Het tweede interview is alweer een feit, dit keer met de getalenteerde jb0xtchi, afkomstig uit Sydney. Haar met de hand geïllustreerde werken – lief en ook een beetje spooky – hebben een nostalgische, dromerige uitstraling. Met 90.000 duizend volgers op Instagram ben ik zeker niet de enige die fan is van haar werk. Wat wij gemeen hebben is een voorliefde voor het illustreren van fantasiewereldjes waar onder andere aardbeien, slakjes en andere kleine dieren de hoofdrol spelen. Ik was erg benieuwd naar de persoon achter deze geweldige illustraties.
1. Please introduce yourself.
I am a fashion / graphic designer turned artist 🐸
2. How did you become an artist?
Have always liked drawing since watching anime back in High school but thought design career was more practical.
After actually working in fashion / graphics decide art was more fun – I still freelance fashion and graphics on occassion.
3. What/who inspires you? Which artists, which characters?
My current favourite artists are James Jean, Yuko higuchi,
CJ hendry and Ito Junji.
4. What is it like to be an illustrator in Sydney?
Hmm, not sure, I mainly work online and draw my own stuff to sell and not really for anybody, per se. I imagine it is very competitive.
5. What kind of clients do you work for?
None for drawing only for design and they vary from fashion to government.
6. Can you tell a bit more about the characters/subjects you draw? Do your characters have a story or names etc?
I like to imagine all things are creatures and makes it more fun. If animals could talk and interact with us it would be so much better than reality, hence I like to give them human attributes. I am terrible at names so really I call them by what they are, strawberry, mushroom etc. They have some story but not yet revealed.
7. Can you describe a workday at your studio? What’s your routine?
I am more of a night person so I slightly struggle to be motivated in the morning. I usually start my day hanging out with the cats. Afterwards I do some admin work / pack orders whilst thinking of new things to draw. Around evening is when I start drawing into the night.
8. Are there any struggles you experience as an artist? If yes, would you like to share?
Motivation, dedication, staying on track. It’s hard to keep yourself motivated so sometimes it’s ok to just take a break.
9. Do you have a specific dream or goal you want to achieve in your career as an artist?
I would like to make a 3D version of my artwork one day and also work on larger detailed pictures.
10. What would be your favorite way to spend a day off (if a pandemic would not hold you back)?
Probably just lounge around and watch tv / anime 🐸
10 vragen aan…jb0xtchi