Thursday, May 22, 2008

Pass It On

This interview with one of my all-time favourite illustrators and cartoonists, Bun Heang Ung, was posted at the Pass It On: Knowledge Is Power website alongwith an illustration from a new children's book, Wally's Bedroom Aviary. Unfortunately, Blogger.com is still playing up and won't load the drawing, so you'll have to go here to see it. A pain I know. He fails to mention in the interview his extraordinary memoir, with illustrations, titled 'The Murderous Revolution' - this is a must-get book.

1. What's this illustration for?
My new book with Sara Bednark who is the writer. Wally's Bedroom aviary.
2. Do you have to wait for a flash of inspiration - how do you start?
The text gives me a vivid imagination & inspiration and then I feel I can to start.
3. How did you get your start as an illustrator?
I was a political editorial cartoonist from Cambodia (1970-1975). I arrived here in May 1980 and have been living in Brisbane. I worked at the Migrant Education Centre as an Illustrator after I finished my 3 months English course. Then I moved to Sydney to live and have worked since then as a film animator, Layout Artist and storyboard artist with several animation studios such as Burbank, Hanna Barbera, Walt Disney, Yoram Gross and Energy Intertainment.
I was a freelance editorial cartoonist for the magazine Far Eastern Economic Review (Hong Kong, 1997-1999). Recently (2007) I worked for Compass, a South Korean publishing company that produces educational books for migrants in the US. I worked on my first children’s book with Sara Bednark who is the author. My second is about Cambodian folktales: "The Sightless & The Hobble". And the third book is on the road: "The Cat & The Cricket." It is about geography & history of some famous countries around the world.
4. Who or what has influenced your work?
Asterex of Uderzo, French comic book artist, and Tintin. I learned to draw cartoons from those books while I was a Fine Arts student (1965-1975). And also I was influenced by one of my teachers, Dimitri, a great Russian painter & cartoonist.
5. What's your favourite media for creating pictures?
I draw in Black and White and scan and paint with the Photoshop digital. I think it's the best tool.
6. What's the worst thing about being a freelancer?
The worst thing is that I have to wait to get work.
7. And the best?
The best is my freedom. From my experiences as a Freelance Artist who has worked from home for 20 yrs, I enjoy my own space & time and it's the best thing in my life as father of 4 kids. I have been able to drop & pick them up from school, cook for them after school and spend a lot of time to see them grow up in a happy & harmonious environment.
8. What are you working on at the moment?
I'm working on my third book with Sara Bednark, who is living another world away from Australia in Oregon USA.
9. Where can we see more of your work?
Our first book: "Wally's bedroom aviary" is available for purchasing at Lulu.com.
I have 3 sites where you can see my children’s book illustrations & my political toons. Because the sites are so different I call myself: "Dr Jacklyn and Mr Hyde".
www.karmatoons.blogspot.com
www.poltiktoons.blogspot.com
www.sacrava.blogspot.com

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