Where do you find inspiration and what influences your drawing style and imagery?

I get my inspiration from daily mothering my daughter, my childhood memories and what I found important back than connected with what I find important today; my love for nature, joys that every season brings with itself, making constant connection with natural world around me and thinking how our ancestors did the same in some different and some same ways. I love to read Carl Jung and I try to put in some psychological aspects in my work as well, like facing fears and difficult emotions. Since I was a child I was in love with fairy tales and folklore my grandmother told me about so magic plays a big part in my work. Trying to get to know who I am and constantly answering that question, is what influence my artistic style the most. Bringing myself to my work is the most important to me.

 

What is your process?

I Love to read a lot (fiction books, essays, articles but mostly non fiction books lately). I get most of my ideas while reading which I then draw quickly in one of my sketchbooks. I write little notes of what colours I would use and later when the right time comes I transfer the sketch on a painting paper and paint it. While painting I am going a lot with the flow and many things get to change while working so I don’t always get what I initially imagined. Hope this sums up a bit my messy process.

 

What book has inspired you the most in your life?

It’s not one book but all books from Haruki Murakami, he is my favourite writer.

 

Do you take personal commissions (portraits, birth cards, etc.)?

No. At the moment I am focused on working on few book projects, my personal work and my web-shop.

But I still take few commissions a month for brands, magazines and shops.

 

How do you make your prints?

I make giclee prints on 350g etching paper. I order them from a printing company in Antwerp here in Belgium.

 

How do you choose your colour palette?

I have a Pinterest board where I collect my colour inspiration and I generaly love dusty pinks, vermilion red for accents, earthy colours and blues but at the end while painting I mostly get inspired by the colours of the season we are in.

 

Do you use procreate?

I don’t use it for making my work as i paint traditionally with gouache on paper, but I have it installed on my iPad and I use it after I scan my work to see if I would change something without risking it on the original painting.

 

Which paint and other equipment do you use?

I mostly use traditional Talens gouache (only sometimes I work with Acryla and Turner acrylic gouache), different types of colour and pastel pencils and I work on Arches hot pressed 300g watercolour paper.

 

When did you start your painting?

I started my painting training in high school and then got into art university where I studied painting and after did one master in painting and second master in drawing.

 

Have you always wanted to be an artist?

I remember there was a small period when I wanted to be biologist or to study psychology, but to be an artist was my wish since I remember myself. Colors and brushes were something I was always drawn to. 

 

What, to you, makes a piece of art interesting?

I love when there is some magic or something unexpected in a piece. But on the other hand, I also love simple daily joys captured in a work, as a reminder to be present and enjoy life and its beauty.

 

When do you consider a piece "done?"

When it says everything I want it to say.

 

For those who feel disconnected from their creativity, what do you recommend them to do in order to tap back into it?

What I try to do on daily basis is sketch, like every little thought that comes to my mind, or write them down until they come together in one bigger picture, read well written books about topics I am very interested in, journal, go for a walk in nature.

I would also highly recommend listening to the podcast  Creative Pep Talk — it gives the best advices on this topic.

 

How do you recommend we play?

Create for yourself, without the pressure of sharing it with anyone. Let yourself make mistakes and accept imperfections.

 

Q: How long does it take for the prints to be delivered?

1. We print the artworks fresh for every order.

2. Domestic orders: Standard shipping takes up to 12 working days and Express shipping takes 7 working days. 

3. International orders: It takes up to 12 working days.

4. Do note that there can sometimes be a delay of a couple of days due to unforeseen circumstances.)

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Q: Will the prints come with a frame or without?

1. Paper prints come without a frame. 

2. Canvas prints are stretched over a wooden frame.

3. For international orders, canvas prints above size 16x20 inches are sent unstretched. This is because shipping charges turn out to be too high with large frames. The artworks will have a coloured border (for the sides of the frame) and extra canvas fabric, so it can be easily stretched by a local framer.

 

Q: Will the prints come with a frame or without?

1. For framing suggestions, I would suggest wooden frames with a wood polish (sometimes you can even choose painted wood if that works out for your aesthetic). I would advise against synthetic materials like plastic-derivates, since they don't match the vibe of the paintings.

2. I would also strongly recommend not having a pure white mount around the artworks; it makes the artworks appear duller in comparison. My best suggestions would be to go without mount, or have an off-white one.

3. You can frame the paper prints with or without glass. It looks great without glass; you can see the texture of the paper, and it feels closer to an original artwork. But the drawback is that it is not as safe from water-related accidents as a framed artwork. So you can make that choice depending on what is more important to you.

 

Q: Could you give any more information about the prints and framing?
(I just made up this vague-ass question to say everything else that was remaining)
 

1. The look of both the paper & canvas is textured and matte.

2. These artworks are printed on acid free, archival materials which are meant to last for at least 80-100 years without degrading.

3. They are sprayed with a matte varnish for further protection.

4. In terms of quality or longevity, both paper and canvas are equal. Which one you choose is just a matter of aesthetics.

 

Did you go to art school?
I studied painting at the University of Montana in Missoula. I would’ve studied illustration if they had taught it there, but they didn’t. I probably should’ve gone to a school with an illustration program but I was mysteriously, powerfully drawn to Missoula from suburban New York where I grew up.

What materials do you use? 
I sketch with pencils and these days most of my finished artwork is in gouache on cold press watercolor paper. I use Higgins India ink and a nib pen or brush for black line work. 

Recently, I’ve been using Procreate a bit too. Mostly for lettering and line drawings, though I’ve also used it for projects that required a graphic approach rather than a painterly one - posters and t-shirt designs, for example. But the jury’s out on Procreate. I still like painting and drawing on paper better.

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How did you get started in the illustration world? Any tips for recent graduates?
Whenever I'm asked this I say that I’m the wrong person to ask. I didn’t study illustration in college and was a cocktail waitress and a bartender until I was in my late twenties at which point I managed to get some very low-paying editorial work which slowly, slowly blossomed into an illustration career. I got that editorial work mainly because I had been doing all the album and t-shirt and website art for the Decemberists, my then boyfriend’s (now husband’s) band. I also did lots of flyers for shows in Portland, Oregon, made some zines and had some art shows. This was a long time ago and I mostly worked for free or credit or trade. Any tips I have for young artists probably won’t put them on a fast track to illustration success, but here are a few:

• Draw all the time.

• Prioritize making good art over making money whenever possible.

• Keep your overhead low and live simply.

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​Do you think it’s advantageous to live in a large city to get work?
I think it’s advantageous to live somewhere with a thriving cultural scene. Portland isn’t a large city and I’ve done fine here, but I’m not sure how well I would have fared if I’d stayed in Montana after college. But who knows? Things are different these days. The internet and all. Regardless, I certainly don’t think you need to live in New York. In fact, you may be making things harder for yourself if you do. When your rent is cheap, you spend less time hustling and more time making the art you want to make. Which should make you a better artist. Which should get you more work.

That said, I used to live in San Francisco where I was totally broke but happy because it was such a beautiful, exciting place. So I do understand the allure of expensive cities. (Also, Portland is sadly not cheap anymore, in case anyone is wondering.)

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Do you sell your art?
Yes! I’m represented by Nationale, a gallery in Portland, where I have occasional shows. You can always contact May at Nationale to be kept abreast of available work. Currently Gallery 16 in San Francisco has some work available too.

Also, R. Michelson Galleries sells a selection of my original childrens book illustrations. (Nationale does not.) Visit their website or contact them to inquire about available book art.

I also have a Buyolympia shop, where I sell cards, prints, and other odd and ends. 

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Can I hire you?
If you are an author seeking an illustrator for your book, you might be better off finding a literary agent for it. The agent will sell it to an editor at a publishing house, who will in turn find an illustrator for it. That’s the usual order of things. I do take on select editorial work and commissions though. 

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