Tina Matthews

What's this illustration for?



This is from my book Out of the Egg published by Houghton Mifflin in the USA and Walker Books in Australia and NZ. It's the most important page in the book where the little chick comes out of the egg and, just in time, controls her mother's mean impulses and saves the day!





Do you have to wait for a flash of inspiration - how do you start?



I usually come across an idea in my head or my life which I roll around and loosely attach words to. Then I sketch the story in 32 pages and see how much of it can be told in pictures. When the pictures are doing as much of the telling as possible, I work the words more until they seem to me to read just right.





How did you get your start as an illustrator?



I have worked mainly as a designer and puppet maker until now and my start as an illustrator coincides with the publication of my first picture book.





Who or what has influenced your work?



My deepest and most subconscious influences are probably the picture books I was read as a child-- books like Millions of Cats, The Little House, Make Way for Ducklings, Angus and Wagtail Bess, Curious George, This is New York, Madeleine, Barbar and of course Tintin. But more recently I have loved and looked hard at the work of wonderful prints makers like Clare Leighton and Gwen Raverat and at Durer too. Banksy's street stencil art is another great source of inspiration.





What's your favourite media for creating pictures?



I really enjoy the graphic qualities and textures of wood block printing and I love stenciling and collage too. I find pencil drawing is essential for planning books and giving characters life and pen and ink reminds me of so many great children’s book illustrators I can't help trying my hand at it now and then.





Do you experience illustrator's block - if so, what do you do about it?



Not really, but I think it helps to be illustrating your own words and ideas rather than someone else’s.





What's the worst thing about being a freelancer?



Always working on your own.





And the best?



Working where ever and when ever you want.





What are you working on at the moment?



A picture book called Now That it was Later.





Where can we see more of your work?



It’s not easy but there’s a little bit on--



http://www.thestylefile.com/show.php?illustrator_id=182



and some 3 dimensional work on--



www.thinkingfun.com/a01btinamobiles.htm

Adam Nickel

What's this illustration for?



This is a personal piece, I created this illustration to add artwork to my portfolio that is more children’s book oriented. At this stage much of my portfolio was editorial based and I thought it could do with a little more variety.



Do you have to wait for a flash of inspiration - how do you start?



Its nice to have a flash of inspiration right from the start. But if its not there then I just reference as much as I can until an idea springs to mind. I feel like referencing is very important to creating the best possible artwork.



How did you get your start as an illustrator?



I sent out promotional materials such as postcards, and after sometime I was contacted by Thomson Learning (now called Cengage Learning) to illustrate one of their children’s books created for the educational market.



Who or what has influenced your work?



I get a lot of influence from mid 20th century illustration and animation. Im also influenced by all sorts of things that I see, such as people on the street and I might make a mental note to create a character that looks like them. Even something as simple as seeing a wall and thinking, I like the way those bricks are arranged and think I will incorporate that into my next illustration.



What's your favourite media for creating pictures?



I don’t know if I would say its my favorite, but I work digitally with a drawing tablet for all my illustration. I would like to work more with traditional media but find it too hard to pull myself away from the undo button, and all the flexibility that comes with working digitally.



Do you experience illustrator's block - if so, what do you do about it?



Reference, reference, reference until something I see springs an idea. I find doing something else else just takes my mind off the task at hand.



What's the worst thing about being a freelancer?



Always waiting on that next contract, and often wondering if the Art Director truly is happy with finished art.



And the best?



The feeling working a job position that is special because no amount of education or study can allow you to work in this field. Its about talent and you either have it or you don’t.



What are you working on at the moment?



Various editorial illustrations for Wired magazine.



Where can we see more of your work?



www.kilowattkat.com

Kathy Panton

What's this illustration for?

This was an experimental personal piece.


Do you have to wait for a flash of inspiration - how do you start?

I have learnt that it's better just to start, no matter how you are feeling. If you wait until all the conditions are right, and the planets are aligned, nothing will happen!


How did you get your start as an illustrator?

My report card in Year 8 said that I was no good at art! But then I only really remember doing coil pots. I chose art in year 11 and just started doing portraits and drawings. Then at the end of year 12 I was accepted in to Graphic Design at uni and did that for a year, but realised it wasn't for me and applied to QCA to do Visual Art that year. I did a degree in Visual Art and Queensland College of Art. Later on I studied at Saint Martins College of Art in London, doing short courses in childrens book illustrating and painting, and shortly after was first published in New Woman Magazine as an illustrator.


Who or what has influenced your work?

Many artists. I would say my first major influence was William Dobell. I remember seeing a portrait of his in person, at about the age of 10, of Dame Mary Gilmore, and it was quite powerful. It both scared and fascinated me. I could barely look at it. I work in the area of caricature also, using the same technique as the illustration pictured here, and it has definitely influenced me.

Other influences would be Illustrator Annuals, Art Magazines, 1950s and 60s style, Chuck Close, Frances Bacon, Mark Ryden, Eddie Guy, Eric Carle, Hundertwasser, Ralph Steadman, Richard Lindner, Jon Scieszka, Lane Smith, Anna Laura Cantone, Shaun Tan, Del Kathryn Barton.


What's your favourite media for creating pictures?

gouache and watercolour collage, and also large scale (2m x 2m) graphite pencil portraits


Do you experience illustrator's block - if so, what do you do about it?

I look at illustration and art books for inspiration, and usually it doesnt take long to get going again. Also its good to to have a change of scenery.


What's the worst thing about being a freelancer?

Not working


And the best?

Doing something you love.


What are you working on at the moment?

I am starting an online business through Etsy.com, and seeing how my originals will sell online.


Where can we see more of your work?

http://www.thestylefile.com/show.php?illustrator_id=163&image_id=635

www.kathypanton.etsy.com

Charlotte Lance

What's this illustration for?

‘Cat’s got your key’ was for an exhibition that I did at the end of last year.



Do you have to wait for a flash of inspiration - how do you start?


Usually no. Actually most of the time I don’t know what I’m going to draw until I’m drawing. If I am working to a brief I have it vaguely in my mind and I just start and see what my mind can muster. Because of this I end up with some misses and some hits. But when it works the outcome is often a surprise for me. If its not for a brief, say, for an exhibition, then I draw whatever comes out of my pencil. Sometimes its funny and sometimes its crazy and sometimes its very obviously about me and sometimes its a mystery.

Oh and I never start unless I’m holding a pacer. Very important.


How did you get your start as an illustrator?


Pure perseverance, and and the absolute assuredness that there is nothing else I want to do but draw. And draw. If I had to go to work in an office, um, I don’t know what I’d do but I wouldn’t go to work in an office.


Who or what has influenced your work?


Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake. The stories, the imagination, the funny crazy worlds that came to life and the illustrations that not only matched but colored these worlds. I love the simplicity and detail, and I love the warmth.


What's your favourite media for creating pictures?


Pencil, ink and acrylic.


Do you experience illustrator's block - if so, what do you do about it?


Not really but if I do I think I just draw something else, do something else, go somewhere else, then start again. Its not so bad.


What's the worst thing about being a freelancer?


There’s a bit of inconsistency in the workload. At times I have to stay awake past my meager bedtime to meet deadlines, and other times I nervously bite my nails (which is disgusting) in the silence of NO jobs. Sometimes I feel rich! And sometimes I feel like a Charles Dickens character eating gruel with dirt on my face. And also having to be responsible for everything. I call the accounts department about my pay and answer my own call. Boring.


And the best?


Everything else. It's my dream to draw and earn a living.


What are you working on at the moment?


An exhibition.


Where can we see more of your work?


www.charlielance.com

Hung Lin

What's this illustration for?

This illustration was done as an experiment for a film concept. The image was inspired from my daily walking in Hobart, Tasmania. I am trying to illustrate an outsider living in a world where he is often walking different paths than most people.



Do you have to wait for a flash of inspiration - how do you start?

No, inspiration is everywhere, every single moment. I often need to write these inspirations down in my note book. Sometimes I will take photos just to capture the moment of what I'm thinking, to use as reference for my art.



How did you get your start as an illustrator?

I am still trying to poke around in my head and find myself as an illustrator
I started out doing small characters as an experiment for my assignment at Tafe, and I would often write poems to accompany the images. Often I've illustrated for my own personal expression, to keep myself mentally balanced.



Who or what has influenced your work?

That's a hard question to answer, because there are many artists out there that influence me, but I find most of time, life itself influences me a lot, my past, my family, people's stories, cultures, landscapes and issues.



What's your favourite media for creating pictures?

Ink sketches, and acrylic paints. I still love the smell and touch of inks, although I create a lot of digital illustration now days.



Do you experience illustrator's block - if so, what do you do about it?

Of course, I get scared because it would be like losing one of my life supports. I stop thinking about it and just watch animated films and listen to music for awhile. Then an idea comes along and that's when I know my urge to create has returned.



What's the worst thing about being a freelancer?

Continuing to search for the next payment.



And the best?

The freedom of doing your own projects when you like.



What are you working on at the moment?

I am currently working on my own animation film which is yet to be titled, and also writing a children's novel.



Where can we see more of your work?

http://animatedlstuff.blogspot.com/