Born in Texas but raised in Florida and Colorado, Chris Silas Neal is an illustrator and designer whose work has been published by a variety of magazines and book publishers and has also been recognized by Communication Arts, American Illustration, AIGA, Society of Illustrators, Society of Publication Designers, Type Directors Club, Print Magazine and Society of News Designers. A well-known name within the art, design and illustration communities, Neal exhibits his drawings at various galleries across the country and currently works and lives in Brooklyn while teaching Illustration at Pratt Institute. Just recently, Chris Silas Neal was approached by (capsule) show organizers to create the imagery for its Spring/Summer 2012 season campaign materials. Check out the Q&A below to learn more about the artist and visit the (capsule) show site to see more of his work.
Name:
Chris Silas Neal
Age:
34
Hometown:
San Antonio-Ft. Lauderdale-Boulder-and a few in between.
Currently live in:
Brooklyn, NY
Favorite clothing brands:
Toms shoes, Built by Wendy jeans and a well worn T-shirt.
A snapshot of your life as an artist – childhood memories, schooling etc. How did you arrive at the place you are now?
I was an only child and spent a lot of time alone in my room, making drawings, playing musical instruments and creating stories.
Describe the work you’re most well known for:
I mostly work in publishing creating book jackets for novels and editorial art for magazines. For two years, I Illustrated the New York Times Modern Love column, I’ve designed quite a few posters for the legendary Fillmore in San Francisco and recently created an illustrated ad campaign for Amtrak.
Describe the work you’re most proud of:
I just released my first picture book with author Kate Messner titled “Over and Under the Snow”, published by Chronicle Books.
What kinds of tools do you use?
I use pencils and brushes and pixels.
Analog vs digital in your work, how do they work together if at all?
I started as a designer and so much of what I do visually and conceptually comes from that. Likewise, the skills I developed on the computer as a designer also fit into my process. When I’m making something that will be commercially printed, the computer is an invaluable and necessary tool.
Describe your work space and the daily routine of your working life?
I keep my studio in what used to be a pencil factory built in 1872 by Eberhard Faber, in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. The space is shared with four illustrators and many other designers and illustrators have spaces throughout the building. I start most mornings with a commute by bike or by car from Bed-Stuy to Greenpoint along the waterfront. I usually work around 6 days a week and I try to keep a regular schedule.
You’re creatively active with your crew at the Pencil Factory – can you describe how that working arrangement came about and why it’s important to your life as an artist?
Sharing a space with other artists has been an invaluable experience mainly for the friendship but also for the creative input which keeps my work fresh. The illustration community in Brooklyn is pretty tight knit, finding studio mates happened organically through word of mouth. In general, we don’t collaborate as a group but rather each of us works on our own individual design and art projects. Aside from sharing a physical space, we each run our own independent studios/businesses. Occasionally, we’ll do something as a group which is always a blast.
Some things that are inspiring you right now:
I’ve been working on a few animation projects and just released my picture book, all of which are narrative driven endeavors. So film, books and in general story telling are exciting to me. I’ve re-watched several times, Wes Anderson’s “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” and it blows me away every time. I also recently enjoyed the American Masters documentary on Woody Allen. Heading into the Holiday season, I’m looking forward to revisiting the Rankin/Bass classic stop-motion animation specials.
Some thoughts on the pieces you did for (capsule)?
Working with Capsule was great because of the open brief and the nice change of pace from my otherwise narrative work. Although, one could probably drum up a story based on the figures in these pictures without too much difficulty.
Upcoming projects or exhibitions:
I recently directed a short animated video for Kate Spade, am making art for a few music related projects and am scheduled to start another picture book next month.
