Pop culture, rock ‘n’ roll, anything vintage, movies, filmclips, cartoons, leopardskin, NW and a thin Dimitris special washed down with a chinotto.
AKA my ideal group to come over for dinner … Floria Sigismondi, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Michel Gondry, David Lachapelle, Mary Blair, Edith Head, Tim Burton, Colleen Atwood, Edward Gorey, Dan DeCarlo, Dr Seuss and my Ma and Pa … Jesus and Britney can come to dinner too, they might have a lot to add to the conversation.
I was spawned from a seamstress and an art director so was destined to either become and artist. Or rebel and become and accountant. I’m shit at maths, so therefore I draw. I’ve had a 3B attached to my right hand since I can remember.
I started in press ads for advertising which led to storyboards, which led to production management in tv and film. I decided to change course and try and draw for a living while still being able to pay rent (something I have yet to learn). So I stuck to illustration in commercials which led onto animation, then fashion then production design. That all sounded very simple but actually took me a while to get where I am and I still feel like I’m just starting out and have a whole lot more to learn.
Not including the 3 year study break smack bang in the middle of my career starting out … 5 years, give or take a couple.
Hands down, people. I’m surrounded by talented creative friends and am always meeting new people with amazing concepts and ideas. I love collaborating and creating pretty things to entertain and hopefully inspire. Another source of inspiration for illustration is to just sit in a café with a flat white and draw the strange characters in the world around me. .
Did you have a formal education or are you
a self taught?
I have been self taught for most of my life. But with a thirst for learning
more skills I have put myself through short courses like, life drawing,
fashion rendering, editing and storyboarding. But it wasn’t until
I studied at NIDA that I got a formal education and a degree …which
then led onto some really cool jobs. It was a hard choice to give up full
time work and go back and study after working for so many years. But in
the end it really helped me hone in on my skills and taught me invaluable
lessons.
I’m most proud of the projects that were made for love …Usually with no time or money … I’m really proud of the filmclips I’ve worked on. I’m also pretty chuffed that I’m illustrating kids books because that’s something I’ve always wanted to do. When I say kids books I mean weird creepy ones written by the likes of Shel Silverstein, Roald Dahl or Lemony Snicket.
This week I’m juggling a few things :
- I’m a part time costume illustrator on Baz Luhrmann’s feature ‘Australia’
- Part time children's book illustrator (Random House)
- Part time production manager for a burlesque troupe
- Part time manager at Outré gallery
…Among other small jobs. Plans for the future change on a week to week basis but I’d love to have an exhibition of my artwork, design a horror/zombie feature film, design a filmclip for Marilyn Manson, Dolly Parton or The White Stripes.
My favourites are; ‘The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’, Zombie Ghost Train’s ‘R.I.P.’ Living Ends ‘Nothing Last’s Forever’, Baz Luhrmann's ‘Chanel’ commercial, Gorillaz first filmclip, and working with my dad on his film ‘Carnivalé’