IDN Illustration Interview
International design magazine based in Hong Kong. IDN, For issue v14n2 feature on flowers, would like to show readers when flowers and a design medium merge, e.g. floral illustration on photography, the result is not only visually stimulating but refreshing also. IDN featured my work for an interview as designers who are influenced by floral designs.
Interview:
I am an illustrator based in London. My work is heavily influenced by the world of nature, fashion, and design and executed with a seamless blend of hand drawn and digital techniques. The result is striking, seductive and insightful illustrations with subtle narratives and a delicate touch.
I work in a fun shared studio, with different industry professionals. It’s a great environment to work in, we generally share ideas, and are quite a sociable bunch of people. Being a designer, I’m very design orientated. My wife constantly tells me I am an “Apple nerd”. I like to work on new ideas and concepts and work them through on the computer. I enjoy drawing in my sketchbook and build up ideas, which are useful for projects. It’s important for me to build a library of small design elements which I use in my illustrations. I create everything from scratch, which makes all my work original.
I am presently experimenting with new styles and techniques. I personally think it’s important, to keep your style as fresh as possible. I feel it’s a little like science, experimenting with new methods will improve your work. I am quite competitive as a person and this is what drives the process. When I’m not thinking of design, I’m out shopping, I like fashion a lot and enjoy picking up nice bits of clothing. My wardrobe is full of it. I tend not to throw anything out, which also applies to my design. I try to collect things, which I believe will be useful to me.
I like to travel, which provides a great opportunity to tune into new environments and be inspired. I have often come away more cultured and mature as a designer from being in a foreign land.
“ Stylish feminine is a sexy piece of design. You instantly know its stylish feminine, by the way, it’s created. In my mind, it would be very much a delicate piece of design. The imagery would be fine, not too bold. The bold elements would be limited to build the structure of an artwork and the delicate intricate elements would be to complement those bold statements. Soft curving forms, which are easy for the eye to follow, are a nice feature of the feminine design, and its something I appreciate in an artwork. The composition flows in a natural way and it feels like a story is being told with subtle narratives. The feminine features are essential to give it a stylish edge. The subject matter is integral, it delivers a quick message about the piece of work. It’s the style that completes the work as a whole.
My creations are a blend of delicate, intricate forms, and good use of color, composed together in a harmonizing way. It’s a matter of how I feel about the work I’m working on. If it feels right and I’m excited by it, I know I will be satisfied with the final piece. I have developed a style over the years, which is constantly developing. It’s clean and simple in its form. I like to create intricate, delicate work, which is essential to create a feminine touch to my illustrations. I trust in the composition and weight of my work. It’s very thought through the process and everything is placed coherently. The lines are swooping and weaving through the design, which provides a sense of movement. These forms interact with elements in my illustration, which is very characteristic of my work. I introduce and work with floral designs and nature, it’s a feature to my illustrations, depending on the brief. I like to overlay my work and have different layers come through which adds a fresh dimension. I enjoy what I do as a designer, its something that gives me a sense of pride. I am very satisfied whenever I complete a piece of work and see it used in a commercial way.”
