Julia Pott
What are you up to at the moment/ what projects are you working on?
I am currently doing a masters in animation at the Royal College of Art in London, and I am working on my first year short film. It should be completed in June all going well! I am also working with my animation collective Treat Studios on a series of ads which will be out in the UK in January.
Run us through your typical working day's routine.
As our studio is also our house I don't have to go very far for work, I usually get up and make a big bowl of porridge with chocolate sprinkles and some raspberry flavored tea, reply to e-mails, make up some etsy orders, maybe nip down to the post office and then spend the rest of the day working on any illustration or animation commissions that I have. As I recently started my masters degree however my daily routine is a bit different and I spend most of my day at school, more often than not in the cafe having huge cups of tea and mallow mars (I have become a bit of a slacker since I have been re-introduced into college life).
When did you begin to draw and animate/ what influenced you at that time?
I have been drawing since I was very young. My mom was a huge influence..when I was around 8 we wrote a children's book together about an underwater investigator and I illustrated it..she also always encouraged me to draw my bad dreams and we read a lot of books together. I began thinking about being an animator when I was around 11 and was heavily influenced by disney and nickelodeon, especially rugrats and ah! real monsters.
What are your primary sources of ideas for your images and films? What draws you to using animals?
I draw a lot from personal experience. I am fascinated by human relationships, communication, mis-communication and how a feeling can take over your whole body and influence all your decisions. I know it sounds lame but the creatures in my work are like little representations of myself, a device to draw out what I am feeling and what I am trying to say.
Your work obviously has a hand drawn feel...what materials/ techniques do you use/ do you use much software?
All of my animation and illustration is hand drawn with some hand colouring. I then take it into the computer and run found textures through it. I use photoshop and after effects to composite my work but I try avoid using it in the animation process as much as possible. Although I have just learnt about the 3D camera and I am using it far too much!
Whose work are you fond of at the moment?
I am a huge fan of Miranda July in all respects, I love her writing, her short films and her feature films, she is a genius. I also love the work of animator Igor Kovalyov, and more recently I have been drawn to the work of David O'Reilly and Jeremy Clapin. Illustrators I love at the moment are Luke Best, Hannah Waldron, Jon Klassen, Sarah McNeil, Carson Ellis and Lizzy Stewart.
Which are your favourite places in London to go to draw/ come up with new ideas?
I love drawing at London Zoo, one of my favorite books is Gorilla by Anthony Browne and I love drawing the Gorillas. I also love the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum.
What takes up most of your time apart from illustrating?
Animating takes up a lot more of my time than illustrating, but I suppose when I am not working I like to travel..see old friends in different places.
What's the most important thing your mother ever taught you?
Ha, I think I already answered this one above!! My mother is crazy and awesome in so many ways. She is a new yorker and ex actress so she is a little eccentric..she has taught me so many things (she still tells me to look both ways when I cross the street, and not to talk to strangers)..but I think one phrase that has always stayed with me and helps me get through rough times is 'this too shall pass'.
[Dec 2009] Back to Top
