Stay tuned at the end of the interview for more information on Craig, his website, and the blog where he showcases his recent work.
What do you suggest to people who want to learn how to draw more accurately? Are there any books you recommend? Videos? Online classes? Correspondence courses?
The easy answers are keep a sketchbook and draw all the time and learn to see. 80% of drawing is seeing and not everything you see translates to the page so get out there and start drawing from life. You will learn something new nearly every time and usually more from your mistakes than anything.
As for books and stuff, for kids I can’t speak highly enough for “Commander” Mark Kistler. He had a show on PBS but I think you can find his stuff online. It’s drawing basics like perspective, foreshortening, shading, etc. and making it fun. For older students who are interested in figure drawing there is no reason to go any further than George B. Bridgeman. It’s volumetric anatomy for Artists and not Anatomists. His “Complete Guide to Drawing from Life” is probably the most used book on my shelf. It will change how you see.
What is your dream project? What would make you just go wild with excitement if you had the opportunity to do anything you wanted?
Ooooo that’s a rough one to nail down. I guess it would be the opportunity to get my hands on some of the iconic characters of literature. Someone like a Peter Pan, Long John Silver, Ebenezer Scrooge, Little John, Tin Woodsman, Pigsy, The Monkey King, etc would be a dream to tackle. I guess to be able to add something to that experience for a reader or a viewer would be amazing. To be able to really inhabit those characters in their worlds for a while is really why I prefer story related art.
What is the “downside” to art? Policemen hate paperwork… what do artists hate?
That’s kind of a small question with a big explanation; I’ll try to keep it brief. It’s the looks you and your family get sometime when someone either first meets you or asks about you and say, “ahh he/you is/are an artist.” It’s the same dismissive look people give when talking about the deranged or hard of thinking. Part of that is our fault really, Art has done more to talk to itself than it has to talk to others in the recent past and they just can’t relate.
The other thing that I am sure most everyone can relate to is when people disrespect your time, your talent and the difficulty of what you do. My theory as this relates to Art is: once upon a time everyone use to draw, and it was fun. Then at some point they stopped for lack of interest or discouragement or whatever but they retained the memory of drawing, coloring, painting, sculpting = play. So when they have to deal with those of us that kept “playing” they think most of what we do is easy and basic goof-offery which leads to 5PM on a Friday projects due at 6PM that same day, a client asking for the moon and expecting it and the dreaded work on speculation.
What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?
Well first two things that pop in my head are both from the same person my Mother-in-Law, Beverly. When I graduated college she gave me a business card case with “Illustrator” engraved on it, something about that meant a lot. The second comes from a conversation my wife told me about where Bev had come to the realization that I see things differently because I am an Artist. Her attempt to put herself in my shoes and that she was I guess impressed in some way I took as quite a compliment.
What question do most non-artistic types forget to ask in these kinds of interviews?
Seeing as how I don’t get interviewed, well ever, I guess the thing I hear the most is more of an observation than a question. “I can’t even draw a straight line.” To which I reply, “Neither can I that’s why I use a ruler.”
Craig shares a blog with several of his artist buddies Sketch-of-the-Day. There’s a lot of amazing work on this blog… I always love stopping by to see what he and his friends have done lately. However, I have to give you a warning. Not everything on this site is appropriate for children. While there is nothing pornographic, a few of the images are of a more sexualized nature and therefore not appropriate for everyone. So, consider yourself warned.
And his website! C.B. Worrell . com!
Stay tuned for his work in Cloaked in Secrets! The itsy bitsy bits of what I’ve seen coming are so EXCITING. I’m almost as thrilled, if not more, as I am about my book!
Now, on a professional note, working with Craig has been incredibly rewarding. He has just enough professionalism to give you confidence in his work even before you see his ideas on paper. However, he’s not so “all-business” that you wonder if he’ll sterilize your characters or if you wonder if he’s being tortured to do the work. Just listening to him, you can hear the passion for what he does as he talks about things. It’s truly a wonderful experience, and I recommend him heartily. Now, if I could just win the lottery so I could give him an amazingly huge tip… that’d be cool.
He even did a portrait of me… sight unseen. I’m just so impressed…
That “portrait” of you…I’m pretty sure he’s been drawing that guy as long as I’ve known you. If so, it must be me and not you. 🙂
I loved the interview!!! Craig is so wonderful, I’m glad I was able to recommend him. 🙂
Craig, Chautona — thanks for all your hard work bringing Wynnewood to life! Can’t wait to see the latest artwork and read the next adventure of Dove.