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Inspiration

Creator Crush: Chris Gambrell Interview

Interview with Fashion Illustrator Chris Gambrell www.trialbyinspiration.com

One of my 2021 resolutions is to “draw more.” It’s been an interesting exercise trying to get back into the habit of my alleged favorite thing to do. I’ll stall and look at my phone and my favorite scrolling-for-escapism lately is in-progress sketchbook posts. No surprise, I LOVE the work of artist/illustrator Chris Gambrell; his are the dream sketches one aspires to, prolific, loose, effortless planes of color rendering the most gorgeous portraits. Recently chosen by Vogue to be one of seven artists to draw their favorite couture looks from Vogue’s runway archive, Chris Gambrell’s work bridges finished and unfinished, combining shape and texture to create images that emerge, as if in relief, from the paper. This is the interview to read for those of us who need a push to keep going, be less precious with sketching, and very specific advice on how to get unstuck.

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Inspiration

Creator Crush: Matthew Forsythe Interview

www.trialbyinspiration.com Interview with Children's Book Illustrator Matthew Forsythe

Do you have a favorite picture book? I have a few, and it’s so delicious when my kids choose one at bedtime that is both visually beautiful and a delight to read. My recommendation: Matthew Forsythe’s Pokko and The Drum. With a background in animation, graphic novels, and painterly illustration, Matthew Forsythe created a children’s book that I want to hold right up to my nose to see all the brush strokes and layers. The story is simple enough for very young kids to follow but has funny, subversive moments that appeal to my son and set it apart from the sea of moralistic picture books.

Our Interview is your kick-start to creation this year: we discuss Forsythe’s career as a working Illustrator, and he gives you permission to stop networking (yes, please).

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Inspiration

Creator Crush: Natalie Osborne Interview

Natalie Osborne Full-Time Artist Interview www.trialbyinspiration.com

Over the last few days, between editing my interview with artist Natalie Osborne and tackling some urgent projects at the office (from home) and negotiating what childcare looks like as quarantine rounds month six, I keep coming back to her comments about Art as work:

“That painting kicked my butt! That painting beat me up! That one was hard.”

If you follow Natalie’s Instagram, you know that her pieces have a signature look. Her bold, graphic portraits have a cohesive style that is instantly recognizable in any interior. In fact, I love seeing her work photographed in people’s homes (on this wallpaper!), styled in varying interior styles, each with that familiar face looking back.
My conversation with Natalie Osborne is one of my favorites, not because she gives away any artist’s secrets to effortless creation, but because she breaks down the time, energy, and financial commitment that goes into being a successful full-time artist. As a Creative, it’s a relief to hear that the struggle so many of us have in finding our voices may just mean we need to commit more fully: To take our Art as seriously as we take our work.

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Inspiration

Creator Crush: Raven Jones Interview

Monarch Butterfly Illustration Raven Jones Illustrator Interview www.trialbyinspiration.com

Delightful is the word that keeps coming back to me as I think about introducing my interview with illustrator Raven Jones. Whimsical is a bit too sweet, and charming comes close, but after our emails back and forth and immersing myself in her work, delightful just feels right. Raven’s illustrations of hygiene-hyping tigers and Bugs, ensconced in Hermes, feel effortless and effervescent; she brings the same detail and attention to her bespoke portraits as her hand-illustrated mailers. (Can you imagine opening the mailbox and seeing this?!) 

I haven’t written anything in almost two years. My young kids and demanding design day job have consumed my creator energy, but following Raven’s work gave me that old sparkle of interest and inspiration again. During these months in quarantine, every day feels a little lackluster and stale, so seeking a shake-up, I reached out to Raven and get her take on career pivots, sustaining momentum and her old school illustration inspiration. Just like her sketches, she’s such a breath of fresh air, so enjoy!

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Inspiration

Creator Crush: Stina Persson Interview

Stina Persson Artist Interview www.trialbyinspiration.comStina Persson’s illustrations are the ultimate eye candy! Her portraits, fashion illustration, and moody florals are rendered in lush swaths of saturated ink and watercolor. Treat yourself and scroll through her delicious Instagram feed for the short timelapse videos of her process… jealous yet? You’ve probably seen Stina’s work for iconic brands like Veuve Clicquot, Louis Vuitton, and Vogue Nippon but her style remains unmistakably her own. As someone who struggles to find a consistent illustration style I’m satisfied with, I’m always in awe of artists like Stina Persson whose work is its own signature. I’m thrilled to share Stina’s thoughts on her style, technique, and what it means to stay authentic to her craft.

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Inspiration

Creator Crush: Sophie Klerk Interview

check out interview with artist Sophie Klerk, marketing, social media and being a working artist www.trialbyinspiration.comI’m always on the lookout for fresh color palette inspiration, for work, our various home interior projects or even just lazily scrolling my feed, dodging mosquitos in our atrium after a long day. I suppose Instagram analytics would tell us everyone throws their likes at blush pink dominant, rainbow bright posts, and so many accounts are starting to look alike as they try to woo one hashtag or another (guilty). So when I came across artist Sophie Klerk’s Instagram, her work’s subtle authenticity captured me immediately. Her process-rich collages are layered, tactile and easy to get lost in, but most I love her use of color: layers and layers of creams, ecru, and white, or clean pops of citron or poppy in a nest of pale grey. I feel so honored to have a chance to share Sophie’s interview with you on her art, living all over the world, and her inspiring take on social media marketing.

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Inspiration

Creator Crush: Becca Jane Koehler Interview

BeccaJaneStudio Becca Koehler Ceramics and Interview
You know when you follow someone on Instagram that you are equal parts inspired by and jealous of? For me, that is Becca Jane Koehler of @beccajanestudio. I’m not an aspiring ceramicist, so I’m not sure why I’m jealous, except that her grid of sun-drenched shots of playfully painted Delft Blue and white porcelain makes me long for a strong signature style and medium. The photos of her pieces en masse are my favorite, stacks and stacks of snake entwined mugs, flat-lay collections of plates with rabbit, snake, eye, and floral motifs in her signature blue, unexpected red or muted black. I had the privilege of reaching out to Becca to find out more about inspiration, staying motivated, and finding her way.
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Inspiration•Travel

Parisian Apartment Essentials: What I Learned From Airbnb

Interior must-haves for a Parisian apartment www.trialbyinspiration.com

As I rounded hour-two of my deep dive into apartment research for our upcoming vacation, I realized: this is the fifth Milo Baughman style table I’ve seen on Airbnb Paris! Though the site provides a wide variety of different home sensibilities, prices, and arrondissement, I began playing a game at spotting the common threads.  Sate your wanderlust with these seven must-have Parisian apartment essentials.

From left to right: Built-in Plywood Bed, Gallery Wall and Puddled Drapes, Linen Dream, Attic Library, Beams and Plants, Seriously Stunning Entry, The Aforementioned Table, A Well Crafted Collection, Chic Shelfie

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Inspiration

Creator Crush: Molly Egan Interview

Instagram Crush Illustrator Molly Egan www.trialbyinspiration.com

Are you ever mindlessly scrolling your Insta feed and suddenly a post makes you do the digital equivalent of a double-take, the fast scroll back- wait, what was that amazingness?? That’s what happened to me when I added illustrator Molly Egan’s Instagram account to my feed and time after time circled back to like, heart eye and ogle the back history. I love Molly’s bold use of color, unexpected cut-outs and layering and graphic shapes, but most of all I love how ebullient and seemingly effortless her illustrations are. @Mollytheillustrator makes me smile, think “I wish I did that,” and feel newly inspired, and after reading her unpretentious, glowy interview, I think you will too.

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Inspiration

Creator Crush Interview: Nadia Nizamudin

Embroidered Collage by Nadia Nizamudin Instagram Crush www.trialbyinspiration.com

I just love a crazy full, infinite Instagram feed, so I follow a lot of accounts, but there are a few stand-out Instagram accounts that I check in on a few times a week to make sure I haven’t missed a single post. @nadianizamudin is one of those accounts, I stumbled upon her work one evening and then had to browse her entire back history. I love her use of color, embroidered embellishment, and playful collage. In this new monthly feature, “Instagram Crush,” I had the privilege of asking this inspiring artist and Instagram creative about her work, process, and thoughts on marketing, balancing a day job with her creative passion and her advice on how to find the Muse when you’re stuck. She was so generous and thoughtful with her answers, I hope you’re as motivated by her devotion to keeping up with her artistic process even as she commutes between three cities, travels for a high-pressure job and spends time with her family! Read on for the interview and more images from her breathtaking Instagram account!

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loving the photoshop mask mode on these florals ❤️
In case you missed it 6:29 a.m. 🌅 We’ve been In case you missed it 6:29 a.m. 🌅
We’ve been up soooo early lately, I remember when I was a teenager, seeing the sunrise quarterly at best, and now I see it every.day. with the kids. We’ve been up since 5:15 (our alarm is for 5:30 😑) wondering how springing forward will change our schedules around here… trying out #procreate for my #procreatesunrise
I had to take the day off to have a procedure done I had to take the day off to have a procedure done (not interesting at all, everything is fine) but I got to squeeze in an hour of Zoom figure drawing with @therenaissanceworkshop before hand- what a dream!!
Just found this one from last week, pretty storm t Just found this one from last week, pretty storm tossed shell against that beautiful brown Gulf water 🤎🤩
🧡🤍🤎💚 🧡🤍🤎💚
I think you're going to LOVE my conversation with I think you're going to LOVE my conversation with fashion illustrator @gambrell_ in today's post. 👆Link in bio,  he discusses the importance of prolific sketchbooks, how he handles commissions, and how to get creatively unstuck .
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#creativelifehappylife #illustratorsoninstagram #artistinterview #artistinterviews #fashionillustration #fashionillustrator #dailyinspiration #tbinspireme #chrisgambrell
Super quick cloud study with torn paper and sharpi Super quick cloud study with torn paper and sharpie set to the shrill sounds on DanielTiger. Bring on the coffee.

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#creativelifehappylife #cloudporn #showyourwork #sketchbookart #illustratorsoninstagram #illustratorsofinstagram #makeart2021 #landscapes #landscape_lovers #mondayvibes
Did anyone else see that moon this morning? Showst Did anyone else see that moon this morning? Showstopper 🌝 I tried to memorize this cloud/sky color and rush into the office to recreate before diving into my emails. I've been trying to find more time for even a quick affair with creativity, still a challenge. Now to finish my coffee!

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#creativelifehappylife #illustratorsoninstagram #moonlovers #abmlifeisbeautiful #abmlifeiscolorful #illustratorsofinstagram #sketchbookdrawing
So as you can see, I'm completely addicted to remo So as you can see, I'm completely addicted to remote figure drawing @michelle_gibson_model 

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#creativelifehappylife #sketchbookdrawing #zoomfiguredrawing #remotelifedrawing #illustratorsoninstagram #figuredrawing #figuredrawingandchill
Looking forward to a Zoom figure drawing + take ou Looking forward to a Zoom figure drawing + take out date-night tonight. Here's 🔥@theartache from last weekend's sess

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#creativelifehappylife #illustratorsoninstagram #zoomfiguredrawing #figuredrawings #remotelifedrawing #pinupinspired #pinupillustration
🌞I wrote my 2021 creative wellness resolutions 🌞I wrote my 2021 creative wellness resolutions last night 🌟 I haven't written any since 2018 but I’m ready to set new intentions to maintain my creativity in the new year! (link in bio if you want to see what I have planned) 🤞 

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#creativelifehappylife #abmlifeiscolorful #abmlifeisbeautiful #acolorstory #artistsoninstagram #artistsofinstagram #artistresolutions2021 #creativityfound #creativityeveryday #staycreative #patternobserver
Check out my interview with one of our absolute fa Check out my interview with one of our absolute fav author/illustrators @mattforsythe in the blog today! He has so many wonderful insights into being a working artist, for me it was so motivating to here his take! Enjoy! 🌞
🐘Progress on my @melissaanddougtoys @ad_magazin 🐘Progress on my @melissaanddougtoys @ad_magazine trompe l’oeill house. This has to be my all time favorite, slowest, most meditative craft project ever. The kids are starting to notice when new decor goes in, but are not nearly as impressed as I am 🤷🏻‍♀️🤩 edited with @acolorstory
Lunch Break! I rounded up our fav kid’s books ab Lunch Break! I rounded up our fav kid’s books about Feelings today, since our house is currently the double toddler feelings zone Check out the link in bio👆👆👆👆 

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#kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #kidsbookswelove #kidsbookshelf #picturebooksofinstagram #booksforkids #booksforchildren #feelingsbooks
🤯 Thinking about my 2021 creative wellness goal 🤯 Thinking about my 2021 creative wellness goals while listening to back episodes of Big Magic podcast @elizabeth_gilbert_writer .
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#creativelifehappylife #livecolorfully #creativeinspiration #creativewellness #livecreatively
🤩🤩The shirts are live!! 🤩🤩 link in bio 🤩🤩The shirts are live!! 🤩🤩 link in bio 🎉 a portion of your purchase will go to @thelovelandfoundation
more! more! more! Follow me

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All photos and content are the property of Trial by Inspiration and its author, Berry Thomas.