Illustrators #38 (magazine review).

Usually, ‘Illustrators’ reserves single artists to their specials so # 38 is rather unique on its focus on John Watkiss (1961-2017). I have to confess to not seeing his work before but so many artists only one lifetime. Reading the intro by Neil Gaiman and Watkiss’ art being used in his comicbooks probably explains why I didn’t.

Add to that, his move to the USA to do production design and working for Disney and others would also have dropped outside of my radar. Things turned problematic with people he didn’t get on with because he was an exacting artist and teacher. Did I say he also taught art in the UK and Stateside? His expertise was in drawing the figure, often using himself as a model when no one else was around.

Looking at his work, much of his painting is with muted colours but to good effect with his figurework and not always with a reliance on models posing which would have given me some common ground with him. Understanding structure, whether people, buildings, vehicles or tech makes it easier anything. I suspect a lot of the problem stems back to poor education in the various techniques when young. I didn’t consider myself an artist until I could work in three different mediums.

Storyboard artist Steve Worthington was one of his pupils and shows the effect he had on his work here as well.

Looking at Watkiss’ art again now, there’s a stronger realisation of surrealism and I hope the samples here will find him a wider audience.

GF Willmetts

June 2022

(pub: The Book Palace, 2021. 98 page illustrated squarebound magazine. Price: £20.00 (UK), $21.99 (US) via Bud Plant. ISBN: 978-1-913548-03-2. ISSN: 2052-6520)

check out website: www.bookpalace.com and www.illustratorsquarterly.com