Exclusive Interview: The Rare Talent of Panoramic Artist Stephen Wiltshire
- Author: Vivianne Lapointe
- Posted on: Wednesday November 11, 2009 at 2:00 PM
- Filed under: exclusive, drawing, steven wiltshire
"New York... These streets will make you feel brand new, the lights will inspire you..."
Last week, British artist Stephen Wiltshire, was without a doubt in a full-blown empire state of mind. At the New Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, he spent five days working day and night on a panoramic illustration of the New York skyline.
35-year-old Wiltshire was diagnosed with autism at the early age of three. While he was mute for most of his childhood and still struggles with communication, he developed an incredible, unique ability to draw architecture (or anything, really) from memory. Anything he's seen once, he could recall on a piece of paper. Let this video speak for itself.
The artist's most impressive career project to date has started in May 2005. After a quick helicopter ride over the city of Tokyo, he was able to draw from memory a higly detailed panoramic view of the city on a canvas, remembering every detail from the number of windows in each building to the number of trees in parks. How is that possible, you think? Well that's the beauty in the mystery of the human brain. Since then, he's drawn Rome, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dubai, Jerusalem and London.
Here's our exclusive Q&A with Stephen.
JT.com: How did you discover this incredible gift you have?
SW: When I was five, I went to Queensmill School in London. The teachers thought I was very good at drawing and they encouraged me to draw more. They used to enter my drawings to competitions and I won them all.
JT.com: If you go down in memory lane, what is the first drawing you did that really made you discover your passion for art?
SW: I always liked to draw and started out with drawing animals and then buses and then buildings. I have always wanted to be an artist.
JT.com: What is your biggest challenge during the helicopter ride, as you’re flying over a city?
SW: I wanted to make sure I could see all my favorite buildings, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the Financial District and also Central Park. I always hope that the weather is good so I can see everything from far away.
JT.com: What do you remember most – colors or shapes?
SW: I like the shapes of buildings, the lines, the different shapes they make, the avenues and squares. Sometimes I paint with oil or use colour pastel on drawings. My favorite is pen and ink.
JT.com: Can you remember people as easy as you can architecture?
SW: I draw a lot of people in my private sketchbook. My favourite things to draw are buildings and cities, and also classic American cars from the 1960s and 1970s.
JT.com: Of all the skylines you’ve drawn, which one was the most challenging, and why?
SW: I think New York because it was my last panorama and I wanted to include all my favourite sites and all the details in the tall buildings. I wanted to make it perfect, since New York is my favorite city in the world.
JT.com: What is so special about New York for you?
SW: I love the New York people and the tall buildings, the avenues, taxis, the chaos, bright lights. It is exciting. I’ve been to New York four times now and never get tired of re-visiting this brilliant city.
JT.com: Did you have a good time during your trip? Besides drawing, what else did you do?
SW: Yes I had a great time! I went to the Empire State building and to the NYC Police Museum, met firefighters at the Fire Station in Brooklyn and also I went shopping with my sister. I wanted to find a Johnny Lightning 1978 Chevy Impala Sedan 1:64. I didn’t find it in the shops, but was very happy because Joe Long from CBS gave me one as a present in the end of my trip.
JT.com: Noticed you draw with headphones on. What music do you listen do while you work?
SW: I listen to 60s Motown, 1970s disco and funk and music from the 80s, the Backstreet Boys, All Saints, Jackson Five and Barry White and the Top 40.
JT.com: What other cities would you love to draw?
SW: I would like to visit Sydney and Montreal and would also like to go to Malaysia and draw some cities there.
JT.com: Do people get in touch with you to commission work?
SW: Yes, lots of people come to my gallery to ask me to draw pictures for them.
JT.com: Have you ever met anyone with a similar talent to yours? Who is your idol?
SW: I have a unique talent, people say I’m a genius and the best artist they have known! My favorite artist is Richard Estes, his paintings are beautiful.
JT.com: Of all of your artworks, which one would you most like to be remembered for?
SW: New York street scenes, London double Decker buses and all my city panoramas.
Interview conducted by Vivianne Lapointe.
Photo credit: Marie-Joelle Parent.
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“ It's amazing. ”
“ un-believable. what a gift. ”
