We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jonathan Borthwick a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jonathan , thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Ever since I started taking drawing seriously about 8 years ago I never really envisioned that I would be able to make a full time living from my work. It wasnt because I thought the work wasnt good enough to sell or my style/talent wasnt applicable in a commercial sense, it was mainly due to the late entrance I made into drawing at 26/27. Since I moved to the United States from the UK in 2009 I have been working as a Hydrographic Surveyor full time. It has been a great career thus far and has given me opportunities to travel and make a pretty decent living.

I started drawing and taking my art seriously quite late in life, even from the inception of when I began to draw in a constant way I was working full time alongside. Looking back it didnt seem difficult at the time, however as you get older and my career demanded more traveling and longer days I will admit it has become harder to commit regular time to drawing.

Of course the idea and conversation with my peers and people around me tends to gravitate towards “why dont you pursue a job in illustration? Why dont you take your art seriously and turn it into your full time career?”. It can be easily assumed by people looking in from the outside that I might not have the confidence or am not willing to take the risk on pursuing a career in the “arts” or “illustration”, however Ive always had it figured out in my mind since the moment I began drawing seriously…

I simply do not believe that I can transition into a position where drawing full time can provide the personal or financial stability that Ive grown accustomed to now at 34. The drawings/illustrations themselves arent what I would consider fine/high art by association. They tend to fall into the catergory of editorial cartooning or graphic illustration. So its difficult to know where they belong, and even more complicated to figure out how I can turn my style and output into a regular paycheck. Ive known this since the beginning, however as far as I was concerned this wasnt a problem. To me, I viewed it as an opportunity.

I have never had to pander to any idea of associating my art with money. So in my mind Ive had free reign to create and do whatever I want. Ive never had to refine my style, Ive never had to steer myself in a certain commercial direction and above all, Ive never had to censor my opinions in my work. Im completely self taught, Ive been able to arrive at my style without any proffesional training or direction, so I know what Ive got is mine and wholly mine. As alot of the work is editorial/political commentary its hard to understand where it would fit, and as more and more newspaper cartoonists are being censored and leaving their jobs at publications, as of recently Ann Telnaes of the Washington Post, I cant imagine myself being a newspaper cartoonist. In conclusion, Ive always viewed the idea of being a full time, financially stable cartoonist as a pretty bloody difficult achievement. So I just never worried about chasing it, I keep on in my career and keep the drawing going as much as I can on the side.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got into drawing by seeing the works of Ralph Steadman by chance in a book here in the United States. I really loved his work and his depiciton of life and the world through a satirical lens. I always enjoyed art in high school and drawing in my youth so I figured I would take it up again. My early works and inspiration were the direct result of looking at the drawings of Ralph Steadman, Gerald Scarfe and Ronald Searle.

I began by buying paper/ink and trying to figure it out, looking into the political landscape of the United States, the contemporary social issues of the country and began incorporating those in my drawings. I tried to apply old cartooning concepts to the issues of today, tried to steer my style to produce clear and concise points for the viewer to receive, while trying to maintain a certain illustration style. I honestly dont know If Ive arrived at a point today where Im satisfied with my work or style, but I know that dissatisfaction Is what makes you grow, that idea of “ok next time, Im going to do it right”.

As far as what Im most proud of, I recently was able to exhibit my work at Flatland gallery here in Houston. Considering it hasnt been seen anyone except close friends it was great to see the publics reaction to it. I dont partake in social media to promote my work for personal reasons, so the opportunity to show it in a gallery as a solo show was a big step for me.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is being able to watch yourself grow over the years. I retain most of my original works so I have the luxury of being able to dig old works out from years ago and see how far Ive come. In most cases I see alot of progress in terms of my draftsmanship, progress in my concepts and delivery. There is also an element of yearning for those early years. As some of my early drawings are so raw and uninfluenced by the techniques and form I chased to achieve today, they have a real authentic feel to them. They are physical things sealed in time that I can reference back to. Being able to track your journey as an artist through keeping your old works, or documenting them to me is an important part of the creative process and being an artist.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

It is just the enjoyment of the act really. I absolutely love the feeling of finishing a drawing and looking at it, I love the process and frustration with the developement. That to me is what is driving the whole thing. I dont have any intention to make money off it, I dont have any intention to turn it into anything other than what it is. Just me, at my drafting table with a blank piece of paper and the opportunity to say or create anything for no real reason at all.