The precise lines of John Paul Thurlow’s work are instantly recognisable. The illustrator and artist is known for his cover illustrations. This body work includes a 100 strong collection of illustrations of his favourite magazine cover issues and record covers. His work includes illustrations of a host of covers in his precise, astoundingly realistic style.

Photo Credit: Illustration by John Paul Thurlow. Courtesy of John Paul Thurlow.

The fact that John Paul Thurlow is able to recreate digitally mastered images in drawing is an incredible feat.

With each he adds his indelible mark by adding extra scribbles, thoughts and feelings. His work is also notable for showing the arduous process that is his work. Some of his illustrations are left incomplete.

His sheer technical skill is awe inspiring and it is no wonder that his clients the likes of the Gucci Group, ELLE etc.

Photo Credit: Illustration by John Paul Thurlow. Courtesy of John Paul Thurlow.

In April 2010 he showed his work in his first solo exhibition at the debut Sketchbook Pop up Shop to rave reviews.

I was honoured to interview the talented illustrator on his Cover series project, his work to date and much more.

1. Hello John Paul, thank you for honouring Mariankihogo.com with this interview. A lot of my readers have come across your work at some point or the other via a blog or some other online medium but many of us do not know much about the man behind the cover illustrations. Who is John Paul Thurlow?

Oooh that’s a deceptively tough question to answer but to be honest I value anonymity. Everything you need to know about me is in my art and the Covers book.

2. What was inspired your Cover illustration project?

The idea for Covers has come to me more than once. First at college where I made a piece of art, which recreated the cover of the first 7” single I ever bought: Yes Sir I can Boogie by Baccara. And once again when I went on a retreat to Japan to escape London and all it’s shit. I was automatically drawing the contents of my room in order to forget stuff and there it was: a travel size British Elle on the low table. I just kept on drawing it… although I must admit I changed the title to fit my mood.

3. Your technical ability is incredible; do you see yourself as an Artist?

Thanks for compliment but I think there’s plenty more I can do to improve. Do I consider myself an Artist? Frustrated artist maybe, certainly for the longest time I felt a lot of dissatisfaction with the work I was being paid to create on a daily basis… so much so there came a point I couldn’t do it anymore (I suspect I am not alone in feeling like this).

I’m reluctant to give myself the moniker of ‘Artist’… so many assholes do that. I make Covers for myself so that’s Art for it’s own sake. I make artwork for the likes of Elle and I AM SOUND so that’s art in the service of business… I also art direct design and advertising which definitely is not Art… but is full of wonderful craft.

Now that you’ve made me think about it Marian I’d say that I enjoy very much occupying the space between Art and Design, Illustration and Fine Art. I don’t want to categorise myself.

Photo Credit: Illustration by John Paul Thurlow. Courtesy of John Paul Thurlow.

Photo Credit: I AM SOUND cover Illustration by John Paul Thurlow. Courtesy of John Paul Thurlow.

4. You had your first solo exhibition, ‘Covers’ at the Sketchbook Pop Up shop in April this year. What was this experience like for you?

Exhibiting is addictive. The Sketchbook crew made it very easy for me to take part… they really they spoilt me. It was a wonderful experience and I am incredibly grateful to them.

I was apprehensive prior to the private view, not about meeting people (which was great fun) but having the original drawings outside of my possession for a month worried me. The drawings are fragile things. Every time they are touched they are damaged a little. It’s inevitable I suppose.

Photo Credit: ‘Something for the future’ illustration by John Paul Thurlow. Courtesy of John Paul Thurlow.

5. What has the reception from the Magazines immortalised in the Covers project been like?

Every single contact I’ve had with the magazines and photographers who I’ve drawn from has been positive, enthusiastic and full of encouragement. I’ve met some incredible people through Covers.

I always do my best to credit those involved in the creation of the originals. The project is in a way an homage to their work. And although some of the drawings have been ripped-off by t-shirt makers and the like, I’ve always refused to get involved with schemes to make money from mass reproduction of the Covers.

Photo Credit: Illustration by John Paul Thurlow. Courtesy of John Paul Thurlow.

6. I have read that you are working on a book that encompasses your Covers project. Can you tell us a bit about it and when it will be on shelves?

I’m really excited about the book, as I’ve always seen it as the true culmination of the project: The Covers book is a limited edition art object. There will be a limited run of 100 copies each of around 300 pages. It contains all the Covers drawings accompanied by my diary of the project, full transcripts of major interviews, acknowledgment of all who have supported me, and so on.

I’ve called-in favours from some very good friends. Curator Zelina Garland has written the foreword. Photographer David Rowan has taken studio photography. And designer Reza Kay has created a wonderful design; a hybrid of high-end fashion magazine and artist’s monograph.

7. If you could have dinner with any five artists and illustrators dead or alive, who would they be?

I would have to say Helen Thurlow, the American illustrator who drew the cover of the first ever British Vogue in 1916. I would love to know more about her life, the Thurlow family in the United States at the turn of the century. I think her flamboyant personality and proto-feminist beliefs would make for good conversation.

I would love to spend time with the British artist Richard Hamilton who I met once whilst I was at college. He has spent a lifetime exploring art and design. I know I could learn a lot from the man who coined the term Pop Art.

Grace Coddington the creative director of Vogue US, and the writer (and sometimes illustrator) Alan Moore would be on the list. I’d like to invite an old master but would have a tough time choosing between Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres and Giacomo Piazzetta. The thought of being taught drawing by either of them fills me with exhilaration and trepidation in equal measure.

Photo Credit:Auguste Dominique Ingres self potrait.

8. You have worked on a variety of commissions and collaborations. What has been your favourite to date?

I only choose to work on collaborations that I find interesting with people I find inspiring, that makes it easy for me answer that every collaboration has been a favorite in it’s own way… but that also sounds like a cop-out. If I am totally honest the sight of my work in Elle magazine was truly awesome as Elle was the first Cover I tried to draw in Japan… it felt like something was coming full circle.

Absolutely yes. It is the autobiographical element in my work. It takes guts to bear even a little of yourself publicly but I hope it elevates the work beyond mere copying. I hope the viewer senses something intimate and poetic.

It’s about creation and destruction. I aspire for perfection (because I am entranced by the original) but the closer I get to it the more hollow I find my reproduction, this causes frustration to build… it happens almost every time… and I have the desire to project my feelings good or bad into what I’m doing. When working I think it’s best to just follow one’s heart and not over-think it… maybe the truth of it is I find drawing one of the most enjoyable things in life.

Photo Credit: Illustration by John Paul Thurlow. Courtesy of John Paul Thurlow.

11. What does the future hold for your work and are there any projects or collaborations that my readers need to keep an eye out for?

An exhibition of all 100 Cover is on the cards, in London at the KesselsKramer Outlet. I intend to draw some record covers, the odd magazine and a hell of a lot more figure drawings and fashion illustration.

It was such a revelation reading his answers. I am in awe of John Paul Thurlow’s illustrated covers and the sheer effort put into them.

His work speaks for itself in loud volumes.

I am looking forward to his 100 covers exhibition.

See more of his work here.

Kind thanks to John Paul Thurlow for granting this interview.

Read the rest of the Art, Illustration and Design in Focus segment here.