Interview with illustrator Ann-Marie Finn
Brisbane illustrator Ann-Marie Finn has a growing collection of children’s books to her name. Her career spans over 10 years in the UK and more recently, the past 6 years in Brisbane, designing for Hallmark Cards and now telling visual stories for children.
Ann-Marie wrote, illustrated and self-published her first book, A Trip to the Moon which is now available to purchase on Amazon.
Her passion for sharing stories has led Ann-Marie to pursue collaborations with other authors too. She has recently illustrated two more books for children’s book author, Michelle Worthington, titled Start of the Ocean and Each the Same.
Ann-Marie credits these three projects as being her best and most rewarding works to date.
Among these projects, she has found the time to help grow the small children’s publishing company Wybble to help other authors and illustrators to get their work published and also illustrates for gift cards and freelance commissions.
Visit Ann-Marie’s website or Facebook page to see the latest news about her books.
How have you got to where you are today? Describe a little background on why and how you got started…
I started out designing greeting cards back in the UK. I did that for a few years before moving to Brisbane six years ago.
Since arriving here I have continued my greeting card illustrations on a freelance basis, but have started to work in many other areas of design. I’ve worked on packaging, and web apps and do some work for TV, but it was after having my two children that I was inspired to complete a story that I had written many years ago and never got around to finishing.
I decided to self-publish it as I wanted to illustrate it myself and had my own deadlines in mind.
It was released in December last year and since then I have completed work on two more children’s books for another author, I have written a second book that I hope to have in print by the end of this year, and I have a few other projects coming up too.
I feel like I’m doing what I always wanted to do now.
In a few words, describe yourself…
Quiet, creative, motivated…but hopefully fun too!
What are you spending your time on at the moment?
At the moment I am working on a few new children’s books, for myself and other authors, as well as trying to get my first book, A Trip to the Moon, into as many bookstores as possible!
Self publishing is hard work because I have to do everything myself, so I’m learning a lot about marketing too, which is actually quite fun, and I’m getting to meet some great people in the process.
Do you have a ritual for getting into the creative mindset? Or a creative process?
I just like to be free from distractions when I’m starting on something new, and listen to some chill out music to get me in the mood for work. But once I know where I’m going with an idea I can work anywhere, and I usually take a notebook or sketchbook out with me wherever I go in case I have a few moments spare to get some ideas down. I don’t like to waste any time!
My styles of work differ depending on the project, but I’m very much into drawing and will usually produce sketches by hand and work on them digitally.
I love new design briefs, no matter what the project is, and especially love a challenge to push me creatively!
What or who inspires you?
I’m inspired by my kids to keep writing and illustrating the children’s books, they’ve given me some really good ideas and aren’t afraid to tell me when something’s not right!
What are you most proud of?
Finishing A Trip to the Moon, my first children’s book, even though it took me 15 years to get around to it!
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I’ve been drawing since I can remember, and I always knew that whatever I did when I grew up would involve art in some way. I’ve never imagined myself doing anything else.
