Charles Bailey, based in Somerset, United Kingdom, is a freelance illustrator who believes in the cross-section of art and technology. His intensely personal, pencil-based illustrations explore the psychology of feeling and the expression of the mundane. We spoke to Mr. Bailey about his creative process, opinions on the contemporary trend towards digitalized art, and overcoming innumerable rejections of the art world.
Charles Bailey: Etched Meditations
There’s more stars here than in the city (2019)
NFS
Mr. Bailey, welcome to the Baram House. Could you give our readers a short introduction?
Hello, I’m Charles Bailey, a.k.a. BigFatBambini. I’m an illustrator currently based in Somerset, United Kingdom. I graduated from the Camberwell College of Arts with an FdA in Illustration, then from the Kingston School of Art with a BA in Illustration and Animation. At the moment I am working on the next stage of my career with the goal of becoming a freelance illustrator.
My Friend (2019)
NFS
When did you start illustrating? Was there a particular motivation behind it?
My love of drawing began at a young age—I’ve always enjoyed drawing characters and scenes from my imagination. I didn’t really know what illustration was until I started Exeter College (a high school equivalent in the United Kingdom) to study the UAL Foundational Diploma in Art and Design. Originally, I was set to pursue Graphic Design, but I discovered that my works fell into the illustration category, which made me more involved with the thought of becoming an illustrator.
What artistic mediums do you prefer to use and why?
My favorite tool is the pencil, I’ve always loved the look of pencil and enjoy working with it. There’s just something about the quality of line you get from a pencil that can’t be emulated with any other tool, which is why every drawing I make begins with the pencil. I often use an iPad to draft ideas, as it is quick, and working digitally for drafts means less paper is used during the process—it’s always important to work more sustainably!
When choosing the color palette for your illustrations, do you rely on your instinct or follow a process of mapping out color combinations?
Sometimes I am able to find the right colors for the piece naturally. The colors are a very important part of my process—the wrong color choice could give the work an entirely different feel than intended. I often rely on the color wheel to find the most suitable combination for each specific piece.
Don’t Let the Sun Beams In (2019)
Purchase: www.bigfatbambini.store
This piece was inspired by a poem, which Mr. Bailey wrote himself, about daylight induced anxiety. Since moving to London, Mr. Bailey felt this way frequently and found solitude and solace in the night.
“There are always more lows than highs in any creative career.”
Is there a particular feeling or message you hope to convey through your illustrations?
The inspiration for all my inspirations come from my experiences in life, the people around me, and the thoughts that run through my mind. Because the concepts behind my work come from a personal place, it is important to try and convey a strong essence of the moment. I aim to take these personal moments and capture them in a way that is relatable to my audience. Highlighting the little things and feelings that we have can have such a positive impact on the work.
We’re curious about the process that goes behind creating each illustration. Is there a specific routine you follow?
I usually begin my drawings with an idea, which, for example, could come from a memory of an experience, or the way that I’ve been feeling that day. I will take this idea and then doodle lots of different ways of communicating the initial thought. These initial sketches are often made using an iPad. Once I am happy with my draft sketches, I will draw the image on paper using pencil. Then I will scan the image and use Photoshop to play around with color palettes until I find the right palette to convey the right feeling for the concept of the drawing.
To your knowledge, how is the UK environment for individuals in the creative arts?
The UK is thriving in art—there are many great people working in the UK’s creative field. The rise of social media has given many artists, like myself, the platform to showcase their work and the opportunity to be recognized by the community. London is a melting pot of creative minds and I studied alongside a multitude of brilliant creatives while at university; however, it is not just London with a thriving art scene. I grew up in, and now again live in the countryside, where there is again a brilliant community of artists. I feel that the rise of technology is essential to the art “boom,” as it allows artists to network with others all over the world without any restriction in your location.
The change in weather is giving me a cold (2019)
NFS
Pursuing a career in art can be grueling and disappointing. What advice do you have for young artists who are just starting out?
As someone who only started working professionally in illustration in September 2019, my advice is this: self-promotion can go a long way! When I started out after graduating, everything felt very intimidating and I was unsure how I would ever get my work out to a wider audience. Using platforms like Instagram has given me a huge boost in the early stages of my career, allowing me to get a worldwide audience to view my work and enabling me to open my online shop. Instagram is also the place that my commissioners have found me! A vast majority of the orders coming to my shop are made from the U.S. and Canada, customers that would have been difficult to obtain without tools like social media.
Time is a Burden (2019)
NFS
Inspired by the stress of wasting time.
What has been the low point of your career? High points?
There are always more lows than highs in any creative career. Rejection, among other things, can be crushing—but the high points are what make it worth it. I’m currently working on a commission for a children’s book, which has always been on my illustrative bucket list! I am very grateful for these opportunities that allow me to work on things that I always dreamt of, but never imagined to be possible when I was younger.
How has the digital age affected how artists create, show, and distribute their work?
I love the technological advancements in art. I believe that technology lends great benefits as to how art is made. As previously mentioned, I use digital methods a lot within my practice—I even wrote my dissertation on the benefits of technology within the art world!
There is an argument that working digitally somehow lessens the creative process, taking artists away from traditional mark making. Personally, I don’t believe this. My creative process involves both traditional and digital methods. Working digitally allows artists to work faster, utilizing many tools to create the work they want, without the restriction of access to certain facilities, as well as the expense of paint and other costly mediums. The art community is thriving online, and the benefits of showcasing your work online can allow anyone from the comfort of their own home to gain a large audience, no matter where they live.
Loop us into your creative circle—which up-and-coming artists should we be on the lookout for?
Harry Bhalerao (@harrybhal) is doing some amazing things with 3D animation and illustration. He’s definitely got great things ahead of him. Go check him out if you love playful, cute 3D characters! Jack Snelling (@jack.a.snelling) is also someone I have admired since reading his comic, A Useless Pile Of Bricks. Definitely someone to look out for!
Charles Bailey, a.k.a. BigFatBambini, is a visual communicator who integrates traditional and digital techniques to produce lively, intimate, and occasionally comical images. His works can be found on www.bigfatbambini.co.uk, shopped at www.bigfatbambini.store, and followed on his Instagram @bigfatbambini.