Meet Hunter French

Let’s brighten up the day a little bit. Introducing the very talented very fun Hunter French. This NYC based illustrator’s unique poppy style is a sure-fire way to send a little sunshine into your eyes through your phone or computer screens.

Get to know the artist in our latest interview as we chat about burritos, quarantine, and toys!

“The Observatory” A fill in the blank with Hunter French

Our class went on a field trip to a DELICIOUS observatory. It was located on top of a CAKE, and it looked like a giant blade of GRASS with a slit down its DOOR. We went inside and looked through a FOUNTAIN and were able to see GEESE in the sky that were millions of PICKLES away. The men and women who JUMP in the observatory are called NAILS, and they are always watching for comets, eclipses, and shooting STAIRS. An eclipse occurs when a MOUNTAIN comes between the earth and the CASTLE and everything gets COLD. Next week, we plan to GRAB the Museum of Modern CATAPULTS.

Would You Rather

only eat burritos or pizza for the rest of your life, which would you choose?

Definitely burritos. There was a time I was averaging nine tacos per weekend so it's not a huge transition to strictly burritos.

Some questions with Hunter French

Has the quarantine had any impact on your creative process?

I've had some writers block during the quarantine paired also with taking a little break has made it hard to get back into the rhythm of working and thinking about new ideas.

What kinds of stories do you like to tell in your work?

Most of my stuff is something I think is funny or could be visually interesting. I don't know if they are narrative. The ideas tend to stand alone but overall are connected when you look back. Maybe it's emphasizing a just below the surface weirdness of everyday life, sad/happy dynamic with a lot of style pulling from old animated characters. Also the pictures tend to work better when there's movement and humor within.

What was the best toy from your childhood?

This is a toss up because there were a lot of good toys to choose from. One of the standouts was the Rescue Heroes toys which were souped up versions of public service jobs like firefighters with exaggerated physical proportions and modded vehicles with grappling hooks.

What is your favorite park in New York City?

My favorite park in NYC is Grover Cleveland not just because of the name, I'm a James Garfield guy, but for the soccer field and the person who cooks for the players on the weekend from their sidewalk food cart.

How do you feel about the role social media plays in a modern artist's career?

Social media has it's cons and pros and I wouldn't get any work without it. I do think it's ok to spend time developing your approach away from social media instead of trying to figure it out in front of the international public. Social media can drive you nuts if you spend too much time on it, but if you use it as a tool to directly connect to the community of your field it expands your world quickly.

Would you ever want to experiment with VR/AR? Do you have any ideas about what you would want to see?

I haven't thought about VR/AR that much but I do like what people have made with it like Austin Lee's sculptures. It would be cool to walk through immersive environments from your own home instead of going to museums or Orlando in July to get into Harry Potter world.

What is your dream neighborhood to live in, and why?

My dream neighborhood to live in is Carroll Gardens. It makes me feel like I was a successful writer who's better days are behind him and I now fill that void with italian sandwiches and looking at nice apartments. But I've been watching this builder on YouTube renovate an industrial building into a home and studio space. Anywhere I could do that would be cool, so Middle Village Queens.

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

Thanks for having me.

Hunter French