Interview: Will Broome

April 22nd, 2010

What do pandas, superheroes, and The Smurfs have in common? Not much, except a little attention from artist Will Broome. Eyeless cartoon pandas and Speedo-clad superheroes are just some of the illustrations you’ll find in the Londoner’s portfolio. Notably, Broome is most recognized for creating Miss Marc, the playful and hip little girl plastered across the Miss Marc by Marc Jacobs collection. And The Block was fortunate enough to catch up with the busy illustrator and talk about his love for 80s cartoons, days at St. Martins, current and past projects, and an encounter with Naomi Campbell.

The Block: Before illustrating for clients like Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Missoni, Hugo Boss, Topshop, and Wedgwood (to name a few), you actually studied horticulture. What made you transition over from studying Fashion Design at St. Martins?

Will Broome: I’d had enough with fashion and all the people involved in it. It wasn’t what I wanted to do and I needed a break. I liked the idea of doing some graft, but it was actually pretty shit, really hard work and not much money… A friend of mine from St. Martins called up and asked me to do some drawings for Marc by Marc Jacobs. So, Marc Jacobs was my first client, which is kind of cool. That got me back into my love for drawing. It went from there really. I’m glad she called me!

TB: Your most recent illustrations for Marc Jacobs were the limited edition Miss Marc by Marc Jacobs’ Ski Lift tees, which were sold at Holt Renfrew during the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games in Canada. How did you come up with the Miss Marc character?

WB: Doing Miss Marc is really collaborative, which I really like. It’s not just me. The Marc team might have ideas, which might be words, sometimes something visual; sometimes it might link with the RTW collection. I just start drawing, scanning, and sending stuff; we bounce ideas backwards and forwards and she kind of “evolves” from that process… Miss Marc has changed quite a lot. When I first drew her she looked like a proper crackhead. She’s mellowed a bit. Don’t forget Mr. Marc too, he’s appearing on a men’s t-shirt soon.

TB: Your illustrations are cute, mischievous, and mildly dark. Are the illustrations a reflection of your own personality?

WB: Errrrr. I have been told that they look like me if that counts? I suppose that they have to be a reflection of my personality, I drew them after all. You can’t help but make your work reflect your personality whether you are me or Lee McQueen or Francis Bacon or whoever. Otherwise it would be a bit like telling a lie?

TB: On your website I noticed under “things I like” that you feature The Smurfs‘ opening sequence – what are your thoughts on the live-action film version that’s set for 2011 release? Word is Quentin Tarantino is set to voice-act Brainy Smurf.

WB: Will it be like Avatar only with much shorter characters wearing white hats? I think it will be pretty lame to be honest. Some stuff should just be left where it was, do you know what I mean? How can you improve on the original cartoon? … I think they should leave The Smurfs where they were. Having said that I bet I take Lola to see it. [Lola is Broome’s six-year-old daughter.]

TB: Metallica and Pink Floyd are some of the other things you like. What are some things you don’t like?

WB: Music? Well, you know it’s stuff I don’t think I am meant to like. Lady Gaga for instance, I just don’t get it, I think that it is shit. But, I’m not supposed to like it am I? It’s for “the kids” I’m sure, I’m not the demographic. Most of the people I like are dead, or nearly dead. Having said that, I recently downloaded The xx and Phoenix, and I like both of them, so I am trying not to be such a fossil.

TB: Can you explain the “freaks” you hung out with while studying at St. Martins? Did they include Stella McCartney and her posse of friends (like Naomi Campbell, who I read was scared off by your dancing – sounds like an amazing story)?

WB: Not that she’ll care either way, but I haven’t got a bad word to say about Stella, she was really down to earth and was a right laugh when we were at St. Martins together. She got me into some ace parties when I was a student, and for that I will always be grateful! I think “the freaks” is a term of endearment. There were some really odd individuals there when I was a student. I mean good-odd. Very free thinking and receptive. I was there during a good vintage; Lee McQueen had just left the MA, Giles the BA. There was Hussein Chalayan, Luella, Matthew Williamson, Antonio Berardi, Robert Cary-Williams, and Phoebe Philo. It was a proper art college with NO rules. You could have nail-gunned your head to the table if you wanted to. I’m not sure that spirit exists there anymore. That sort of “fuck it, I’ll do what I want” ideal. It was quite anarchic… Going back to Stella and the “dancing” incident. Yes, Naomi was scared by my friend Aaron and I. But, it was Aaron’s dancing, not mine that disturbed her. I’m brilliant at dancing. I don’t look it, but I’m quite a mover. It’s like some sort of weird art when I get going.

TB: You have a book in the works; can you give us details about this?

WB: “The book”… I still have plans for the dreaded book: a collection of drawings in book form, no story, just drawings.

TB: You’ve worked with a lot of big name clients. Is there anyone in the future you’d love to work or collaborate with?

WB: It would never happen, but it would be amazing to work with Alan Aldridge or someone like that. I did a thing for Harvey Nichols recently, where the drawings were BIG, like eight-foot tall. I liked that, seeing them on a bigger scale. I would love to do animation or film. See them move. Though, I’m not getting involved with the new Smurfs film.

TB: Some of your personal illustrations are paired with quotes – a few favourites, “The posh ones are the worst” and “I like watching you sleep” – can you explain where they come from?

WB: Yeah, words are important. “The posh ones are the worst” is about an ex-girlfriend, and it’s true, the posh ones are the worst. “I like watching you sleep,” I think someone said that to me. Bit weird isn’t it? What is that before you smother me? … They pop into my head, or I overhear them or my friends might say something to each other in the pub. My friends are very good at taking the piss. I was in San Francisco a while ago and this dude was trying to get me to go into this dodgy lap-dancing place. When I said I didn’t want to, he replied, “Don’t be a loner, follow your boner.”

www.williambroome.co.uk

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