Thursday 25 March 2010

If you were on the Berlin trip a couple of years back then you probably saw this little treat by Jon Klassen and Dan Rodrigues!


BETONY MAY!

Check out the beautiful work of Plymouth graduate, Betony May. Betony uses a mixture of print, ink and photoshop to create colourful and contemporary images full of playful charm.




website

blog

Betony in The New Scientist Magazine

Monday 15 March 2010

Kseniya Simonova.



beautiful and unique example of narrative x

Wednesday 10 March 2010

Louise Hearle

Louise Hearle - Cornish Renaissance beauty!

Tell us a little about yourself? How old are you (if you don’t mind) and where are you currently living?


I am 22 years old and am currently living in Falmouth, Cornwall, which is a great place to live. Its full of great secret little places were you can find inspiration


What are you working on now?

Currently I am working on a design for a EP jacket for the album release of Rachael Dadd. It’s a really interesting project as lots of different artists are involved using different mediums. Its culminating in a big launch in London where lots of people will get to see it, and hopefully buy them. Do you have a particular style, or does it vary a lot? Do you think it’s Important for an illustrator to have a specific style or be flexible in how they work?

I have a couple of styles that I use. I sometimes prefer to use inks, for a more fluid illustrations. Whereas other times I use rubbings as collage and photoshop. I think that its what you most feel comfortable with. Some illustrators have only one specific style. Whereas others have many. Both can be successful it’s the quality of the work that is important.

How important were your formal art studies?

They were very important to me as my work at the start was no where near where I wanted it to be. But with the help of great tutors with lots of experience gradually my work and ideas started to improve. Also you can’t underestimate the importance of fellow students in the same situation as you, running my ideas past like-minded people was a great help to me.

What advice would you wish you had during 1 and 2nd year?

Not to worry so much, not just about my work but in general as well. No matter what your feelings are about your work there will always be someone who will like it. The hard part is finding them

mixed media, uni work.

How about for the people due to finish this year?

It will be very rare that you will rise to fame just after uni. It will take a lot of work and I’m afraid a few failures but the rewards are fantastic.

What’s the hardest thing about being an Illustrator?


For me it is staying motivated. Once I left the university environment I was quite depressed. Being taken out of such a creative environment was hard. But staying in touch with my class mates and forming a collective solved that problem.


Any weird ‘ritual’ type things you need in place to work?

Nope but peace and quiet helps. And lots of tea.

What or who inspires you?


My imagination inspires me the most, when I look at a landscape I always add on weird extra bits or strange creatures into it.


What keeps you motivated?


I sometimes find it hard to stay motivated. But looking at other illustrators work and even the amazing stuff that your classmates do makes me want to do work.


One of Louise's gorgeous handmade journals.

What past or present day illustrators do you admire most?

I love Henrik Drescher, and Sara Fanelli. Their work is so inspiring because they just do what they feel like they don’t change their styles to fit a project.

One essential website?

I think the most essential website is your own. Putting your work on the web even if its just a blog, is so important these days. Most of the business you do will be carried out over the internet.

One essential book?

99 Fears by Nedko Solakov. It’s full of simple but beautiful illustrations and he has put so much of himself into it. It’s amazing.

Where do you see yourself within the next few years?

Hopefully still producing work, and enjoying myself. And if I make money out of it so much the better.

Images from the book 'seed'