Another little interview for you here with one of our amazing new artists Jessica Rose! Jessica has been kind enough to share some tips for aspiring illustrators, as well as her inspirations and some fab pictures to accompany...
Where do you live/work?
I
live in Haworth, a gorgeous Yorkshire village famous for the Bronte sisters. It’s
an amazing kooky little place with bags of character and creativity running in
the heart of it. So a pretty inspiring place to be.
I
work on my illustrations from home. I have a studio space tucked away at the
top of the house, but I can sometimes be found working in the lounge or kitchen
on an evening...because that’s closer to the chocolate.
What do you love about working there?
I can wear my Pjs which are the greatest of all clothing items!
Plus living in a village means it’s quiet. If my husband or children
aren’t around, the house is silent and it’s easy to buckle down with no
distractions.
What are your dislikes?
Sometimes it can be a bit lonely up in the silence of my studio. I
have other work during the week, which means I do get the hustle and bustle of
a busy studio, so usually when I’m in my own creative space it’s a pleasant
thing.
The room is in the attic so when it’s windy (and up near the
pennines means the wind can be pretty strong) it does sound like the roof may
blow off.
What do you love most about being an
illustrator?
Books transport people away from their world and into someone elses.
For children who’s brains are so open to possibilities, books are fuel for
imagination, learning and play. I see my children fixate on characters and run to
the their dress up cupboard, trying to piece together something that resembles
a character they have just seen and heard about in a book. They want to be that
character and continue their stories on. Because they’re children and don’t
care what anyone thinks, if they want to go walking around in swimming trunks
and a cape they will. Illustrating means I get to wear my trunks and cape
(metaphorically speaking) and keep my inner child happy. I get to bring worlds
and characters to life with drawings and telling a story the way I want others
to see it. It feels magical to think something I have created may become a part
of a child’s imagination.
Books are magical and I get to be a part of that magic.
How do you work – what are your
techniques?
I tend to start out with sketches. Although I’m a digital
illustrator, the happy accidents made
with a pencil and paper are something I
just can’t replicate on my iPad or Mac.
I’ll then either scan or photograph the sketches and use them as a
base, then start colouring up in Photoshop. Once I’ve got everything that the
pencil sketch had to offer I’ll remove that layer and start to play around with
maybe shadows or placement etc till I’m happy.
What is your favourite thing to draw?
Until recently it would be animals. Doing slightly humorous or fun
things. The simple joy of them wearing clothes...who doesn’t like animals in
clothes!? Recently though I’ve really been enjoying drawing people and focusing
on the different shapes we all have and the huge variations between us all.
Are there any tricky parts to being an
illustrator?
Juggling my time between other work and illustrating. I also have a
design job, so I have to keep the balance between work, other work and me time;
especially with little ones around. I try to give myself some guidelines to
adhere to so I can schedule myself around that.
What or who are you inspired by?
In my eyes
every day is a school day and I think I absorb and learn from all the things around
me. From other people’s creative works to something I saw on some packaging, or
even the colour combination a randomer may be wearing. Inspiration is
everywhere it’s just about picking out what is relevant to me.
What do you like to do in your spare time when you’re not
illustrating.
Spend time
with my husband and my two children. Any time I have for just me would be spent
reading, gaming or being outdoors. Oh and shopping.
How did you get into illustration?
I’ve always drawn,
but the idea of it being my job crept up on me. It was like it was exactly what
I wanted, but I didn’t know I’d be able to make it a job. A friend planted an
idea worm in my brain. She told me I should be looking at being an illustrator
and children’s books based on the work I was creating in my job at the time. Well
the worm grew and I realised how much I wanted to do it, so I made it my focus
to develop my own style and see if it would lead anywhere.
What are your three top tips for aspiring
illustrators?
1.
Get yourself some awesome super comfy pyjamas for your ‘no one can see
me, I'm working at home’ days!
2.
Draw, draw and draw some more...you literally can’t draw too much.
Never think you can’t keep developing or learning. A rolling stone
gathers no moss...Or whatever that saying is. Basically, by staying in the same
place you could go stale like old bread. Keep moving forward and growing who
you are as an illustrator.
3.
Work hard to achieve your goal, but look after yourself too. Listen to
your body and mind and nurture them. Don’t take yourself for granted because
without you, you couldn't achieve all the amazing things you want to.
