Spontaneous, energetic, beautiful: An Interview with Illustrator Steve Buckler
“Illustration should be a tool of the narrative. It should add to the story and bring another level, ask a question or say something relevant.”
Captivated by his somber yet beautiful creations, I first met Steve Buckler as the National Trust Publishing Project Team searched for the perfect artist to illustrate Natasha Carthew’s Song for the Forgotten, which will be published by National Trust Books in spring 2020.
Steven, an artist and Falmouth University MA student, was among several brilliant artists showcasing their work to the team. His art strikes you with stormy landscapes, deep and earthy natural colours and surprises you with silver linings and a trace of hope on the horizon. For me, this complements the narrative of Song for the Forgotten perfectly and I was excited to see how Steven would interpret the story through his art.
I invited Steven for an interview at the Fox Café to talk about the project so far and himself as an artist.
Juliet Robertson: Firstly, could you give us a brief background about yourself?
Steven Buckler: I am currently a full-time artist and illustration MA student at Falmouth University, making a living from fine art and illustration. I paint landscapes and anything really! Before now, I was working part-time as an art teacher at a secondary school. Up until 2017, I was a full-time art teacher and Head of Art at a school in Plymouth. Before teaching, I worked as an animator in children’s television.
In 2017, I became seriously depressed and gave up full-time teaching. It was because I had not known that I had been living all my life with ADHD. This is also the reason why I can work fourteen-hour days without giving it a second thought! I wasn’t aware I had ADHD until I was 45. Studying for the MA now is like my second life! I know a lot of people have gone through the same thing. When I was young, ADHD was not recognised as it is today. People thought I was stupid or lazy. When I had depression, it was flagged up and spotted. Before that, I was sleep-walking through life and now I can go and do something about it and get on with life. When I went back to work, it was part-time, and I spent more time being creative as an artist – which was what I really wanted to do.
JR: What attracted you to the National Trust publishing project?
SB: The opportunity to make work! I am a workaholic when it comes to my artwork. I have to be doing something, so commissions are brilliant because they tell me what to do and focus my mind on a specific project. I like deadlines! With a commission I know what I have to do and when I have to do it.
JR: Can you briefly talk me through your typical process of illustrating a book?
SB: Generally, I get loads of vague ideas, they’re all swimming around and then I grab one or two of them and try to turn them into something on paper. Then I begin the process of thinking through materials. If it doesn’t work, you know not to do it again. If it does work, you know to carry on doing it that way - trial and error. I enjoy the error as much as the successes. I love being creative and it’s all part of the process.
One of Steven’s illustrations for Song of the Forgotten
JR: How would you describe your style as an artist?
SB: Because I was an animator, I trained to be adaptable; to adapt my style to fit whichever project. Apart from the director of a project, everyone has to follow a particular style. As a teacher you have to teach others to find their styles. Since I’ve given up teaching, I am still searching for my style. I am not particularly good at disciplined, careful planning. My work is messy, spontaneous, energetic and layered, because that reflects how I work and who I am.
JR: What do you particularly enjoy about the writing style of Natasha Carthew or the story of Song for the Forgotten in particular?
SB: I like the way the poetry leads into the prose. I like that the prose doesn’t always comply with grammatical rules and conventions. I like the ‘stream of consciousness’ style. I like the pace of Natasha Carthew’s writing. As I read it, I find the pace getting quicker. It sped up. I like the way the reader isn’t told much at the very beginning and by the end, you know so much more, understand the characters and have a lot of empathy. The development of character in such a short story is impressive.
JR: What has been, or you think may be, the most challenging part of the process?
SB: The most challenging part is trying to come up with illustrations that aren’t too dark for a story which is, on so many levels, dark! It’s uplifting overall, but geographically it’s underground, at night and in a storm. It has been challenging to find a way to illustrate this setting without it being too dark or jarring with the story. I could illustrate a beautiful, colourful, sunlight dappled sea, but it wouldn’t go with the story at all. Illustration should be a tool of the narrative. It should add to the story and bring another level, ask a question or say something relevant.
JR: What part of this project are you most excited about?
SB: The whole thing! I am enjoying working as part of a team and as part of a collaborative. My fine art and other illustration processes are often done on my own, so it’s nice to get out and meet other people! I am looking forward to the opportunity to see my work in print. Although I’ve scraped a living as a commercial artist and worked as an animator for television, I’ve not yet been published as an illustrator or otherwise in a book.
JR: Thank you Steven. I’m so excited to see your illustrations for the book!
Find out more about Steven Buckler’s artwork www.stevenbuckler.co.uk
Song for the Forgotten by Natasha Carthew will be launched in spring 2020 and marks another successful collaboration between Falmouth University and National Trust Books.
by Juliet Robertson