Artist Proof Interview with Artist: Hannah Chapman
Global Location: UK
URL: http://hannahchapman.moonfruit.com/
Shop: http://www.zazzle.com/hannahchapman
I live in the UK, spending most of my time split between working as a professional children’s artist and making kiddies art just for the fun of it. I live with my forever patient boyfriend & share my desk with a very bossy (and large) cat!
AP: How long have you been making art for and what lead you to start?
HC: I was always covered in paint or doodling in a corner somewhere when I was younger so I guess I’ve been making art since I was a toddler - I think being crafty runs in the family!
AP: Where do you currently live and work ? And how does this influence your work?
HC: I live in Berkshire, south east of England, UK - I work as a freelance children’s illustrator so thankfully get to work from home! I take a lot of ideas and influence from the forests and wildlife that surround us here, so many critters with huge personality!
AP: Did you have formal training if so what? If your self taught can you tell us what you prefer about being a self taught artist vs having formal training?
HC: Luckily, I had a bit of both - I spent a year at college studying various traditional arts and crafts but have taught myself when it comes to digital photoshop style programs. Nothing fancy, just years of practice until I knew my way around them and my tablet!
AP: Can you tell us about where you make your work is it in your house, a studio etc.. and how it effects your work?
HC: I just recently gained a studio/office as we moved to a bigger home - it makes so much difference as before i was working from my living room, so work and home life overlapped a bit too much! Now it’s easier to finish at a reasonable time of night , shut the office door and do ‘home’ things - although I still find myself working on something or other no matter where I am, be it doodling in the kitchen or painting the nursery!
AP: What are some of you favorite design projects/exhibitions you have worked on to date?
HC: I recently finished a project with Buster books, it crossed my traditional hand drawn work with splashes or juicy color and was a great change from my normal digital work really enjoyable to do!
AP: What is your medium of choice ?
HC: I have to choose one?! Oh good grief! I’d have to say photoshop as it can incorporate every other medium out there, from hand drawn lines to paper textures and paint.
AP: What is the relationship between technique and content in your work?
HC: Adventure and comfort - sounds weird but it’s true! If I can picture a scene in my mind and it’s a great place to be, it transfers to my work easily.
AP: In what direction would you like to see your work going over the next five years?
HC: I like to find myself doing lots more children’s books and projects!
AP: What forth coming projects and or exhibitions do you have scheduled for 2011?
HC: Well I’m 8 and a half months pregnant with our first child at the moment so 2011 is fully booked with that so far - I do have a selection of new illustrations coming out soon though!
AP: Take us on a guided tour through a day in your life as an artist.
HC: Get up, make tea, sit at desk and doodle some ideas … make more tea, move doodles to photoshop, spend a few hours building layers of paper, paint and shapes, make more tea … and then repeat until either the cat screams for food or Grahame comes home from work (or I run out of tea …)
AP: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions.
