning at 7-Imp, I welcome illustrator Antoine Revoy. Antoine was born in France and grew up in Tokyo, Japan, as well as Mexico City, Mexico, and Barcelona, Spain. He received a B.F.A. in Film\/Animation\/Video from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1999, and after that, moved to China, followed by some time in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,12,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-intermediate","category-blogger-interviews","category-picture-books"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2626"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}