Introducing Jason Lyon

Jason Lyon is a recent graduate from Falmouth University with an incredible talent. We are really excited to be representing a new illustrator with so much potential and we asked him 10 questions to get to know him a little bit better.

1. Do you listen to music while you draw/paint/illustrate? And if so who or what gets the most plays in your studio?

Yeah, I listen to music most of the time when I’m drawing. But the genre differs depending on the ‘stage’ I suppose. I tend to listen to a calmer selection of music when I’m gathering thoughts and drawing rough sketches, usually piano pieces by Ludovico Einaudi and Yiruma. And when I’m finalising, especially when I’m close to deadlines, I’d put on some Kendrick and Kanye to pump the energy up.

2. Which other illustrators or artists do you most admire and why?

The two illustrators that actually inspired me to become one myself are Victo Ngai and Lisk Feng. I came across their work before I did my foundation degree, which was about 5 years ago. It was inspiring to see two east Asian illustrators doing so well and being recognised globally for their talents. I guess it gave me a lot of hope.

3. What is the best thing about being an illustrator? And the worst?

I think the best thing about being an illustrator is that I get to do what I’m passionate about for a living because I have been passionate about art/drawing since I was a little kid, as cliche as it is. And I think the worst thing, perhaps is the amount of uncertainty that accompanies with this job, at least for me I’m constantly doubting my abilities whenever I don’t have an active commission. 

4. How do you overcome a creative block?

I usually just do something else completely, if time allows. I’d usually go out to do some exercise and hope that the unconscious mind does some work backstage.

5. What are 3 of your favourite films? Which one would you illustrate the poster for?

Your Name, Interstellar and Knives Out. I’ve already done one for Your Name but I’d certainly love to illustrate one for Knives Out, so many knives, so many characters! 

6. If you could illustrate the book cover for one book which would it be?

I started to read Andrezej Sapkowski’s Witcher series after watching the TV series, and I would love to do a book cover for ‘The Last Wish’, the first of the two collections of short stories preceding the main Witcher Saga.

7. What would be your dream studio location and set up?

No specific towns or cities but maybe a studio with a view of either the forest or the sea, but I guess I wouldn’t mind one where it’s based in the city centre because that means more choices for food and coffee. I think in terms of set up, I’d just want a really big desk and a comfortable chair. Oh, and good internet, if you know me personally, you’ll know that I’ve been plagued with bad internet for most of my life.

8. Best trip you have ever been on?

The best trip I’ve been on is the last one I went on prior to lockdown. I went to America to visit my girlfriend in North Carolina and we both went to Yosemite/San Francisco whilst I was there.

9. Best meal you’ve ever had?

This is probably the hardest question on this list because every meal satisfies me hahaha. But I guess the best, in terms of the one that meant the most to me is probably the Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner I had last year because that was the first one I’ve had one in China in 11 years.

10. If you could have any artwork in your home what would it be?

Definitely Monet’s Water Lilies. I saw it at MoMa when I went to New York last year. That was an incredible experience for me, it just felt like I could stay there and look at it forever.

See more of Jason’s portfolio here.