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Spraygraphic Interview with Illustrator and Artist Rosie Irvine
By Spraygraphic | May 23, 2008
Spraygraphic’s Chuck b. interviews Illustrator and Artist Rosie Irvine about her freelance work with UK magazines, her company Zeegenrush, and her artwork.
Spraygraphic Interview with Rosie Irvine
SG: Please tell us about yourself?
RI: Hello. I’m an Illustrator, I’m 30 soon and I have been freelance since graduating from Brighton University , UK 7 years ago.
SG: Where do you currently live and work?
RI: I live with my soon to be husband in an open plan mess in Hackney, and my studio is 10 minutes away. I share it with 4 Furniture/Product Designers (and lots of mice) in an old sail factory on the canal.
SG: What mediums do you work with?
RI: Spray Paint, Pens, Pencils, Paint, Stitch and some times, a bit of collage. I use my computer to piece things together if necessary.
SG: Describe your working process when creating a new work.
RI: For a commission I begin by going through books, my own reference files, and the internet looking for images to draw from and to create stencils. If i can’t find what i want then i take pictures with my camera(usually for figures or specific layouts & poses), and then convert them to greyscale layers in photoshop for the stencils. I stencil onto thick paper, window blackout fabric or canvases. I always cut my stencils from OHP projector film as I find it easier.I don’t often plan color ways with stencils - I just lay out all the paint and see what works and what doesn’t. We have a yard outside the studio which means I don’t gas everyone inside. Whatever drawings / collage etc i am working on, I do onto loose paper and scan in and then piece it all together in photoshop. If it’s on a canvas or otherwise, I do all the elements straight onto there and scan it in or photograph for reference. If it is personal work I tend to get everything out onto the big table and see what happens.
SG: What kind of things do you do when you get blocked or find it hard to create something?
RI: Usually get frustrated and annoying! and then spend hours looking at websites and links on their websites as I’ll always get inspired by someone or something. Also, Kieron (my fella) is an amazing doodler and drawer, so he inspires me, and his drawings are everywhere in sketchbooks, on any paper available to hand and on our yet to be decorated walls.
SG: Where are you currently finding your inspiration?
RI: All over the place. I have a pin board behind my computer (missing from Photo) and pin stuff on there, and all around the door frame that I like. It could be a photo, a postcard, a doodle, fabric, my nieces and nephews drawings , a label…I also have lot’s of clear pocket files that anything I draw, print, find or photocopy goes in there. Last year I was really into Victoriana postcards and portraits, and I have a lovely pile of ephemera that i got from my dad which i will be delving into shortly.
SG: Can you please tell us a little about the Big Issue Cover?
RI: The article was about political coups, specifically about Thailand. The Art director wanted me to do something bright, colorful and decorative whilst still incorporating the subject matter - we decided bringing in elements of the tank / architecture combined with the floral side would do it without being too much.
SG: Can you please tell us a little about your T-shirts. Is a clothing line in future for you?
RI: I am beginning a Textile Screen printing Course tomorrow night actually, so there may well be some t-shirts in the pipeline which I would probably sell through my website. I have done quite a few T-shirt projects in the past year (GalleryIs-Brasil, Roxy Quicksilver , 3M’s Finest, See by Chloe , and am doing some work with Topshop at the moment) which have been great as the briefs are open - so I’m hoping more will come my way as I really love doing them.
SG: Where has your work been seen?
RI: Elle , The Big Issue, Mixmag , Neon Magazine , Mixte Magazine, Alef , The Gloss, Domino US , The Creative Survey, The Guardian , The Independent, The Telegraph, The Financial Times, LTA, See by Chloe, Cribs music video ‘Mirror Kissers’, Bigbeat Science, Design Rabbit , ‘All Messed Up - Unpredictable Graphics’ by Anna Gerber, Secrets of Digital Illustration: A Master Class in Commercial Image-making by Lawrence Zeegen, Digital Illustration: A Masterclass in Digital Image-Making by Lawrence Zeegen.
SG: Where will it be seen next?
RI: I have just done a book cover for Random House Publishers which should be out this summer. I think. The print designs for Topshop and Domino Magazine US. I am also Exhibiting in The Brighton Festival , UK, every weekend in May.
SG: What is your dream art assignment?
RI: I would love to Illustrate a series of Children’s books, do the windows of Liberty or Selfridges, T-Shirt ranges for Adults and kids, and the album / singles campaign for a band or musician I like. Oh, and one more, I want to design wallpaper.
SG: What is your favorite color?
RI: I like all grey’s and orange together. Or Grey and Salmon. I think my favorite is Bright neon orange.
SG: Who is your favorite artist? And Why?
RI: That is such a difficult question. I can’t choose one. Maurice Sendak . Alexis Deacon . Dick Bruna . I love Camilla Engman and her crazy drawings, and the way she makes pictures out of things, and her blog is great. I also love my pal Sanna Annukkas work. Going back in time, Arthur Rackham is amazing, and Eric Ravilious .
SG: What book/magazine are you reading this week?
RI: I am reading Haruki Murakami’ s Norweigan Wood. I’m finding it difficult to get into though.
SG: Ever do a self portrait? Where is it now?
RI: I did for my illustration agency - Zeegenrush . It’s on my profile on their website. I don’t like it. I think i did one for a project in the first year of university too - which either went in the bin or in my mums loft.
SG: Where is your favorite place to hang out?
RI: At home or anywhere really, as long as I’m with with my nearest and dearest. Hackney City farm for a fry up is always a good start.
SG: Any final words of advice?
RI: Go on, do it.
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Topics: Artist Interviews, Graffiti-Art, International-Art, Women Art |
