From 2D to 3D Jon Burgerman has made a career as an artist by doodling with a pen. Like the rest of us, he started drawing on notebooks. Only, he never stopped. Today you can find him doodling on walls and doors, t-shirts, toys, Nike‘s and creating art for the likes of Kidrobot, Lomography and most recently, the new iPad application Granimator and soon-t0-be-released Inkstrumental iPhone game. A self-described tea lover and salad enthusiast, this Nottingham, UK native has quickly become one of London’s most revered cartoonists with exhibitions around the world and invitations to doodle on the walls of shops and hotels. This is a quick glimpse into the mind of Jon Burgerman. And yes, Jon Burgerman is his real name.
LH: Let’s get some formalities out of the way…What’s your background, how did you get started, how long have you been an artist and how’s that beard treating you?
JB: I was born in the UK, went to school, went to college and then went to university. And then I decided I’d try and not have a job and be an artist. That’s pretty much all I can tell you about the first 30 years of my life. Oh yeah the beard, how could I forget? At some point, when I was about ten or eleven, I grew a beard. He’s been with me ever since.
LH: Let’s talk about your style of drawings, a lot of people doodle, but you’ve done so successfully. What’s your earliest recollection of imploring it and what inspired you?
JB: Hmmm when people often asked me what style my drawing was in I’d nonchalantly say it was a doodle style. Somewhere along the line, many years ago, that began to stick. I’ve drawn like this for a long time, before I ever went to university. I just like keeping the pen moving and that means often not taking it off the page. I hope the drawings capture some sort of rhythm or melody. I have poor rhythm in real life as anyone who’s seen me dance can attest to. I don’t really know who I’m inspired by. When asked this question I normally just spill a slew of recognised artists and designers most people would agree are quite good. This list now resides on my website so I don’t have to carry it around in my brain with me.
LH: You’re starting to get into some product collaborations is this something we can look forward to in the future?
JB: Collaboration, when done well, benefits all parties with the talent and magic provided by the other person that you can’t conjure up yourself. Hopefully in the future there will be apparel goodies along with more toys, prints, digital play things and books. I guess really most work is a collaboration of sorts, whether it’s with another artist, brand or gallery. I like utilising the power of a more and different skilled individual.
LH: So any word from the Henrik Vibskov camp on your desire to collaborate on a cardigan?
JB: Haha no! I’ve never contacted them and would understandably expect them never to reply if I did. To be honest why would they want to collaborate ? Why would I want to collaborate – I’d just want to be Henrik Vibskov!
LH: Is the creative process different between commercial and personal projects?
JB: Yes and no. If the commercial people are smart they’ll let you do your thing and then it can be treated almost like a personal project. When commercial projects go bad (sounds like a good idea for a internet TV show) it’s when the process is messed about with by the persnickety client. Generally my process is very simple. Have an idea. Draw the idea. Make the idea as finished and as good as possible. End. Sleep. Wake up and release it’s still quite early in the morning. Sleep for a bit longer.
LH: Going quickly through your sketchbook I think I spotted a non-doodle piece that looked great, something for the future?
JB: Which piece do you mean ? I’ve been drawing in different ways for a while now. It’s still, hopefully, recognisably me, but with a slightly different flavour. I think pushing how I draw and drawing different things will only help to make me better in the long run.
LH: The life of an artist can be challenging, what for you has been the most challenging and the most gratifying?
JB: Most challenging sometimes is to keep motivated when you’re surrounded by amazing work by loads of other artists. Everyday I see, online generally, such great work that it tips over from being inspiring and sort of becomes depressing. It’s also challenging, of course, to earn your keep when you’re starting out. It’s all still better than doing anything else of course. Most gratifying is that I’m still going and it’s all growing a little each year. It’s nice that people respond well to my work and it occasionally inspires others to get drawing or making things. It’s also satisfying to of proved my old A-Level art teach wrong. Look at me now Mr Lucas, I’m being an artist and you can’t stop me! (He really was a mean teacher).
LH: So, what other forms of art and design do you appreciate, whether it be clothing, sneakers, musicians, kitchen utensils…
JB: I’m interested to learn more about fashion. Some fashion designers. like Christian Joy for example, make crazy stuff that’s somewhere in-between fashion and design and art and installation. I want to know more about it, I find it fascinating. Overall I like anything that’s a bit different within it’s field I think, be it art, design, books, movies or music.
LH: Lastly, with the recent launch of Inkstrumental, why is there no Burgertown cartoon TV show?
JB: Well, there are Burgertown figures, made by Kidrobot – available here! I’ve worked on a few cartoon pitches before but nothing has really clicked into place yet. Don’t worry though, it’s one of my ambitions to one day make a cartoon series! Comedy writers get in touch ASAP!
LH: OK I lied, one more question, what sites can we find you on for inspiration or wasting time.
JB: Man, I look at video game sites and music sites and movie sites all the time, what with Facebook and Twitter and Flickr too, it’s all becoming a bit much. Plus a lot of people have Tumblr accounts and blogs and they’re sharing cool links and images and videos with everyone else. I’d say no more surfing! There’s too much going on as it is! I wont further provocate this modern day epidemic. Is it coincidence that China is the worlds fastest growing economy and it’s also banned the use of Facebook?
Visit Jon Burgerman’s official site here.
Lead photo credit: Aidan Kelly
Others courtesy of Jon Burgerman’s Flickr
Ian Mccreadie says: 
