Introducing Elsie Bell

As promised here is the interview with digital artist and photographer Elsie Bell, whose blog I was interviewed for a few weeks ago. So without further ado:

Who is Elsie? Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m 44, married with one son, two step sons and a step grandson (and another on the way) . We moved to the countryside from London just over a year ago. My life has not been without its stresses but I feel like I am living the dream. I love my home, village, photography and life. I do a volunteer shift behind the bar at our local members club and throw myself into village life 100%. I lost my mum recently and I’m trying not to forget what I have here and now. I’m surrounded by so much beauty, with a view from the bedroom I once would have killed for. But I never take anything for granted, treat others how I would like to be treated and try and enjoy every day to the fullest.

What is your line of creativity?

I’m a photographer and digital, mixed media artist. That means I take photos and play around with them in a variety of editing software programs.

Are you self taught or college/uni trained, and has this informed the way you work?

Completely self taught, which means I am very slow at what I do. I’m sure experts can do what I do in half the time, I’m pretty sure I always go the long way round. I’m a visual learner, so I do turn to you tube videos for help.

Can you describe your style of work?

In One word, yes! Eclectic. I do have a small body of work that is the same style, but I learn something new every day and then apply it to everything I do until something else comes along.

Who and/or what influences you and your work?

EVERYONE. At the moment though I’m leaning towards my all time fave, William Hogarth. I’d love to create the ‘people’ pics that can keep you entertained for hours.

What's your favourite film?

It’s a Wonderful Life. Can’t miss with James Stewart. Feel good factor movie. All time great.

What is your ideal job?

This! being interviewed about doing what I love. Photographs and more photographs... Forever!

Can you name one thing about yourself that is unique or surprising, that people wouldn't be able to tell about you unless you told them?

Er.... nope....

Describe your perfect day?

Getting everything on my ‘to do’ list done. It hasn’t happened yet but I know that would be a perfect day.

What is your favourite drink?

Beer!

Do you have any pets and if so what/who?

Two rabbits, Pepper and Florence. We’ve just fenced off a hedge so they can run around the garden and they are having the time of their lives.

Do you smile a little or a lot?

Yes a lot! I am a big smiler, but not so sure my cheesy grin is as attractive as it once was.

What time were you up till last night and why?

I went up to bed at 10.30pm. I have an annoying habit of falling asleep on the sofa; so I am trying really hard to go to bed before it happens, or my poor husband has to spend hours trying to get me upstairs. I can actually fall asleep at the laptop, playing a computer game and even have nodded off during parlour games. Quite funny when it involved writing and I was doing it in my sleep!

Dream holiday destination?

I’m such a boring home bird.... can’t stick the heat, but I do love Cities, as I adore history and architecture. I have a fancy to go to Russia.

Most played record?

Er.. at the moment it would be PIE JESU, Andrew Johnstone’s version. I played it recently at my mum’s funeral and I need to lose myself in it from time to time.

Book you would recommend everyone should read?

To Kill a Mockingbird! Harper Lee It’s just one of those books you have to read in your lifetime.

Thanks Elsie, I loved your answers, and I didn't realise before we are exactly the same age :-). Oh yes a perfect day when everything on the TO DO list is done!

Find more of Elsie's stunning work on her Facebook page, her Redbubble page and be sure to follow her on Twitter

Meet me at Elsie's!

Following on from the blog interview swap tradition that started with Jessica Draws, here is a slightly amended interview session I had with Elsie Bell a very talented photographer and digital artist. That day my favourite creative was someone else! If you didn't read the previous interview on the Waviograves blog then this will all be news anyway :-). Watch this space for Elsie's answers which will be coming soon!

Oh and check out Elsie's fabulous work, especially the big cats and vistas, my favourite is Tiger Tiger Burning Bright.

http://www.elsiebell.co.uk/section512634_185300.html

Introducing Jessica Draws

A while ago you may remember I asked if anyone would like a guest spot on my blog.

Well Jessica Donnan, a graphic designer and illustrator in Cardiff, very kindly offered to answer a few questions and be featured here on my little ol' blog.

Jessica is part of the Waviograves Collective who are "a cheerful bunch of creatives offering a full range of design, web, and editorial services with an individual, tailor made approach built around your requirements"

Here's the Q&A's below, I hope you enjoy reading, I think it's fascinating to find out what makes fellow creatives tick!

Who is Jessica? Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am a graphic designer and illustrator based in Cardiff. I love films, books and anything to do with the outdoors, as long as it's sunny!

What is your line of creativity? I'm primarily a surface pattern designer and I illustrate for cards and things. But I trained in Graphic Communication so I've got a strong interest in Branding and advertising. I love logos and I'm a bit nerdy when it comes to seeing things out and about and analysing them.

Some of Jessica's Surface Pattern Designs, aren't they lovely?

Are you self taught or college/uni trained, and has this informed the way you work? I'm college trained. I did my Graphic Communication degree at UWIC in Cardiff. To be honest, the course wasn't great and I've learnt my most valuable skills and lessons since leaving. Living and working in the real world really makes you learn fast to keep ahead of the game and be successful.

Can you describe your style of work?

When it comes to my illustration style, I love all things whimsical. I seem to have fallen into specialising in children's designs so I'd describe my style as young, playful and cute. I love drawing birds and owls. I'm also really getting technically good with textures in photoshop so I'm in the process of doing some furry creatures for some children's home ware designs for an agency.

Who and/or what influences you and your work?

I'm not really fixed to a person or company or style that I like to be honest. I'm pretty easy going with everything in my life really, films, food, books, design. I like a lot of things that are different from each other. One thing I do every morning though to start the day off right, is I browse Print and Pattern Blogspot for inspiration. It's like going out shopping and seeing all the new things that are in the shops but I can do it from my desk in half an hour. I love it, it really gets my creative juices flowing.

Who is your favourite creative?

As I said I don't tend to have favourites. But, although he's not neccesarily who I should be looking at as a surface pattern designer. Tim Burton, really is who I most admire creatively. I love his sketches and his vision for how things are. It's really very exciting to me. In another life or if I'd had more opportunities when I was in school, I would have loved to have been involved with stop motion animation. I love clay modelling and it fascinates me how little, beautifully designed and painted models are transformed into personalities with a life and a story of their own.

What's your favourite film?

There are so many!Most of the Tim Burton obviously. Especially the stop motion ones. Also classics like, gone with the wind. And I love musicals to death! Greece, Chicago and the old ones like the King and I and Carousel and Oklahoma! oooo I'm getting excited just thinking about them! hehe

What is your ideal job?

Well I'm lucky enough to be doing it now pretty much. I'm a freelance surface pattern designer and illustrator. I'm also one half of Waviograves Creatives in Cardiff, doing branding and web design and whatever else we can get our hands on. It's a pretty busy existence. The only thing I would change perhaps is the environment. I'd love to travel and work in different places. Preferably some place hot!

Can you name one thing about yourself that is unique or surprising, that people wouldn't be able to tell about you unless you told them?

Umm...I speak fluent Welsh. Which I guess is a little unique as it's not all that common.

Describe your perfect day?

A perfect day would be a sunny day, walking on a beach with my dog and my boyfriend. Nothing specific just a really slow relaxed day. maybe stop at a country pub on the way home, walk a bit more. Talk. Simple things.

What is your favourite drink?

I'm loving Amaretto at the moment. yum :)

Do you have any pets and if so what/who? I don't have any pets at the moment. We really would like a dog but we need to make sure we can give it the time first. My boyfriends really into tropical fish so we are planning on getting a tank at some point. My mum has horses too so when I lived at home I did quite a bit of riding but not so much anymore. I kind of miss it.

Do you smile a little or a lot?

Definitely a lot!

What time were you up till last night and why?

We were up until around 11 because we went to see X-Men first class.

Dream holiday destination?

A secluded beach in Thailand.

Currently most played record?

Slash's newest album. A-MAZING!

Book you would recommend everyone should read?
Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels. Really funny and brilliant!

And here's some more graphic design and loveliness from Jessica:

Thanks Jessica for your informative and entertaining answers :-)

You can have a look at Jess's website here and don't forget to look out for my answers to the above coming soon on the Waviograves blog!