Benjamin Gottwald

Illustrator

The joy of drawing sounds

Benjamin aims to make entertaining and humorous works
His first children's book won several prizes
In his workshops he encourages children to be silly

Benjamin Gottwald realised early on that he would somehow have to find a way in life to earn an income from his passion for drawing. Via his uncle he discovered the work of architectural drafting, and initially studied art education. After a few years he started to earn an income as a freelance illustrator and simultaneously applied to the University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg. There, he studied Illustration for a bachelor's and master's degree. For his thesis, Benjamin produced the children's book Spider Plays the Piano. This work shows a collection of 160 illustrations that invite the viewer to invent a suitable sound for each motif. Spider Plays the Piano not only found a publisher immediately, but was also translated into several languages and won awards for the Best Children's Book in several European countries. In addition to children's books, graphic novels and freelance work, Benjamin draws for various well-known magazines.

Interview

What have you specialised in?: My specialty is drawing sounds. In comic books, I work a lot with speedlines, which can indicate the movement of objects. These speedlines can also be used to represent sounds. For example, I did not need to use any words in my picture book Spider Plays the Piano.
Are you trying to convey a message through your children's books?: I aim to make my work entertaining and humorous, not just in children's books but also in general. This can be achieved beautifully with interesting characters, but also with dynamics. As my educational message, I would probably emphasize that following their own joy in drawing is the best way to let children tell their stories.
Is doing nonsense part of your workshop offer?: I run workshops for children aged 5-9, in which I encourage being silly. I start by showing them illustrations of what a drawn sound can look like, and then we search for suitable noises together. Simple drawing techniques will be used to teach children how to make animal sounds or simulate movements. Those skills can be used for future drawings.
What do people often not know about your work?: Most people do not realise how long it takes to draw a graphic novel. It can take years for an idea to become a finished product. The illustrator is also the director, light technician, casting director, prop designer, hair stylist, makeup artist, and everything else for the visual story. Similarly to a film, a lot of conceptual decisions have to be made before actual work can even begin.

Benjamin Gottwald is a master artisan: he began his career in 2015 and he started teaching in 2018