Artist Profile: John Skewes

All images courtesy of John Skewes.

Name:

John Skewes

Hometown:

Vashon Island

Current Neighborhood:

Rucker Hill

Your Medium/Craft:

Children’s book illustrator, muralist, Funko artist.

Years doing your craft:

Decades

How did you first get started in your craft?

After art school, I worked as a t-shirt artist in the local apparel industry around Seattle which has long since gone the way of grunge rock. (Anybody remember Sun Sportswear? SeaBell? International News?) After getting my portfolio in shape I landed a job in Los Angeles as a character artist for Disney Consumer Products. Eventually, I went independent and started work on my first children’s book, Larry Gets Lost in Seattle.

Since then I’ve done dozens of Larry titles (29 I think) and sold over half a million books. Which brings me, quite organically, to my latest book, Larry Gets Lost in the Library written by Eric Ode. ($17.99, Little Bigfoot). Spoiler alert: Larry gets lost again. This time in a bookmobile, which leads to him getting lost in a library. It’s a fun story that teaches children about libraries and I used Everett’s beautiful 1934 library building for the illustrations in the book.

I have also designed several large-scale murals for Funko and the Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital in New York. If you take a photo in front of the Funko mural as you exit the store, that’s one of mine.

Favorite Piece You've Created?

“An Elm 4 All Seasons,” the mural in the lobby at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU. It’s printed on a 43-foot curved glass wall, depicting a large elm tree in Central Park over the four seasons. It begins in fall and ends in summer, representing the healing mission of the hospital. I added details and small stories that continue through the length of the mural. A caterpillar becomes a butterfly. Two squirrels meet, court, and have a baby. The design and approval process took years. I started designing it from architectural diagrams before the hospital was even built.

What’s the most challenging part of being an artist, or something you had to overcome?

The process of illustrating a large work, like a 32-page children’s book or a mural, can be emotionally tough. It requires a lot of concentration, research, and hitting deadlines over months, sometimes years. It often takes me a little time after a project is completed before I can look back on it with genuine affection.

But at a recent book signing, there was a 5-year-old boy who had memorized every word of Larry Gets Lost in Seattle. He recited it word for word as we read it aloud. It’s difficult to be cynical about an interaction like that. I’ve seen it with my work at Funko as well. It’s a rare privilege to do something that makes people happy.

How can people be supportive of the arts?

Buy art! Give it to your friends. Buy more. Blank walls are bad for you.

Favorite place in Everett to eat?

El Paraiso. Don’t pass by those fresh tortillas at the front door.

Favorite place in Everett to hang?

The Loft Coffee Bar. Outside. Leave one table open, please. On rainy days I might sneak out of Funko and work on my iPad in the lounge at Paraiso.

Favorite quote and/or words to live by?

“A fool with a plan can beat a genius without one.” Parables about triumphant fools give me hope.

What's next for you?

I have a book title but no story: The Rabbits of Rucker Hill. I’ve noticed all these rabbits up on the hill. They must be up to something.

Also, there are so many great murals in Everett. Sooner or later I’d love to do one. Hit me up.

Where can people purchase or see more of your art?

Larry Gets Lost in Seattle, Larry Gets Lost in the Library and all the Larry books are available wherever books are sold. If you want an autographed copy or original art, visit my Etsy store.

You can also find me on Instagram.

We will be doing a zoom event with the Everett Public Library on October 6 @ 4 p.m.

Larry Gets Lost in the Library, now on sale Wherever books are sold!

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