Some questions and answers gathered from art and design students, interviews for blogs over the past couple of years. If you have any questions that are not below then please feel free email me and I'd be happy answer them for you.
Describe yourself
in five words!!
Daydreamer,
coffee addict, happy, quirky, Northerner.
Where does your
inspiration come from?
Going to
different places around London and definitely listening to a variety of music
keeps me going when I'm working. My ideas come from experiences, snippets of
conversations, cafes, friends, photos, found objects........generally life is
full of moments which continue to enrich my work.
In your portfolio
what are you most happy with?
I'm so pleased
with an ongoing series called Landscapes
and Dreams. It's about a dream like and fantasy world inspired by my
childhood trips to Hong Kong. Lots of stars, shapes and colours floating around
the sky and hills as a backdrop to my illustrations, my early memories of our
village in HK has always been this peaceful place far away from the hectic city
life with fire flies and bats flying around at night. I'm planning on going
back next year and spending more time there.
I've always
preferred to make up an imaginary world than to draw real life as it is, having
my own visual interpretation of life is a window to my world.
What’s your ideal
working day?
Get up nice and
early and put the coffee on! Answer any emails and get going with my work.
Sometimes I'll go round London for the day and do quick sketch book work, it's
nice to have so many amazing places to go to especially for free as well.
Having a break from my studio/living room means I can just chill out for a bit
and enjoy a coffee somewhere! Plus the Internet is a bit of a big distraction,
especially Facebook, so getting out of the house is a bonus!
I'm taking part
in the Sketchbook Project 2011 and I'm trying to get that done before
Christmas...not long to go! I'll finish around about 5 or if I feel like I can
go on about 6ish.
Oh and I make at
least 2 trips to the post office each week which is fun.
Who influences
you creatively?
Julie Verhoeven.
I remember when I was reading GAS Book (http://www.hellogas.com/new/index.html.en)
about her back in my college days and was immediately drawn to the surreal
nature and playfulness of her work. Her bold/graphic line drawings balanced by
soft hues and splashes of colour with sporadic mark making techniques opened my
eyes to another of creating images.I'm pretty sure from then I knewIwanted to
become an illustrator. And Deanne Cheuk who is also amazing. Loved her Mushroom Girls Virus (http://www.mushroomgirlsvirus.com/) work, really really beautiful images of
mushrooms and girls in an ethereal and magical world.
What’s your PLAN
B?
I am applying for some teaching courses (PGCE) in the FE sector as I'd love to be an illustration lecturer.
Where would you
most like to live?
New York.
Did you study Art and Design or are you self taught? How did it all start for you?
I studied art foundation at college and it was really at that time I knew I wanted to be an illustrator, mainly because of the creative freedom.
After college I went to University of Westminster to study illustration. In those years I developed my style and a professional attitude in terms of learning how to answer briefs.
You are quite the crafter! Tell us a little about all the products you make a sell ?
I’ve been making and selling paper products for a while. I think my illustrations are really versatile as I can apply them onto things like cards, pocket mirrors and badges. I do see myself as a designer and a craft person, this fine line between being an illustrator and a designer is blurring. What’s great about being an illustrator is that you can dip into things like making products for instance.
I had the opportunity to sell my things with KiosKiosk, a project set up by Hemingway Designs and Noise Lab. KiosKiosk was a pop-up shop near London Bridge and each day a designer/ artist occupied the space to sell their own products. It was fantastic as it gave me and other designers a chance to run their own business for a short period of time. It was really from that I knew I wanted to continue to make products for sale.
How long do you typically spend on one piece?
Depending on the brief it takes about three to fours hours from start to finish.
Are there any areas of design/illustration/printmaking you would like to explore next?
If I had the chance to do screen printing onto textile that’d be something I’d love to do.
Where would you like to see your work go in the future?
It would probably to make products for my Etsy Shop and to stock in more shops. I want to do more collaboration with other artists and perhaps do more exhibitions. I’d love to open a pop up shop or a gallery in between all of that!
What inspires your pieces?
Wild life programmes like Frozen Planet (well, any David Attenborough programmes) and wild life photography. Places around London and location drawing in museums.
Has using social networks helped you as an artist? Why/How?
Yeah I think so. It’s definitely helped me to reach a wider audience and inform people about who I am and what I do. Probably because there’s a small social network on Twitter for example. It’s fantastic to have that kind of support from other artists and it’s another great way to do collaborations too.
Do you have advice for readers on getting your work out there and getting it seen ?
It’s a balance between getting your portfolio done for your website/ folder but also looking out for submissions to competitions, call outs for illustrations, collaborations, exhibitions etc. I would get in touch with magazines or blogs and ask them if they could do a write up about your work like if you’re doing a new series of work for example. Who knows you might find a commission through it.
Well worth signing up to Illustration Mundo for instance or generally an illustration directory (takes some time doing the research and choosing the right one for you.) I’ve found that in the past what I’ve done has led to one thing to another in terms of ‘free’ work. Urgh really hate saying that but only you can make that choice, remember so as long as it’s worth your time and effort then, yeah go for it.
Be pro-active about what you do and enjoy it! There’s going to be those days when things get a little bit though but you just have to get on with things. Doesn’t help moaning/ complaining about it!
After all, we all have to start somewhere!
What inspires you the most?
The Surrealism period and the Symbolism movement continues to inspire me. Artists such as Kandinsky and Miro for instance were really amazing people who challenged the norms of their time. It takes a lot of courage to go against the higher order of society. It’s a very powerful form of medium and I think art and illustration should continue to inform the way we see the world and challenge our views and perceptions.
This is partly why my work has moved into dreamy landscape pieces. I like creating imaginary worlds and I use lots of bright bold colours and shapes floating around; this is my own interpretation of the natural world.
Illustration at the moment is totally saturated with current trends. I want to remove myself from that and make work I’m happy with rather than fitting in with the crowd.
How did you find your personal style?
After a long journey of struggle and frustration, I finally found a way of making images that I was really comfortable with. I remember feeling very frustrated because I didn’t have a visual identity; it was like not having a voice. I thought perhaps painting would be my happy medium, which was not the case as I discovered in one of my life drawing classes! During the early days of college, I had spent a lot of time making collages and using spray paint. Going to college to do my art and foundation degree was a springboard into the unknown and a pathway of self-discovery.
Since then, I have continued to work in this way.
Do you prefer manual or computer designing?
I’d have to say both but I always start off drawing things by hand and then digitally retouching them in Photoshop.
Where do you like to work on your art (studio, coffee shop, bedroom) and why?
I work from home in my studio/ living room. I don’t mind working from home but the only downside of it is that sometimes it can get a little bit lonely. Plus, I’d love to have access to a screen printing facility or have a big massive table. Ah, one day I’ll have a studio space somewhere in London!
Describe yourself in 3 sentences:
Ambitious
Hard worker
Day dreamer
What is your ultimate goal for your art (magazine cover, exhibition, commission for a CD cover etc)?
I’d love to be a freelance illustrator and live off what I’m passionate about, which is being an illustrator.
Tell me something quirky about yourself?
I like dogs quite a lot to a point where it’s almost become an obsession!
I studied art foundation at college and it was really at that time I knew I wanted to be an illustrator, mainly because of the creative freedom.
After college I went to University of Westminster to study illustration. In those years I developed my style and a professional attitude in terms of learning how to answer briefs.
You are quite the crafter! Tell us a little about all the products you make a sell ?
I’ve been making and selling paper products for a while. I think my illustrations are really versatile as I can apply them onto things like cards, pocket mirrors and badges. I do see myself as a designer and a craft person, this fine line between being an illustrator and a designer is blurring. What’s great about being an illustrator is that you can dip into things like making products for instance.
I had the opportunity to sell my things with KiosKiosk, a project set up by Hemingway Designs and Noise Lab. KiosKiosk was a pop-up shop near London Bridge and each day a designer/ artist occupied the space to sell their own products. It was fantastic as it gave me and other designers a chance to run their own business for a short period of time. It was really from that I knew I wanted to continue to make products for sale.
How long do you typically spend on one piece?
Depending on the brief it takes about three to fours hours from start to finish.
Are there any areas of design/illustration/printmaking you would like to explore next?
If I had the chance to do screen printing onto textile that’d be something I’d love to do.
Where would you like to see your work go in the future?
It would probably to make products for my Etsy Shop and to stock in more shops. I want to do more collaboration with other artists and perhaps do more exhibitions. I’d love to open a pop up shop or a gallery in between all of that!
What inspires your pieces?
Wild life programmes like Frozen Planet (well, any David Attenborough programmes) and wild life photography. Places around London and location drawing in museums.
Has using social networks helped you as an artist? Why/How?
Yeah I think so. It’s definitely helped me to reach a wider audience and inform people about who I am and what I do. Probably because there’s a small social network on Twitter for example. It’s fantastic to have that kind of support from other artists and it’s another great way to do collaborations too.
Do you have advice for readers on getting your work out there and getting it seen ?
It’s a balance between getting your portfolio done for your website/ folder but also looking out for submissions to competitions, call outs for illustrations, collaborations, exhibitions etc. I would get in touch with magazines or blogs and ask them if they could do a write up about your work like if you’re doing a new series of work for example. Who knows you might find a commission through it.
Well worth signing up to Illustration Mundo for instance or generally an illustration directory (takes some time doing the research and choosing the right one for you.) I’ve found that in the past what I’ve done has led to one thing to another in terms of ‘free’ work. Urgh really hate saying that but only you can make that choice, remember so as long as it’s worth your time and effort then, yeah go for it.
Be pro-active about what you do and enjoy it! There’s going to be those days when things get a little bit though but you just have to get on with things. Doesn’t help moaning/ complaining about it!
After all, we all have to start somewhere!
What inspires you the most?
The Surrealism period and the Symbolism movement continues to inspire me. Artists such as Kandinsky and Miro for instance were really amazing people who challenged the norms of their time. It takes a lot of courage to go against the higher order of society. It’s a very powerful form of medium and I think art and illustration should continue to inform the way we see the world and challenge our views and perceptions.
This is partly why my work has moved into dreamy landscape pieces. I like creating imaginary worlds and I use lots of bright bold colours and shapes floating around; this is my own interpretation of the natural world.
Illustration at the moment is totally saturated with current trends. I want to remove myself from that and make work I’m happy with rather than fitting in with the crowd.
How did you find your personal style?
After a long journey of struggle and frustration, I finally found a way of making images that I was really comfortable with. I remember feeling very frustrated because I didn’t have a visual identity; it was like not having a voice. I thought perhaps painting would be my happy medium, which was not the case as I discovered in one of my life drawing classes! During the early days of college, I had spent a lot of time making collages and using spray paint. Going to college to do my art and foundation degree was a springboard into the unknown and a pathway of self-discovery.
Since then, I have continued to work in this way.
Do you prefer manual or computer designing?
I’d have to say both but I always start off drawing things by hand and then digitally retouching them in Photoshop.
Where do you like to work on your art (studio, coffee shop, bedroom) and why?
I work from home in my studio/ living room. I don’t mind working from home but the only downside of it is that sometimes it can get a little bit lonely. Plus, I’d love to have access to a screen printing facility or have a big massive table. Ah, one day I’ll have a studio space somewhere in London!
Describe yourself in 3 sentences:
Ambitious
Hard worker
Day dreamer
What is your ultimate goal for your art (magazine cover, exhibition, commission for a CD cover etc)?
I’d love to be a freelance illustrator and live off what I’m passionate about, which is being an illustrator.
Tell me something quirky about yourself?
I like dogs quite a lot to a point where it’s almost become an obsession!
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