"The Fool"
Interview with artist
MARK WILKINSON
( covers for Marillion, Judas
Priest, Iron Maiden etc.)
This interview is taken from G.A.R.F`s
fanzine "Artrock"
and is therefor focused on music, i.e. album-covers etc.
Dennis Jacobsson:
When did you know that you wanted to work as an artist?
Mark Wilkinson:
DJ:
I guess we all have our idols, more or less. Any special artist that you´ve
been inspired by?
MW:
I like a lot of symbolist art...people like Gustave
Moreeau, Jean Delville, Arnold Bocklin and Munch. Dali was an early
influence...the work of Gottfried Helnwein is amazing, and was the greatest
influence in terms of figures and faces. Up to date comic artists like John
Bolton and Dave McKean...Glenn Fabry....the list goes on and on!
DJ:
What kind of music do you listen to?
MW:
Off the top of my head: Fish (Sunsets On Empire and Raingods With
Zippos especially), Porcupine Tree, Perfect Circle, DJ Shadow, Unkle,
Pretty Things...(SF Sorrow is the greatest album ever made!) Nick Drake, Jeff
Buckley, Tool, Amplifier (a new band to me...my son urged me to listen) Mars
Volta, Smashing Pumkins (Melon Collie is the second greatest album ever made)
Radiohead, Marillion...Marbles is pretty good...the list goes on and on!
DJ:
Which group / artist was the first that you made a cover for? And how did
that come?
MW:
James Brown...a greatest hits album was the first
album sleeve I did. I then did a metal compilation album for RCA...a few
classical album sleeves...and then the big break came with Marillion...Market
Square Heroes, and then all their covers until Fish left, at which point I
carried on working for him.
DJ:
Do you listen a lot to the records that you illustrate to get the right
feeling on the cover?
MW:
I try to, whenever possible.
DJ:
Do most artists know what they want or do you get free hands? Has that
changed since you became more and more established?
MW:
Most artists do know what they want...which
helps...but occasionally I change the idea...and if it works better than their
original one, then I get my ideas created instead. The worst scenario is where
an arist doesn't know what they want and you can end up doing loads of ideas and
waste lots of time until you come up with what they want. One particular band
comes to mind...it took 25 different ideas until they decided...it took two
months to get to that point.
DJ:
Are you creating logos as well?
MW:
Not very often...if I'm asked I do.
DJ:
Is it common that the bands want to buy the originals or do you keep most of
them?
MW:
I was very stupid in the early days...the bands kept
the originals...not any more, unless they agree a fee to buy it.
DJ:
Any special favourite that you´re most proud of?
MW:
My favourite painting wasn't used for a sleeve...The
Fool (attached) which was a private commission...from a long term Marillion fan
who wanted me to imagine it was the next Marillion album to feature the
Jester...which has always been the fans favourite image of mine.
DJ:
I´ve noticed that you´re more into
computer-generated art and photo-manipulations nowadays..? I´m thinking of the
three latest Fish-covers, for instance.
MW:
Computer work is quicker, but I have had requests to
go back to the hand painted work (like The Fool) and providing I can afford to
do so, I prefer to do it by hand...it makes it more special...I think people are
tiring of computer work now. Now that I can sell high quality prints of my work
over the net...it means I can afford to do more paintings by hand...as the fees
for album sleeves are less than they used to be...I can use the print sales to
justify spending up to a month on a painting.
DJ:
Is there any dream-artist you would like do paint a cover for?
MW:
Pink Floyd:)...Like that will ever happen!! Porcupine
Tree...I got close with Lightbulb Sun...but Steve Wilson really prefers
photography.
Thanks for the interview.
"The Fool"
Mark Wilkinson´s site:
www.the-masque.com