Interview with illustrator Lauren Carney
This one has been a long time coming. In fact, it’s been over twelve months since I first spoke to Lauren about featuring her on Design Montage. However, this pint-sized lady is so very, very talented, and definitely worth the wait!
Lauren Carney has carved a name for herself as a Brisbane illustrator and has been featured in magazines and blogs, and at markets across the country. Her style is whimsical and humorous, and can make you appreciate the simplest of things.
How does she work? Lauren mixes a range of traditional and digital techniques for most of her artwork. Starting with pencils or pen on paper for line work, Lauren then takes her design into Photoshop to digitally colour and apply effects.
Lauren explains…
The content of my art is based upon conversations and the exploration of femininity. Many of the characters featured have intimate connections with each other or their surroundings. Romanticism plays a large underlying theme that is portrayed by the fanciful characters within each illustration.
The quirky imagery conveys a sense of youthful nostalgia that reconnects with the awkward, messy, and nerdy feelings affiliated and growing up.
Lauren’s latest project is a t-shirt label that bears her illustrations. Dizzy Little Dotty has just launched! Check out the store for a growing range of cheeky t-shirts.
Follow Lauren’s blog, Facebook for her latest updates, or visit her shop.
How have you got to where you are today?
Well, I finished university and applied like crazy to all kinds of agencies around Brisbane, but found jobs were a bit tight for new, inexperienced graduates like myself.
I decided to go out on a whim and try to make some of my own wares and sell them at the local designer markets, and try to promote my artwork through magazines like Peppermint and Frankie.
After about 12 months of networking, blogging, and making my own things, I started getting a lot of paid freelance work.
In a few words, describe yourself…
I am a pint-sized, pail lady who loves red lipsticks, oversized bows, and old-school John Carpenter films.
I spend the majority of my time sipping tea whilst doing fancy drawings.
What are you spending your time on at the moment?
Well just of late I have been trying to get my personal work and commission work into the balance again. I am in the process (and have been for a while) of launching my new t-shirt label Dizzy Little Dotty. I have some very winter-themed designs in my current collection and am in the process of making some more in time for spring and summer.
Do you have a ritual for getting into the creative mindset? Or a creative process?
Ha, I do actually. I am such a creature of habit, but I think you need to be when you are at home. Each morning I wake up and have a cup of tea, whilst going through emails, then a coffee whilst writing out the tasks that need to be done for the day. After that, I put on a movie in the background (usually a cartoon of some sort) then I launch into my day’s work.
Depending on what jobs I have to get done, I either do an hour’s worth of blogging or tumbling to get the clockwork churning. Then I start drafting, doing the final line work and colouring.
What or who inspires you?
I think drawing makes up a large part of who I am, so going on adventures to be inspired creatively is definitely my favorite thing to do when I’m having a design break.
Frequenting art galleries, visiting markets, watching bad horror movies, and talking to other artsy folks over coffee are some of my most loved forms of inspiration. I also thrive off other artists’ work.
I’ve been noticing there is a new wave of emerging artists and fashion bloggers that are creeping their way onto the scene, and when you find them, it’s kind of like discovering a new band and playing their album repetitively. I just can’t seem to get enough of their work. Me Oh My, Dave Collinson, and Marloes de Vries are some of my current faves. It’s amazing how someone’s photography, painting, music, or sculpture, can impact you.
What are you most proud of?
I think the proudest moment of my career to date was the Samhain group exhibition I did a few years ago for Halloween. It was such a great turnout, and I got such a buzz out of the whole thing. Nearly all of my artworks sold and I met the nicest folk there. That exhibition was definitely a memory maker.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Ha! An actress of all things. I shudder at the thought. But when I was about 9 I decided perhaps a better career change should be in order. In my infinite prepubescent wisdom, I figured doing drawings for a living would be a far better option. I’ve been a busy little illustrating bee ever since.
