Blog hop

I was invited by Ine Beerten and  Tara Lilly to join in on a world wide artist blog hop.

Ine Beerten

Ine (a.k.a. Zesti) is a belgian designer, living in Antwerp (when she's not off to Asia). I met her online when I began to participate in the Spoonflower contests (almost 3 years ago). Her designs always struck me because of their distinctive palettes. A real asset as a surface designer. Ine grabs your attention with her well balanced color combinations.
Later on we both took part A of Lilla Rogers' Make Art That Sells course. It's fun to see her work and career evolve and grow.

Tara Lilly

Tara Lilly took part B of that same course and we both enrolled in the assignment Bootcamp. She lives and works in Portland, Oregon. I was always on the lookout for Tara's designs during those courses. She always managed to get me with my nose against my screen. Looking at all her delicate ornaments and fun little details. Her designs have a vintage vibe that is very trendy and appealing.

Both ladies are semi-finalists in the Global Talent Search. Tara was also in the semi-final of last years' edition (we were in the same boat back then). Keep an eye on them!

Ine and Tara past on four questions for me to answer...

1. What am I working on?
2. How does my work differ from other work in its genre?
3. Why do I create what I do?
4. How does my creative process work?

I'll end this post by introducing you to two other inspiring designers from the MATSosphere, and will pass on these same questions to them, but first *hopedihop*... my responses:

1. What am I working on?

I just finished adapting two existing designs that will be sold as wall art on a new, soon to be launched, spanish webshop.

I'm also working on illustrations for a book for girls (9-12yr) that will be published by Abimo. I received some final feedback on my sketches last week. The cover - important! - still needs some tweaking and then I can start with the fun part... refine my vector drawings, scan and clean up handdrawn elements and ad textures in photoshop.

Katrien Robijns from Headoffice commissioned me for an editorial. It's a full spread illustration for an article about car insurance. A topic that speaks to the imagination (I'm not kidding). It's still a work in progress...
I have to finish by Friday, so back to the drawing board after this!

Another thing I'm working on is a collection with designs inspired by my grandmother 'Bliet'. A personal project that excites me! I've been playing with the idea for months and am now finally taking action and making progress. More news to come.

2. How does my work differ from other work in its genre?

I believe everything I do has already been done. It's just my personal way of combining techniques, interpreting topics, color choices, etc... that makes it different from others.
A rather 'Lienish' element is that I've always been inspired by language and I love playing with words and lettering in my work.
Also typical is that I often add (funny) little details in my illustrations. I see them as some kind of reward for people who really take an effort to look closely and thoroughly. Did you notice the little stamp in my K.O.ffee design?

3. Why do I create what I do?

The process of creating and more specific, illustrating, is kind of addictive... I can't seem to survive without it.  I become really grumpy and sad if I don't. It's my favorite way to communicate or express something (a thought, a feeling, a message,...).

4. How does my creative process work?

The short version (because this post is becoming way to loooong):
- I receive a brief or I've set myself some specific goal (I need restrictions!),
- I let it simmer in my head, and I scribble down ideas, words, compositions, palettes,
- I look, browse, walk, let serendipity do it's work,
- I filter those ideas in to one (or two, or...),
- I set up my digital file in illustrator and make vector drawings with my wacom tablet and pen,
- I search for references on the net if needed,
- I search for and determine my palette,
- I set up a file in photoshop with the same dimensions,
- I copy past my vectors - that way I can still move them around separately - and add texture,
- I scan and integrate hand drawn elements, or stamps, or other imagery (often from old magazines),
- Done!

Along with answering these questions I was asked to introduce you to two artists that inspire me.

Liz Ablashi

First up is Liz Ablashi. Liz runs her own design studio: 'Eine Kleine Design Studio'. I first bumped in to Liz within the Spoonflower community (yes, yes, you have spotted a story line). For a few months we were both members of 'A Fresh Bunch'  and she also took the MATS courses (did I mention story lines?).
Her designs are delicate, soft and refined. I'm inspired by how she combines linework with solid shapes. Liz does everything with so much care!
She is - by the way - also one of the 50 semi-finalists in the Global Talent Search. Go Liz!

Hui Yuang Chang

And then, to conclude with, I would like to introduce you to Hui Yuang Chang. I first saw her work in part B of Make Art That Sells. I was captured by her quirky, bold designs. They screem FUN! I'm inspired by her loose and vivid images. They urge me to step away from my computer a bit more often.

I never met Liz and Hui in real life, but I believe their personalities shine through in their designs. In many aspects they couldn't be more different, yet they inspire me both. Both in their own way. I'm curious to see how they will evolve and which paths they will tread.

Check out their websites if you are curious as well and hop over to their blogs. Next week they will bring you some more *hop* (I hope).