Interview with illustrator Emily Nelson
It’s with LOTS of excitement that I showcase the beautiful illustrations of Emily Nelson. Her work is just gorgeous! This Brissie girl has an array of creative talents including illustration, animation, painting and more recently a bit of web design and photography. Squeezed in amongst all of these things, Emily is completing a Masters of Digital Design at Griffith Qld College of Art.Emily completed her studies in animation, also at Griffith QCA, and her graduating animation piece was screened at many international festivals – including the International Polish Animation Festival, Brisbane International Animation Festival and the International Animation day Festival in France, Hungary, Brazil and the Gold Coast.
In the past few months Emily has been working very hard on a few pieces that are part of the Hearts of Gold (6) exhibition at the Bleeding Heart Gallery that opens today!
The exhibition is showcasing the work of 9 local artists and all proceeds will go to the Pyjama Foundation. It will be open until the 9th August (next Tuesday), so if you’re in Brisbane, put a note in your diary to drop over there for a visit. The opening night event is this Friday 5th August!
Exhibition details:
Hearts of Gold [6]
Bleeding Heart Gallery
166 Anne St, Brisbane CBD
3rd – 9th August
Opening night: Friday 5th August, 5-10pm
You can see more of Emily’s work and find out more about the exhibition on her blog or website. And you can purchase cute little badges and lovely greeting cards of Emily’s illustrations in her shop.
I love seeing how and where creative people work. Here’s a quick shot of Emily’s studio at home. Thanks Emily for including this one!
How have you got to where you are today? I have always been interested in making art for as long as I can remember. My parents encouraged me to be imaginative, draw and create. I started out drawing lots of animals and illustrations for stories that I had made up, and I guess I am still doing that now!
In high school I became more interested in digital art, animation and music and this drove me to pursue a career in the creative industry.
In a few words, describe yourself… Me in a nutshell: creativity, dreaming, drawing, live music, Pomeranians, hula-hooping, sweets, cooking, tea, adventuring, summer, stressing, analysing, over thinking.
What are you spending your time on at the moment? I am spending a lot of my time working in a day job and finishing my Masters in Digital Design. It’s really hard as I am making a lot of sacrifices and I’m bursting with creative energy — I need more time to use it! I can’t wait until summer!
Lately I have been really enjoying taking some time to create some new digital and hand drawn work for an exhibition I am taking part in opening this Friday!!
Do you have a ritual for getting into the creative mindset? Or a creative process? If I am having a day where I am not feeling too creative, I sit down and brain storm. I write lists of ideas, words, feelings and draw little thumb nail sketches. Usually I use the ideas later when I am browsing through my sketch book.
Recently, to get into drawing again, I have been keeping a sketch diary of things that I buy, wear and eat! I got really inspired by drawing my recipes and would like to draw my own cookbook one day. Otherwise, a bazillion long hot showers, lots of self reflection and cups of tea usually gets my brain into action.
What or who inspires you? I look at a lot of other female creative’s and illustrators as role models – they give me motivation to pursue my own work. Anyone trying something different, new music, adventuring to new places, time and space.
What are you most proud of? I think I’m most proud of setting goals for myself, and then reaching them. It just feels good to make progress.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I have always wanted to do something in art. However I do remember wanting to be a marine biologist or a scientist, I loved the reef and loved those do it yourself home kit science experiments.
I remember having a ‘grow your own crystal tree’ that I thought was awesome! It was a cut out tree that grew crystals on the branches when you put some solution on it. (DM – I remember those! hehe)
