Last week, Carl Albutt emailed Sweet Station wondering how his work could be featured on the site. After checking out his work, we (Honey & Peap) decided to throw in a few questions his way via email to find out a little more about the work and the man behind it. Carl comes across as likable and true as his art. Thanks again Carl! Awesome to have you on Sweet Station!

Honey: Please introduce yourself, give us a brief bio, age, location and how you started in the field.

Carl: Hello, my name is Carl Albutt. I’m a fine artist and illustrator. I guess I started scribbling not long after I was born and haven’t really stopped since. Maybe a break of a year or two here or there. I studied Fine Art at Liverpool John Moores Uni. After Uni I decided to have a look around the world and ended up living in China and then Russia for a while. I think the experiences I had in both these countries affected my art much more than my years at Uni. Travel really does broaden the mind. It’s a cliché but it’s true.

I moved into illustration basically because that’s the path my art took me on. The work I was producing became more illustrative and I started receiving great feedback from very nice people on Live Journal. I only ever need a little encouragement so I hitched up my trousers, rolled up my sleeves and waded in deeper.

I think the line between fine art and illustration and graphic design is becoming increasingly blurred these days anyway. Which I think is a good thing. I remember buying Spiderman, Batman and 2000AD comics when I was younger and being blown away by the art but being told it wasn’t Art but a Lichtenstien was! Right?!?! I secretly knew it was all Art but kept my head down. As to my age, I’m old enough to know not to answer a question like that If you’re as old as you feel then I’m currently about 24…over the weekend I was about 18….I may look a bit older though lol.

Peap: Hahaha. How’s the art scene like in your area?

Carl: Well, I live in a little town so it’s not so hot. The local library has just had a show of local art though. Lots of kittens and flowers drawn quite badly. It was excellent.Lancaster isn’t far from where I live though and that has a great Art scene.

Honey: What do you like most about living in Poulton?

Carl: It’s nice, friendly and quiet. I do miss city life though. I lived in St Petersburg for a while and Shanghai for a while before that so it can be a little dull in comparison. You’ve gotta look for the positives in life though. I have nice neighbours and a garden to sit in with a kettle, stereo, felt tips and Internet connection nearby. I feel lucky. Also, Manchester is just up the road when I feel the need to cut a rug.

Honey: Why are you an artist?

Carl: Because, in a sense, I have to be really. If I don’t or can’t create for a day or two I get tense and have withdrawal symptoms (no pun intended). Also, it just so much fun. I love the creative process. A doodle or a scrawl can eventually inspire something beautiful. As you create, your art is constantly evolving but you don’t know where it’s evolving too. I find this exciting

Peap: How would you describe your work?

Carl: Colourful, kooky, and more than worthy of a quick peek Also, a lot of people have said it’s quite dark. I don’t really aim for that, it just sometimes kinda happens

Honey: Tell us about your creative process.

Carl: A lot of the time I’ll just doodle or write down a line or two that have made me laugh and take it from there. I do all the drawing and printing by hand in the real world as opposed to the digital. I sometimes draw with my eyes closed too and then mess around with the scrawl, piecing bits of it together through tracing paper. I find that, drawing with your eyes closed, you can get a really beautiful flowing line in your work as all the conscious and unconscious constraints, all the so called “rules” about Art that you’ve taken on board over the years, are removed. Try it! It’s also great fun.After I’ve finished the main elements I load it into the computer and mess with it some more. I’m more a PhotoShop guy than an Illustrator guy. I find Illustrator to be too clean for me. I want mistakes, roughness and textures. I’m still happiest with paper, card, scissors and glue. Add some glitter and string and it’s party time!!

Honey: What is it that you love about your artworks?

Carl: A lot of feedback I get from people is about how such and such an image has made them smile. So, that’s one of the main things I like about my work, that it has the ability to make someone smile. If you smile you feel a whole lot better about things. I’m just doin’ my bit for world peace

Peap: I feel that each of your art work pieces the characters have almost been taken out of maybe a little story you have running in your mind could you describe the background or situation for some of your characters?

Carl: Some of the characters are people I stumble across in real life and some, as you say, are from stories I play out in my head (which sometimes has me laughing out loud in inopportune circumstances). Also, I talk a lot with one of my best friends. He phones most nights and for an hour or so we’ll bat odd ideas around. He has the same kind of sense of humour as I have so we kind of take ideas and build them to the logical stupidest conclusion trying to outdo each other and making the other laugh loudest. Some great characters have come out of that kind of brainstorming. Some are yet to be released onto paper.

Peap: I really dig artworks that portray emotional issues of the artist, is there tales of broken love behind some of your works?

Carl: That’s quite perceptive. The answer is yes. It’s certainly a good way to get the creative juices flowing I can tell ya. That’s about all I can say that’s good about it though.

Peap: Do you plan or enjoy collaborating with other artist? And if so, Who would be your no 1 pick if you were to collaborate?

Carl: I love collaborations. As I said, I’m collaborating with a writer, Sam Hall, for “Bogey and Sydd” the childrens book. Before that the last artists I collaborated was with Alone Together, a fine Japanese band. I haven’t collaborated with anyone else for a while though but if anyone reading this wants to collaborate then let me know. As to who would I choose to collaborate with? Hmm, that’s a tough one. Maybe Yayoi Kusama or Takashi Murakami. I think that would be interesting.

Honey: How important is social networking to you?

Carl: Very. A few years back I didn’t think it was that important and was even a bit anti social as I experienced some pretty horrid individuals at Uni. Now I’m the complete opposite. I love meeting new people, making connections and new friends. The Internet has basically turned my life around and networking has led to so many amazing experiences and helped me meet so many wonderful and creative people. My current moto is, “the more the merrier!“.

Honey: Which artists do you look to for inspiration?

Carl: I’ve been looking at a lot of folk art lately. I picked up a small cheap book which has some incredible work in it. That book inspired a few pieces of work and made me more interested in ancient Peruvian Art and African art. Outsider Art also inspires me. I think it has a purity like children’s art. It’s not contrived or derivative and has nothing to prove. I like that. I’ve also been watching lots of Soviet era Russian animation and I have a few beautiful Russian children’s books that are inspirational in their own right. Beautiful work. Dubuffet also keeps me on track and enthusiastic on those rainy days.

Honey: What is inspiring you right now?

Carl: Everyday life inspires me. We live in a very beautiful and amazing world that many people take for granted or just don’t see. I prefer to sit in the garden than watching TV. There’s always something magical going on out there.

Peap: You got any other interests outside of creating art?

Carl: Yes, music. I was a musician for a fair few years so I still create music. I’ve lain off that for a while now as I’m concentrating all my energies on visual art but I’m getting the musical itch again. Keep it quiet though…I wouldn’t want Radiohead to have any sleepless nights

Peap: What kind of music do you listen to at the moment?

Carl: I like a very broad spectrum of music. Music was my first love and in some ways I think it’s the highest form of art. Nothing can effect your emotions as much as music. The CD I’m playing most at the moment though is Funhouse by The Stooges. The Stooges and Gogol Bordello get me worked up and ready for action with the pencils. When the juices are flowing I’m usually listening to Reggae or Northern Soul.

Honey: Do you have any secret profession? Hehe..

Carl: I wish…can I make one up? Asian punk rock megastar?

Peap: How did you hear about Sweet Station?

Carl: I was reading an interview with Steve Rack and he mentioned your site so I took a peek.

Honey: Awww yeaaa..we heart Steve Rack! What can we hope to see from you in the near future?

Carl: At the moment I’m working on a children’s book that my friend Sam Hall has written. It’s for very young children and is coming together quite nicely. I also have some plans for some large three-dimensional pieces. I’m just trying to work out how it will all fit together. If I can make it work it’ll look pretty cool. I have an exhibition in Lancaster early next year so hopefully these pieces will be ready by then. I’m also soon to open a little shop on my website where I’ll be offering all sorts of ephemera. Prints, fridge magnets, t-shirts and, eventually, the children’s book too. In fact I already have a t shirt on sale. It’s a limited run screen printed by a friend I met through Livejournal (again, that networking business pays off). A lovely item, every home should have one. Head over to my website quick before they’re all gone!

Honey: Where is Carl Albutt in 10 years?

Carl: On the crest of a wave!

Honey: Any parting comments?

Carl: I’d just like to say thank you to Sweet Station for being so nice as to feature my work. It’s an honour.
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Links:
http://www.carlitojuanito.co.uk/
http://www.carlart.co.uk/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7619710@N02/
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