The first time I saw Patrick Hruby’s work, I almost adjusted the color ratio on my laptop out of respect. I was not only blown away by the vibrancy of the colors he used, but also by his ability to make these colors work together to create a single, uniform image.
What impressed me almost as much was how accessible Hruby is to the general public. His website not only has the standard email address, but his phone number as well. I thought to myself, “An amazing artist who is also listed? I’ve got to get a hold of him.” Which I did, quite easily, thank you.
A recent graduate of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, Hruby is (technically) a young artist. But his work is polished and defined, possessing an originality that holds all of his pieces together like they were members of one big family. One notices Hruby’s whimsical and symbolic work appeals to the child in them, which isn’t surprising since he’s worked on two children’s books, with a third on the way.
I spent some time talking to Mr. Hruby on influence, collaboration, and the necessity of being open to critique as an artist. Like many artists, Hruby enjoys being behind-the-scenes, allowing his work to speak for itself. But spend any significant amount of time browsing his catalogue or work online, and you will feel like you’ve met him, like you know him, if even for a brief period of time.
Benjamin Panama: I just finished going through ABC Is for Circus. How did an idea for a kids’ book come to you?
Patrick Hruby: I had done a couple of images like the circus tiger before I was approached by AMMO [Books]. After we sat down, the process happened really quickly and organically. They said they were interested in doing an ABC book, I suggested the circus, and they loved the idea. It just went from there.
BP: And you wrote it too?
PH: Yeah. I sent them a list of what I thought each letter should be and we changed a few. They were right to say “knife thrower” was not age appropriate. They were incredibly easy to work with. There were minimal changes to my original idea of the book and they were all for the better.
BP: Plus, not many kids associate the letter “K” with knife.
PH: That too! They let me slip in a few like “calliope.”
BP: I honestly don’t even know what that is. But to be fair, I’ve never been to a circus. You did another children’s book with your sister, right?
PH: Yeah. Counting in the Garden.
BP: Was that before ABC Is for Circus?
PH: No, it just came out this summer. It was a lot of fun to work with Emily. We put in a lot of hours weeding our family garden when we were kids. Making the book was a lot more fun than that.
BP: Was that your inspiration to write and illustrate the book?
PH: Yeah. To be honest, I don’t remember if she or I came up with the idea. But she wrote the prose before I started the illustrations. There is a little game between each of the spreads; that was my idea.
BP: Are you a big collaborator? Or was this more of a family thing?
PH: I love to collaborate. I really do believe people benefit from their creative differences. Illustration by nature is a collaborative venture.
BP: I agree. So many times I’ll look at something a million times and only see it one way. Then somebody else comes along, takes one look at it, and blows my mind with ways to make it better.
PH: I talk daily with friends from school and others I’ve made since. We are always asking “How does this look to you?” or “What would you do?” I’ve never been the guy to hide what I am doing until it’s done. I love feedback.
BP: That’s a scary thing to do, putting yourself out there like that.
PH: I think it is okay to grow in view of others.
BP: It definitely takes a confidence in the quality of your work to do so. Your designs are so vibrant and bright. What do you attribute that to?
PH: I love color. It never occurs to me to tone it down. I spend a lot of time trying to create harmonies at full blast.
BP: It definitely has given your art its own signature. Talking about you being “out there” as an artist, I found it interesting that you put your phone number on your website. Are you just that approachable?
PH: I guess so. It has never been a problem. I had one parent call me asking if their kid should go to Art Center or CalArts. That was the worst of it.
BP: I’m assuming you suggested the former.
PH: I think they are both great schools. I don’t have much experience with CalArts, so I could only talk about my experience at Art Center.
BP: So we’ll save putting “guidance counselor’ on your resume. Where are you from, originally?
PH: I was born in Los Angeles, but moved to Idaho in junior high where I stayed until I graduated high school.
BP: Quite a change of scenery. How were the surroundings in Idaho, creatively?
PH: It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. We lived in a log home on 20 acres of forest. I did a lot of painting outside with my mom growing up. That is where I really fell in love with nature—especially plants.
BP: When did you begin to take art seriously?
PH: My mom is painter, so art has always been a part of my life and my family’s lives. I didn’t consider a career in art until after I started a degree in math. I dropped out and waited tables for a bit here in L.A. When I finally had my fill with waiting tables I decided to take the plunge into art school. I figured even if I starved it would be better than staying at the restaurant.
BP: But the plunge was deep. I mean, you went to Art Center. How did that come about?
PH: My mom had taken classes at Art Center when I was a kid when we were still in L.A. I applied to a few schools but my heart was really set on going to Art Center. When I got my acceptance letter I never looked back.
I did have a moment of panic about the cost, though. I called my mom and said something like, “I am going to have to take a hundred grand out in loans and then draw my way out of it? That sounds kind of ridiculous!”
BP: What did she say?
PH: She told me what moms say—not to worry. That I was going to be fine and able to pay them back. I have always gotten a lot of support from my family. I knew it was a great and expensive opportunity, so I tried to make the best of it. At risk to my health sometimes.
BP: Late nights?
PH: I got strep throat, but I just kept going to school and pulling all nighters. I eventually passed out on the lawn of the school. I woke up hours later. People thought I was napping.
BP: Were you okay? Did you have to go to a hospital?
PH: I had to go to the urgent care, and it turned out I had the beginnings of scarlet fever. They caught it in time, and my heart and I were both fine.
BP: Sounds like something from 16th century Europe.
PH: I thought there was something romantic about it. It was no fun though. It turns out a career in illustration is much less perilous than art school.
BP: It’s the classic illustration of the hero having to go through hell and back before being triumphant, I guess. I’m a bit of a literature nerd, I confess.
PH: Don’t get me wrong, I loved school. And both my sister and my boyfriend are writers. I have to admit that I am jealous sometimes. Writing is something I have always wished I could do.
BP: Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it your name on two published books?
PH: Haha. Well one is an ABC book, so I only wrote 26 words for that one. And the other my sister wrote.
BP: Do you think you’ll ever work on another book, either as an illustrator or an author?
PH: Oh yeah. I love doing books. I am working with Seth (my boyfriend) on a book of Russian fairytales—a sort of reinterpretation.
BP: Are either of you of Russian decent? I’ve noticed a particularly Russian theme in some of your work.
PH: I am Czech. Well, partially anyway. My grandfather was. I have always just had a fascination with Russia—the colors, the cold, the magic of it all. It still feels like a new world to me. I have never been, but I will be going for the first time next year.
BP: For business?
PH: No, for vacation.
BP: Very nice. I’m sure you’ll have more than your fill of inspiration.
PH: It will no doubt inspire a lot of work.
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Photography by Ben Hunter. For more information visit PatrickDrawsThings.com.
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