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.

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).

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.

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!

Stina 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.

I’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.

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.