Artist Profile: Jean-Pierre Normand
By Angela Roberts
Dec. 27, 2010
Talented Canadian artist Jean-Pierre Normand has illustrated the covers of many notable SF magazines and books in his long career. He has won many awards, including several Auroras, Canada's award for achievement in the field of speculative fiction. He's also a kind and down-to-earth artist, and graciously agreed to answer our questions for this artist profile.
Angela: How did you get started as an artist?
Jean Pierre Normand: I have drawn since I was a kid. I chose to study graphic arts in the 70's. I grew up with the space program and that was very stimulating for me. So I had more fun drawing space related images.
A: What is your preferred medium?
JP: I like Acrylic lacquers and inks because you can work both in opaque and transparency and they dry fast. I like to do touch up with crayons and pastels. I use brushes and air brushes. I work mostly on illustration boards and canvas.
A: Is there a medium you've always wanted to try or that you would like to try but haven't gotten around to it?
JP: I am having fun exploring the possibilities on the computer; the thing I would like to try is a graphic pad.
A: What are your influences?
JP: My greatest influence is clearly Chris Foss and the British illustrators of the 70's. What I love most from Chris Foss is the sense of wonder he gives by working on the ambiance and the atmosphere of his alien landscapes.
A: Do you have a favourite piece of artwork? One that you still look at and think, "This is amazing"?
JP: One of my favourites is the one I made for pleasure of the final scene of the 1932 novel, "When Worlds Collides". I am doing a series of paintings based on the book, keeping the naiveté of the time.
A: Can you tell us about your first professional sale? How did it come about?
JP: My first sale was for a French Canadian publisher, Le Preambule, who did a science fiction collection at the time. We knew each other because I was doing illustrations for a Fanzine called "Requiem" that was published by his friend. It was great to see my work on a book cover; I was 21.
A: Do you get ideas from texts or just from your imagination? Has there ever been a text or magazine where you read it through and you had trouble coming up with an idea for artwork? Any where you were bursting with ideas and you couldn’t wait to start?
JP: I usually have the manuscript or part of it when I have to choose a scene to illustrate. After some sketches, the art director and I decide what to do, and the painting can begin. One time I had a "hard science" short story to illustrate for a cover of Analog SF & F. Icarus Beach by C.W. Johnson, who teaches physics at a university in San Diego. The concept was fantastic to read but I was having a hard time sketching something that would be true to the story. When I read the manuscript, I was at the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis, Texas, giving a presentation of my work at a workshop, and I was surrounded by people with scientific backgrounds. When I read them the concept I had to illustrate, hoping for a little help, they looked at me as puzzled as I was... I finally did it; it's the December 2007 issue. Usually I have no problem imagining an image, especially for a space scene. I love astronomy.
A: Do you have any advice for new or young artists?
JP: If you really love what you do, keep doing it and showing your work. Today there are so many places, especially with the Internet, where you can share with other illustrators young and old.
A: Can you tell us anything about your current projects?
JP: I continue to do books covers and I am slowly working with someone on an Art book/Text book on solar evolution. It's a project and if it works out, there will be fantastic illustrations to do.
Some more of Jean Pierre's work:
China
Silence
To see more of his work, visit his portfolio.