Inside the Studio
Happy New Year! I’m a bit late posting my first blog post of the new year, but January 30th is still January, so….I hope you’re enjoying 2022 so far! For me I have taken an extended (and much needed) break and have been pottering about in my studio, reading, making lists, tidying and pondering the year ahead of me. It has been a few years since I shared some snaps from my much loved little space - my studio…
As my studio is on the small side, it’s difficult to photograph the whole space! To paint the picture (no pun intended), I have two desks opposite one another. One desk is used for computer work/scanning and note taking, while the other desk is used for packing shop and wholesale orders, along with art and craft projects. As you’ll see from the picture above, I mainly work digitally as I don’t have the luxury of a huge desk and space to devote to exploring lots of traditional media projects. However, I transfer my traditional media wishes to the digital screen as much as I can, and illustrate in a way that feels as traditional as possible.
This desk area is the practical and ‘messy’ space which I love. I keep my brushes, pencils and other tools on this desk so they’re in easy reach. The wooden ruler and paintbrush in the photo on the right were my grandad’s, and I cherish these as inspirational reminders to keep going with my career. I love to use vintage and pretty cups/mugs and tins to store my materials. Old jam jars also come in handy for storing items such as string and twine.
My recipe tin contains absolutely zero delicious meal ideas, but instead holds hard drives and cables. Above I have vintage inspired drawers full of rubber stamps. A folder on this desk holds my packing stickers; all coloured in my brand colours of peach and emerald green. I love adding these charming decorations to my shop orders. It’s the little details and care and attention that conveys my appreciation for the shop orders I receive - packing prints and cards is a task I find so fulfilling and humbling. I usually play a Youtube mix of old rock songs to keep me company, and pack orders to my hearts content!
Along with having my favourite objects on my desks, I also love to be surrounded by art and curiosities on my studio walls. Once again wall space is at a premium and I have to be really selective with what I display. I don’t tend to use too many of my own illustrations on the walls, but I do have some of my favourites (above left). I also love to add little charming items I have collected over the years, such as this cute wooden Blue Tit who perches on a picture frame chain. Artwork and prints are usually held in slim teak frames, or narrow polished gold frames (which have been a staple look for my artwork since I opened my shop in 2012 - wow, nearly 10 years now!)
My wall ornaments are some of my most cherished items in my studio. I recently made the paper mache mask which was inspired by my never ending fascination with Pierrot clowns (remember those Pierrot wall ornaments from the early 90s?). The little buddha ornament was gifted to me by my mom, and I gilded it with gold leaf to make it extra special - I love gold, my studio is literally gilded in it! The rabbit paper mache was an Etsy purchase years ago, and the Emmeline Pankhurst doll is actually a Christmas ornament, but she’s there hanging around all year!
Of course, my studio is filled with a variety of books! As a children’s book illustrator, I like to have books surrounding me. On the right I have a floating shelf displaying all the books I have illustrated, along with books which have inspired me over the years. This display lies next to one of my most treasured possessions - a limited edition print by one of my favourite illustrators Quentin Blake. Above, is a framed coin from a Beatrix Potter collection, which is crowned by one half of my logo (which is gilded in gold foil once again!). On the left, you’ll see my most recent picture book purchases. During the year I like to leave some money aside for my picture book fund. I then gift myself at the end of the year with a selection of beautiful picture books to read throughout the new year, and be inspired by their stories and illustrations. I’ll put together a blog post about my picture book collection very soon.
Above is one of my favourite corners of my studio. The drawers each have different coloured Pro markers within them. The little blue house within the bell jar was created by me, and it lights-up at night. I love miniature things, and I often look at this bell jar and think how wonderful it would be to live in such a tiny cute house. The Frida mug was gifted by my mom (she knows me so well!). The box below it contains all my gouache paints, and the matching bird tin above holds some of my acrylic paints (pastel colours mostly). The certificate was awarded to me by the film graphic designer Annie Atkins, when I took part in a design course she offered in her fabulous studio in town. Above that is a huge limited edition screen print by Irish illustrator Peter Donnelly. It reminds me of the evenings and late nights I spent on a Dublin bus, returning home from college, shopping trips, gigs, and get-togethers. Oh, and the print glows in the dark too - how amazing is that?
I hope you enjoyed this little tour around my studio. If you’d like to see more photos, just let me know in the comments, and I can upload a second tour in the near future.
Take care, Rachel x