Posts Tagged ‘Illustration’
Motivating Personal Project: Windows of New York
Windows of New York began as an outlet for Mexican graphic designer’s obsession with windows in his new home.
If the eyes are the window to the soul, does that make the windows of New York the portal to the city’s soul? If so, 26 year old Mexican graphic designer, José Guízar, has embarked on a mission to discover what makes his new home tick. Turning his obsession for illustrating interesting windows of the Big Apple into a weekly graphic design challenge, Guízar is no doubt keeping his creative spark alight with this personal project, when he’s not creating mobile apps from 9-5. Choosing a simple, pared back approach to his illustrations he says references “the very basics of graphic design,” and uses colourful palettes which resonate with the vibrant colours of old buildings from his native Mexico. Beginning as what Guízar describes as a project which is “part an ode to architecture and part a self-challenge to never stop looking up”, he hopes one day to see his graphic illustrations in print. Right now he is working towards creating 100 window illustrations, with one each week, which can be seen at his website, Windows of New York.
New York based graphic designer, José Guízar’s personal project, Windows of New York.
If this was published as a book, would you buy it? It would certainly make a fantastic gift for New Yorkers and look awesome on coffee tables around the world. It also has great potential for a follow-up book featuring doors of New York. Keep it up José, you’re onto a winner!
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Interview: Italian Illustration Duo, Shhhh My Darling
Illustrated cards by Shhh My Darling
I recently had the pleasure of swapping emails with the gorgeous Jenny Schenal, one half of the husband and wife illustration duo behind illustration and stationery studio Shhh My Darling. Based in Rome, Jenny and her equally talented hubby, Graziano Farinaccio, met seven years ago working for the same animation company, fell in love and left the company to begin an exciting journey together as both husband and wife and creative partners in their own business. Their charming hand drawn imagery is based around the theme of love depicted by adorable animal couplings which are seen in their unique bespoke letterpress wedding stationery, greeting cards, and animal prints. I was curious to hear about the young couple’s impressions of our country and cultural scene when they visited New Zealand earlier this year.
Coming from Rome, what inspired you to visit New Zealand? Even though we both grew up in two different parts of Italy we live and work in Rome. Gra is from a small town in the South and I am from the North – two very different contexts, but somehow very close to each other in terms of a genuine country lifestyle, if you know what I mean. Arriving in Rome we were both escaping a reality that didn’t fit too much with our aspirations and wishes. We were looking for a second quick escape this year by visiting a country that could inspire us having a break from the chaotic life in Rome, so we decided to go to New Zealand where we have a couple of friends that helped us to discover the beauty of this country. We loved it so much that we decided to stay here more than we had planned!
Where did you live in New Zealand and how long did you stay here? We spent five months there living in Auckland most of the time, working on our projects and traveling around the country whenever we had the chance!
Bespoke wedding invitations by Shhh My Darling
What would you say are the three greatest differences between Italian and New Zealand culture? New Zealand is a relatively new nation – young, lively and open-minded. Much more international than our old, tired country. It’s a perfect place to breath new vibrations and trends, this is why the world looks at this small country with great interest. Life rhythms: in Italy sometimes it’s hard to keep up with the pace, people have a very stressful life. When arriving in New Zealand you naturally slow down. There’s not too much traffic, short cues in post offices… I think the most difficult thing was understanding that when you enter in a cafe you must sit down and wait. Then it takes around ten minutes to get your coffee and if you’re not prepared in the beginning, this seems a crime! You get stressed! “What?? Ten minutes for a coffee??? Bring me the manager!” After a while you start to appreciate this quiteness and would like the italian waitresses to take a little longer than 90 seconds to bring your espresso saying, “There’s no rush baby, I can wait.”:)
Letterpress printing all done by hand by Jenny and Gra
Wedding planning flyer illustrative details
Describe some of your highlights here. Oh, well! Gorgeous food, so beautiful that you start devouring them first with your eyes before your mouth! We loved having breakfast at Meola Kitchen in Westemere, where a dear friend works, or at Little & Friday cafè or at Coffee Supreme in the weekend, breathtaking landscapes and wild nature everywhere. One day we met a seal taking a nap while we were walking on a seashore! We rented a minivan and travelled around the North Island which is something we’ll never forget!
What did you miss out on the first time around that you plan to do on your next visit? Unfortunately we hadn’t the chance to visit the South Island, which is such a shame – that will bring us back soon!
Do you find there are different things which inspired you in NZ as opposed to Italy? As I said before, New Zealand is a very inspiring country. The music scene is very interesting and populated by great bands. Contemporary and country styles are perfectly melted together to create that current country-chic taste that you can see on the 80% of Pinterest pins.We found more international influences in New Zealand than in Italy which is very important for what we do. Although European countries vary; full of traditions and marvellous art, but not so open to new inspirations, although things start slowly beginning to change.
Animal prints with handwritten names for the perfect baby gift
The adorable husband and wife team behind Shhh My Darling, Jenny Schenal and Graziano Farinaccio.
With Christmas just around the corner, how will you spend the festive season? Oh my! There is a lot of work to do during Christmas time! Nevertheless, we always find some time to spend with our families and friends, eating calorie rich traditional foods, drinking mulled wine and wearing old heavy woolly jumpers. We usually invite friends over to our home and play a special ‘Scary Raffle’ in which everyone wraps terrific gifts they received for Christmas they want to get rid of. Sometimes you win back a ugly gift of yours, sometimes a terrific one from a friend’s aunt. We laugh a lot anyway!
What most looking forward to in 2013? Seeing our brand grow and spread, visiting and being inspired by New York – never been there yet!
Visit Shhh My Darling’s shop, blog for interesting insights into their creative process.
Click here for Shhh My Darling’s FREE Christmas patterned gift wrap download!
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Fashion Illustrator: Ekaterina Koroleva
From the Zodiac series, 2011, by Ekaterina Koroleva for a Portuguese fashion magazine.
Recalling how it all began, Ekaterina Koroleva says, “I used to paint my legs, my parents’ couch, packages of cornflakes, (and) then my mother introduced me to paper!*” Fascinated by the female form since childhood, the Russian-born illustrator has been taking drawing classes since she was twelve. Living in Berlin since 1985, Ekaterina began her career as a graphic designer. Combining her illustrative talents with her graphic design skills, Ekaterina mixes ink, watercolour, and acrylic with computer technology to create these ever elegant, vibrant, playful, and at times melancholic, renditions of women. At first glance I couldn’t help but draw the obvious parallels between her style and Melbournite Kat MacLeod‘s fun-filled, flirtatious characters, however, there is greater depth and range in Ekaterina’s tool box, whose breadth is vast. While effortlessly rendering the feminine form reminiscent of the great fashion photographers of the 50s, 60s and 70s, like Richard Avedon and FC Gundlach, whose work is of great influence, she is able to draw from a bottomless well of finely nuanced emotions and moods, giving her feline characters life and integrity.
Clockwise from top left: Urban Outfitters in Berlin where Ekaterina’s framed prints are available,one of the album covers Ekaterina has illustrated, and more prints ready for shipping.
From Ekaterina’s sketch book
From the Doll series of portraits
As the creative and cultural hub of Germany, Berlin is the ideal environment for a young, up-and-coming artist such as Ekaterina. The new year brought with it phenomenal exposure through the Berlin Mitte outlet of American retail chain, Urban Outfitter. Within the art scene itself, Das Beet, a collective of young illustrators and photographers, is another platform which brings Ekaterina’s work to the wider community through exhibitions and producing and selling limited edition prints. Ekaterina’s work also features in magazines, emblazoned on music album covers, and in collaboration with fellow creatives. With such a multi-faceted talent as Ekaterina clearly is, we can’t wait to see what interesting projects she will put her hand to next.
The Silhouette series for Berlin based fashion brand, Hypnosis.
For a small selection of prints for sale, visit Das Beet. To contact Ekaterina for commissions or to view more of her work, visit her website, Ekaterina Koroleva, and her Flickr stream.
* sourced from an interview on Norwegian blog, Maicen Culture. other background information sourced from Dutch journalist, Priscilla Obermeier’s interview for ELLE, 10 February 2012.You May Also Like:
Yankee Designer/Illustrator: Alyssa Nassner
Illustrations by Alyssa Nassner for her co-founded project, Ten Paces and Draw.
As a creative working a full-time job, then cramming a host of exciting freelance work into my ‘down-time’, I’m constantly drawn to and inspired by other creatives jumping on the same exhilarating joyride. Alyssa Nassner is a perfect case in point. Surface designer for the design packaging outfit, Paper Bicycle, by day, Alyssa flexes her illustrative muscles by night working for a host of clients including Chronicle Books, Dwell Studio, Uppercase magazine, and many more. Before landing the position at Paper Bicycle, Alyssa and her friend and fellow artist Rachel Dougherty founded Ten Paces and Draw. To fill a lull while finding work after first arriving in Philadelphia in 2011, the pair began the on-line community collaborative project made up of illustrators and designers. Setting new and creative projects on a weekly basis, what first began with only a fistful of artists, has now mind-blowingly grown beyond all expectations to 120 in the last year. Alyssa says they’re “excited to share (their) project with like minded artists, and (they’re) constantly experimenting, growing, and scheming how to take over the art world.” Love it! What enthusiasm, passion, and zest they have for the amazing work they create and share with the rest of the creative community. As if all that isn’t enough to satiate her artistic appetite, Alyssa also runs a personal side project Once Daily, her blog inspired by fashion bloggers which acts as “visual journalism” devoted to drawing daily self-portraits in different apparel (see below).
Personal projects and Forest Friends Ornaments for Paper Bicycle.
Illustrations for the cover of Canadian magazine Uppercase and independent UK based illustration magazine AMMO.
Alyssa’s self-styled portraits from her personal blog, Once Daily.
Pattern designs illustrated by Alyssa Nassner
To view more of Alyssa’s playful and utterly feminine work, visit her website at Alyssa Nassner or more images on her Flickr site.
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It’s Raining Cats & Dogs: Studio Legohead
Canine illustrations by Jo Chambers from Studio Legohead
What started out as a few sketches to shift a creative block has turned into a successful business for Jo Chambers of Studio Legohead. Trained as a textile designer at Bath Spa University, Jo now supplements her commission work as a part-time lecturer there. Jo’s late grandmother’s style, she explains, has been a huge influence on on her own creative style used in her pet portraits: “very eclectic, jumbled….but always interesting, a bit odd, but fun”. It is no doubt these eccentric and playful qualities are those that Jo’s clients are drawn to time and time again. Given Jo’s background in textiles, she also machine embroiders her illustrations, as well as using paint and collage to create her portraits of people’s beloved four-legged friends. Specialising in canines and felines I asked Jo whether she has a favourite. “I am actually more of a cat person I think, although having worked now with dog owners for nearly a year and a half I would really love a dog later down the line. Initially I liked the independence of a cat, but the thought of having a canine buddy is very appealing now!” And her pooch of choice? “I would dearly love a pug, schnauzer, greyhound, or any canine that looks a bit grumpy. Drawing grumpy looking canines was what got me started…(I) just love the fact that they look like they have so much personality and character!”
More kitsch pet portraits from Studio Legohead
It sounds like Jo has some exciting projects on the horizon, but has them keep tightly under wraps for now! I’m thinking these would look fabulous screen printed on silk scarves…how utterly gorgeous would that be?! Visit Jo’s online Etsy shop for portraits or greeting cards. Most of Jo’s work is through commissions, so drop her a line with some good quality pictures of your puss or pooch, with a description of their personality and any adornments you’d like her to add. A4 portraits at $175 (USD) including p&p and would make a delightful treat for yourself, a friend, or in tribute to a departed pet.
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Is He Surreal? Indonesian Young Talent: Roby Dwi Antono
Work from Imajinasi, a recent exhibition of Roby Dwi Antono’s meticulously detailed pencil drawings
I don’t know what it is, but artists I’ve been stumbling across of late, who possess overwhelming creative talent, are surprisingly young. Take Brit designer Kyle Bean, whom I interviewed last week, at 25 is the golden boy of set design, and Chinese born New Zealander Shiping Toohey who at 20 is creating innovative industrial technology. This morning over my morning coffee, my pulse skipped a beat or two when I cast my eye over the work of Indonesian illustrator Roby Dwi Antono. His abundant talent belies his youth. At 22 he has already reached the lofty heights of pop surrealist artists, Mark Ryden and Marion Peck, to which he aspires. Not at all one for surrealist art, finding it often morbid or alienating, these drawings have an incredibly endearing, gentle quality reminiscent of Christchurch surrealist artist, Alaina Rhind (interviewed here). Like Rhind, Dwi Antono’s exceptionally detailed pencil drawings coax the viewer deep into the dream-like recesses of his colourful imagination. For Dwi Antono’s most recent exhibition, Imajinasi, he used the childhood dreams of friends and family of varying ages, as a source of inspiration. Drawing, Roby believes, is the “mother of the beauty of visual art”, explaining that all art first begins with a sketch or drawing.
Editorial illustrative work of Roby Dwi Antono for Free Magazine‘s art and design issue
Editorial work for Womagz‘s Anniversary issue
Stunning, unique portraits by Roby Dwi Antono
Kincy, the rabbit who appears throughout Antono’s work, symbolises a sensitivity to beauty and mystery and is opposed to “violence, criticism, untidiness, and filthiness”. This character Antono explains, acts as his alter ego. This iconic character was the perfect mascot to grace the cover of Danish five piece band, Sleep Party People’s lastest album, We Were Drifting on a Sad Song, as the band members don rabbit masks on stage to overcome their shyness – how sweet!
Album artwork for Danish band Sleep Party People
To see a short video of Dwi Antono’s fascinating creative process click here.
Working from his studio in Yogyakarta, Dwi Antono illustrates for magazines, album covers for bands, and takes commissions for portraits, which are stunningly beautiful (see above).Although he says he has no plans as yet to sell his artwork online, if you’re interested in any of his work or would like to commission one, you can contact him directly here. If you’re about in Jakata next month, look out for Roby’s work at the Bazaar Art exhibition.
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Art to Draw You In: Niki Pilkington
Welsh illustrator Niki Pilkington’s early work. Bottom illustration is both a favourite of mine and Niki’s.
Welsh illustrator, Niki Pilkington takes the building blocks of a child’s craft box and transforms them into engaging fashion portraits. At a mere 25 years of age, Niki has a long list of seriously impressive clients who give her the thumbs up including Ted Baker, Topshop, Ugg, Crabtree & Evelyn, Sir Paul McCartney, Kevin McCloud, ELLE, and most recently MTV. This girl is going places and fast! Expertly mixing vibrant colours, pattern, Welsh idioms, and 3D elements, Niki’s style is absolutely on-trend, yet has a distinctive, playful quality. Niki was selected as one of twenty up-and-coming young talent for the prestigious annual exhibition at Somerset House (along with another MINT STYLE STUDIO featured artist, Sarah Maycock). Niki’s exhibition diary is choca for the next twelve months with group exhibitions in Cardiff and the Big Apple. If you’re in the locale of Gwynedd, in north-west Wales, Niki currently has work on show at Oriel Plas Glyn Y Weddw. Niki’s prints and originals will soon be available for purchase through her website Niki Pilkington, but in the meantime there are still ten of twenty limited edition prints of We Would All Be Kings (very bottom illustration below) available at Knee Deep in Sleep. Niki also welcomes commissions, so get in touch through her website.
Art works for the recent exhibition, Pick Me Up 2012, at Somerset House in London.
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Artist Interview: Illustrator, Jordan Grace Owens
Art exhibition: Collected Faces by Jordan Grace Owens
If you’re an avid reader of Mint Style Studio, you’ll remember the article I wrote on Jordan Grace Owens last month, introducing her incredible tiny paper dolls (more pics here). I am very excited to share more of Jordan’s work along with some of Jordan’s thoughts on her creative process and what drives and inspires her. Thank you Jordan, for your generousity of spirit and taking the time to impart some of your creative insights with us.
Tell me a bit about your background. How has your life journey brought you where you are today? Do you recall the first moment your creative tendencies began to emerge? My mother is an artist and art teacher, so I grew up surrounded by creative tools and encouragement. For that reason, I don’t remember a single moment when I recognized my creative tendencies. Instead, I remember being confused when I realized other kids didn’t have the same sort of creative upbringing.
I understand the women in your life play a huge part in influencing your artistic style, like your mother and old photographs of your grandmother from when she was a young woman like yourself. Can you tell us more about how this interest in the past developed in someone as young as yourself? Are there any modern day female personalities whom inspire you too? I’ve always had an interest in history and in objects. I spend a lot of time shopping thrift stores and flea markets and handling objects — from clothing, to housewares, to postcards — that once belonged to someone else. I imagine stories about the previous owners and feel in some way connected to them. I feel the same way about photographs. I admire them both as physical objects (the cracked paper and scalloped borders) as well as for their contents and the moments they capture. I think I’m most naturally drawn to finding those connections in photographs of young women. I find little bits of my own taste, interests, and personality in them, even though myself and the subjects may be separated by several decades. I’m certainly inspired by modern-day women as well, but I think I enjoy the separation that comes from finding inspiration from a long time ago. It leaves a little more mystery.
Your incredible miniature paper dolls and their almost life size counterparts are too cute for words! Where did you derive the inspiration for these creations which seem to cross over from art to toys? I’m a pretty tactile person, and for the same reasons I like to handle objects in vintage stores I find myself wanting to run my fingers over works of art. It seemed natural to me, then, to bring my work out of the frame and make something that viewers were invited interact with and touch. I’m also fairly playful and don’t tend to take myself too seriously, so the paper dolls seemed like the perfect combination of all my inspirations — colorful clothing, feminine details, play and touch.
Can you give a little insight into how the creative process works for you? It usually starts with a particular inspiration, whether a vintage photograph, a line from an old movie, or a pretty piece of clothing. Sometimes I paint portraits of the people I admire in my collection of photographs. Or I’ll make a paper doll inspired by the colorful pattern on a dress. I love letters and typography, too, so often very literal phrases from movies, records or books will find their way into my illustrations. I usually work quickly in these marathon spurts, absorbing all of my recent inspirations (which I compile in my sketchbook) and then going into fast-paced production mode for a while. When I sit back, I’ll notice all these interesting relationships between different pieces. That’s why I usually hang them in clusters and groupings — each little illustration is a thought or a moment that nods to another.
Tell us what your part time role as creative assistant at Yes! Weekly entails. What skills do you think working for a weekly publication has given you? I’m actually leaving my job at Yes! Weekly this month in order to pursue my creative ventures full-time. I’ve worked there part-time for about 11 months, and worked previously as a designer at a small graphic design studio. I’m sure that both deadline-oriented positions have influenced my work-flow and led me to flourish working fast and under pressure. I also find that I approach my compositions, aesthetically, with a definite graphic designer’s eye.
Paper Dolls handmade by Jordan Owens of Hollandsworth
I love your illustrated pop-up book entitled “Figuring You Out”. I understand it was part of a traveling exhibition for a NYC art group. How did that come about? I’m really disappointed I missed out on one! Do you have any more pop-up books in the pipeline? I came across the Skectchbook Project organized by the Art House Co-op and thought it sounded like a fun project to join in. The organizers send you a moleskine and a prompt, and the rest is left up to you. With my prompt, “Figuring you out,” I gathered statements from friends about what makes them tick, then illustrated those insights in pop-up form. The original book is archived in The Brooklyn Art Library for public view, and I made a limited edition run of hand-assembled copies. I don’t have any pop-up books currently in the works, but it’s definitely something I’d like to work on again.
In three words, how do you feel when you’re in your studio? Keen, playful, earnest.
Whom do you most admire in the creative world and why? My go-to answer for my favorite artist is always Margaret Kilgallen. Some creative folks I’m currently following and inspired by include Vivienne Strauss, Blanca Gómez, Mia Christopher and Irana Douer.
What’s your proudest professional moment? I’m most proud anytime someone recognizes me, or better yet, tells me they’ve been following my work. I’m still fairly new to the game, and I tend to be pretty modest — modest like when someone waves in your direction and you look behind you like they must be looking at someone else — so I’m incredibly honored every time I meet some one who is a real life honest fan of the things I make.
What’s your favourite piece of your own work and why? I have a special place in my heart for one piece in particular that I painted from an old photograph of my great-grandparents when they were in their early twenties. In the photograph they looked so sweet and young and in love, and I was so pleased with the way the mood translated in the colors, shapes and personality of the painting. I’m sure I place a particular personal importance on it for reasons of family ties, as well.
Figuring You Out, pop-up book by Jordan Owens
What would be your ultimate dream project or collaboration? I would love to be given a month or so to live in and transform a gallery space — paint murals, build layers of moving characters and cut-outs, and create a fully-realized installational environment with my work.
Where do you see your work heading within the next three years? I would love to push my work into new formats and media. I’m looking forward to fabrics, jewelry, sculptural pieces, new print media and new materials. I’d also like to work more with movement, building upon the ideas of the movable paper dolls.
What’s the most recent design or art piece you’ve purchased or been given? My artist friend Jesse Moore has recently been sending out these amazing little art postcards, which I’ve been framing in an arrangement on my living room wall. I love getting surprises in the mail. I also recently swapped a print for a gorgeous handmade book from Oh Pangaea Books.
What’s your Sunday ritual? The perfect Sunday starts with sleeping in followed by brunch — complete with mimosas and good friends. Ideally, Sunday a lazy day full of movies and long walks, but usually I have some sort of household chores or leftover work to finish up before Monday.
What are you most looking forward to? At the moment, I’m most looking forward to cooler temperatures and making the transition to full-time artist. I can’t wait to take advantage of the extra hours in my studio.
What’s the one material possession you’d grab if the house was burning down? I have a collection of old cigar boxes filled with photographs, ephemera, trinkets and little treasures. I’d grab those, along with, of course, my two beloved little cats.
If you could choose one super power, what would it be? I would like to stay up super late every night and wake up at the crack of dawn every morning without ever getting tired. Or to make for fun party tricks. I might also like to read minds.
Posters for “Circo senza animali” (Circus without Animals) and 2011 US Figure Skating Championships
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Hot Talent: Illustrator, Sarah McNeil
Portraits a la Sarah McNeil style
Sarah McNeil has been in my sights for a while now. Every so often her work will capture my attention, the way the gentle, melodious trill of an unseen feathered songstress, hidden amidst the fluttering leaves on the trees, captures one’s imagination. Her definitive style exudes a sweet feminine delicacy and evokes a bitter sweet nostalgia. This talented, young woman has exhibited in Melbourne, LA, and Toronto, to name only a few cities, and sells her wares as far afield as Edinburgh and Zurich. Sarah currently works from her Wellington studio, overlooking an old cathedral, where she illustrates for magazines and zines, produces commissioned artworks of people and their pets, greeting cards, and giclee prints which she sells through her Etsy shop. A regular contributor to Frankie magazine, Sarah once again joins a line-up of twelve incredible artists which feature in Frankie’s 2012 calendar available here.
Sarah’s delightfully detailed characters to adorn your fridge
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Artist Interview: Textile Designer & Illustrator, Stephanie Webb
Wallpaper pattern by Stephanie Webb
I first discovered Stephanie Webb while browsing cushion designs on Envelop (read more here). After a little research, I discovered Stephanie works as a visual display co-ordinator (for Anthropologie – drool…!) and manages her own artistic endeavours after hours, like myself. I knew then I had to contact her and find out more about how this English creative juggles her 9-5 job with her textile design business, Stephanie Says. Encompassing not only her textile designs for on-line Euro shop Envelop, but wallpapers for US ever inspiring fashion and homewares store, Anthropologie, and her own artwork available from her etsy store! Read on to uncover what drives and inspires this young designer.
Tell me a bit about your background. How has your life journey brought you where you are today? Well, I live in Edinburgh now, but originally I’m from Coventry in the West Midlands. I came up to Edinburgh for the festival a couple of times when I was at school and really loved the city. When I realised there was an art college here, I knew I had to apply! I’ve always doodled and been interested in art, so when I realised that people can make patterns for a living, I knew I had to give it a go.
I’m totally in love with your collection of wallpaper designs! Your wallpapers for Anthropologie must be a huge feather in your cap! How did that come about? And do you have more in the pipeline? Thankyou! Yeah I’m really happy that people want to cover their walls in my designs, it’s a bit surreal but I’m getting used to it! I got into contact with them first through New Designers exhibition in London after my degree show. One of the buyers was wandering about and approached me about the owl wallpaper. Then from there I’ve been in touch with the wallpaper buyers every so often I’ll send them some new work or they’ll send me some ideas.
What led you to apply for a position on the visual display team at Anthropologie? Your gypsy boat as part of your application is truly inspired. Has visual merchandising been something you’ve always been interested in, or is it simply a case of being the perfect day job for a creative person like yourself? I applied for the position without really understanding what it was! Anthropologie is relatively new in the UK, and I’d only seen inside the London stores once or twice. I’d done a fair bit of merchandising in previous jobs, and I do really enjoy it. Designing displays for Anthropologie is proving to be a really great outlet for me and it’s helping to fund my own personal work too.
As a visual merchandiser myself, I’m always curious as to how others in the industry work. Can you give a little insight into how the creative process works for you? I’m still really new to the process myself. As my job doesn’t really involve arranging the merchandise so much, it’s mainly been about me getting to grips with power tools and working in 3D as opposed to on paper! At Anthropologie the brief is always pretty wide and open to manipulation, so it’s really great to be thinking of new fixtures and display to accent the merchandise. There’s some general rules about negative space and creating movement within the display that are handy to go back to if something isn’t quite right. I guess when I’m starting something new, I usually do some visual research online after seeing the brief and the inspiration images, then I’ll usually have an idea of the sort of scale of the piece in my head, so I like to start prototyping right away with whatever materials I have to hand. Often the best ideas come from just making things, a happy accident perhaps!
In three words, how do you feel when you’re in your studio or creating a display for Anthropologie? Excited, anxious, engrossed.
ABOVE Stephanie’s work as Display Co-ordinator with Anthropologie, and BELOW Stephanie’s impressive ‘gypsy boat’ created for her application for Anthropologie
What’s your favourite piece of your own work and why? I’m a fan of my card collection, Animal Greetings, mainly because they just all came together quite easily and they are some of my most popular designs. Funny how that happens sometimes.
What or whom do you find to be a great source of inspiration? I love pinterest at the minute, it’s like google but filtered through creative people with good taste. That doesn’t do it justice, but I’m always finding interesting research on there.
Whom do you most admire in the creative world and why? I have a few favourite illustrators and designers. Anna Bond of Rifle is beyond amazing, and Grady McFerrin and Carson Ellis constantly inspire me. Jessica Hische is a great type designer. Her work is so far removed from my own that I can look at it and have no idea how she does it!
What’s your proudest professional moment? Oh, I recently saw my wallpaper featured on Design Sponge. That was cool.
What would be your ultimate dream project or collaboration? I’d love to create some prints for Angie Johnson of Norwegian Wood. She always finds really interesting fabrics to work with. Or there’s a few dream illustration projects I could think of; artwork for Beirut perhaps?
What’s the most recent design or art piece you’ve purchased or been given? My good friend Amy Borrell of Cake With Giants recently send me a print of hers. It’s an illustrated chart of herbs. So perfect in the kitchen.
Spectrum Narcissus wallpaper from Anthropologie, the latest wallpaper by Stephanie Webb
What’s your Sunday ritual? Well today is Sunday, so I’ll tell you what I did. I woke up at about eight, did some tedious things like laundry and tidying my desk. Then I went for a walk to the other end of town in the sunshine, got a coffee and sat reading on the grass for a bit. I popped into a couple of shops on my way home and to the little veg shop near my house to get ingredients for a curry. Then I wrote a (long over due) blog post, listened to The New Pornographers whilst cooking and drinking a glass of white wine! Now I am writing this, then I’ll probably read my book for a bit and then I’ll be in bed before long because I have to be up early tomorrow for work.
What are you most looking forward to? Everything?! Feels like I’m just getting going. Mostly excited for some new projects, opportunity, hopefully being proud of my work.
What’s the one material possession you’d grab if the house was burning down? I have this Aran cardigan my great Grandmother knitted for my Gran. It’s irreplaceable. I’m the sort of person who would panic and grab something ridiculous like a whisk out of the kitchen in the heat of the moment though.
If you could choose one super power, what would it be? Flying! Always.
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