Meet the Illustrator: Sharon Clark

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less. 

Versatile with bright colour and expressive line.

What items are an essential part of your creative space? 

Space, time and a cup of tea.  Lovely paper with a selection of brushes, water-colour, ink and gouache.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?

As an Illustrator, I love gouache and watercolour.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.

Only three? That’s as challenging as when someone asks me what my favourite colour is and I usually say rainbow.  Today I’ll go with Australian, female illustrators and say May Gibbs, Freya Blackwood and Anna Walker.

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?

The Art Nouveau period was a time of gorgeous design.  I am a bit of a romantic, so expressive artforms that draw their inspiration from nature will always please my soul.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

Drawing and art chose me from a very early age.  My first wish from the tooth fairy was for a sketchbook and oil pastels. She fulfilled my wish and I having been drawing ever since.

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.

We have a studio/office space that I share with my family and I take over.  I have a desktop easel, my drawing materials, sketch-books, computer, camera, all the tools I need close at hand. Reference books also complete my space.  Sometimes though, late at night when the house is quiet and time is mine I spread out on the kitchen table.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

Bringing my ideas to life with colour, once the designing is done and the finished pencil sketch awaits. 

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?

Believe in yourself, practice, practice and practice some more. Enjoy your creative journey and keep setting goals for yourself.

Sharon has a background in Fine art, Education and Art therapy.  Her goal, to write and illustrate children’s books, began during her years as an early childhood teacher and community artist.  Travel, music, good food, light, colour and my family inspire my world and creativity.

You can follow Sharon on facebook or visit her website for more information.