I
was instantly blown away by her use of colors and the stunning female forms she creates.
I hope you enjoy getting to know more about her as much as I did!
P.S....Click on any of the photos in this post to be taken to her
etsy store!
Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started.
I'm Erin,
and I'm currently working towards my Masters degree in Illustration at
the Savannah College of Art and Design. I like rock music and drink way
too much coffee. I have been an artist all of my life, but I got started
on my illustration career path almost 10 years ago, when I traded in my
Musical Theatre Major for a Studio Art major. I was trained as an oil
painter, but now make illustrations in a lot of different media.
Apart from creating things, what do you do?!
When I'm not
working on art, I'm usually baking and trying new recipes out on my
boyfriend and our friends. I make a mean Scottish Shortbread, and my
personal favourite is my Lemon Zucchini Bread. If it's got vegetables in
it, it can't be all bad, right? I am also currently searching for a
furry friend to call my sidekick.
Where does your inspiration come from?
My commercial work tends
to lean over to the fashion and editorial side of illustration. I am
extremely interested in fantasy, psychological space, and surrealism. The
figure is my favourite thing to draw, and I am constantly inspired by
it.
What does handmade mean to you?
Handmade is extremely important
to me. I used to create wedding jewelry, and really cherish the mark of
the artist. The brides I worked with were always so thrilled to have a
custom piece for their special day - and an heirloom for years to come. I
am involved in a local co-op in Decatur, HomeGrown, where we sell only
handmade art, and I shop exclusively online and in local stores and
small businesses for gifts. It means so much to me when others value my
work, and I've taken the pledge to never go to the mall at Christmas
again! I want to give my support to people just like me.
How would you describe your creative process?
My creative process
almost always involves coffee. I currently have a great worktable in my
sunny studio, where I like to jam out and focus on a number of
different projects. As a freelancer, I often have multiple projects at
once, and often find it helpful that I can keep my mind and eyes fresh
by working on all types of work - from an illustrated fashion book, to
apparel designs, to a 10 foot banner for a gaming convention. I love the
variety!
What handmade possession do you most cherish?
My boyfriend is
also an illustrator and screen-printer, and he always makes me little
drawings. I don't think he realizes just how much I love them! I keep
them all around my apartment, and tack them to my inspiration board and
refrigerator.
How do you get out of your creative ruts?
When I'm in a creative
rut, I always go back to this quote, "Winners just get shit done."
Especially in graduate school, it's difficult to sort yourself out of a
creative rut - you're not really allowed to have them at SCAD! While
it's really intense work, I am grateful for the hustle-attitude. If I
really need a break, I'll go out and grab a smoothie and listen to the
Lord of the Rings soundtrack really loudly in my headphones, have a zen
moment, and then get back to it. I try to push myself in times of
creative exhaust - sometimes you get your best ideas when you think
you're out of ideas!
Where do you see yourself and your business in a few years?
I
have been feeling a sense of anticipation for the past year that my
business is about to reach the end of its latest plateau and begin
climbing up to the next level again. My goal for the New Year is to
start it off with an agent and take my freelance up to the next level.
In the next few years I'd like to be working on large-scale commercial
illustrations and continue my financial stability of paying my bills
with my art work!
What is the best and worst thing about being an artisan?
The
best thing is seeing someone wearing your work on the street, or seeing
your work in print. Yesterday I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a
lady wearing one of my necklaces. I wasn't able to catch her to say
hello, but that warm fuzzy feeling stayed with me the whole day. Second
best is the schedule and freedom. I have almost complete flexibility in
my schedule and get to tackle projects that really excite and inspire
me! But on the flip side, working for yourself - and working as a
creative - often means putting in a ton of hours (and not always getting
paid for them). Most weeks I work 60-70 hours and barely leave my desk.
I find, though, that coffee with friends or taking a jog will refresh
my eyes and my mind, though!
What advice would you give to other artisans trying to sell their wares?
My
professor has a saying, "Go as fast as you can for as long as you can
while the fire is hot." To be successful artist is to adopt a lifestyle,
and the lifestyle is going to require a lot of time, energy, and
personal investment. The lucky thing though, is that if you truly love
what you do, these things come as a natural inclination to grow.
What is the most popular item you sell?
Since
we're in Atlanta, my most popular print is Rick Grimes from The Walking
Dead. This past Spring I had sent his agency 2 prints as a thank you
for the inspiration the show has given me -- I was shocked to have them
sent back to me signed by Andrew Lincoln himself! One says "Big Zombie
Love" and the other says "Best Wishes from the Zombie Apocalypse". It
was the coolest thing EVER.
What are your top five books, movies, musicians and websites?
Favourite Books are the Game of Thrones series. I am a huge fan!
My
favourite movies are all "guy" movies: Braveheart, Gladiator, Lord of
the Rings, Indiana Jones... I also love watching old black and white
samurai movies with my boyfriend. And I have a big soft spot for
Miyazaki (doesn't every illustrator?)
As for music, my favourites include Dave Matthews Band and
The Black Keys. I was a Musical Theatre major, so I also love operas and
shows like Les Miserables, RENT, Phantom of the Opera, etc.
Where can we find you online and off?
Offline, my work can be found at Homegrown Boutique in
Decatur, and very soon at HodgePodge Coffeeshop and Gallery in East
Atlanta.
