Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Digital with the traditional look of collage or charcoal sketch.
What items are an essential part of your creative space?
All I need is my ipad, my Apple Pencil and a comfy chair.
Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I love digital collage. It’s the beauty and texture of collage without all the mess! Perfect for for art on the go, or when you have limited time.
Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Cicely Mary Barker, creator of the Flower Fairies. Her work is so delicate and beautiful. My mother’s favourite book was The Lord of the Rushie River and I still remember Mum reading the book, while I was absolutely captivated by the exquisite illustrations.
Emma Quay because I admire the sketchy quality of her work and how she uses collage to create visually appealing work full of life and character. I am inspired by her, as I create my own sketchy and collage style works!
Freya Blackwood’s work is soft and captivating. I am always drawn into the tiny details of her work. I love how she captures children in such realistic and relatable ways, and how her sketchy lines become part of what makes her work unique and beautiful.
Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
The expressionism period because it would have been a really exciting time in art with paintings depicting feelings and an emotional response to the world. Artists could create a completely different perspective for how we view their pieces.
Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
I have always loved to draw so I definitely wouldn’t say anyone or anything inspired me to draw as it’s part of who I am. But in terms of becoming an illustrator and taking it a step further than it just being a hobby, I would say my lovely SCBWI illustrator friends, Jasmine Berry and James Foley. They were both so kind and enthusiastic, encouraging me to develop my love of drawing into something more.
Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
I do tend to draw wherever I feel comfy as I have my ipad I can take anywhere. But saying that, I do have a little office in my house where often work, and where I store all my fabrics, papers, paints and random bits of clutter. There’s usually a small fluffy dog hanging around at my feet too. Sometimes a cat will sit on the piece of fabric I am trying to use.
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
I love it when I get to know the character and it stops feeling so awkward to draw them. They suddenly become more natural with you, like when a stranger becomes a friend.
What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
I still think of myself as an aspiring illustrator so I can only give advice on where I am right now. And that’s leaps and bounds from where I began! That’s the key, I guess. Keep going. You will be surprised how much you learn and improve from month to month, year to year. There’s a lot of pressure to have your own style but don’t be afraid to experiment and play. If you allow your journey to take unexpected twists and turns, you will find lots of surprises along the way.
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Jeanette was born and raised in a spooky three-hundred-year-old English house. She now lives in Western Australia and spends her time creating digital collage and sketchy style artworks. Jeanette is an active member of SCBWI and CBCA.
For more information, please visit Jeanette's website or follow her on instagram.
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