“Life is my inspiration” An interview with Maryanne Oliver
Maryanne Oliver is a portrait illustrator from Australia. She is an artist in residence at Raw Space Galleries, 99 Melbourne Street Brisbane in Australia. Her artwork capture personalities and stories drawn on paper.
I talked a little bit about her creative work in a previous post on my blog. Now, let’s find from her the story behind her colorful world…
* Describe yourself in few words:
Complex, Kind, Dreamer.
* How did you become an illustrator?
I am not sure I became an illustrator, I have just always been painting and drawing for as long as I can remember.
* How much time do you spend to draw a complete illustration?
Depending on the piece itself and its detail anywhere from a few minutes to days, years or some never completed at all.
* How do you use your illustrations? Are you selling it?
I sell through a couple of different galleries, however am working on the website for prints etc in the future.
* How do you define your style?
Old world allure meets new world glamour, with loads of gumption!
* I saw on your My Space profile some of your illustrations painted on T-shirts? Is that another type of art that you are doing?
I used to make the shirts and paint the designs on them when I was first getting started.. however I do not have the time to do this any longer so am looking in to having the shirts printed.
* And the dresses are made by you? Are you also a fashion designer?
No, I had my own independant label for awhile but I could not keep up with that and my art, so I had to make a choice…. for now.
* What for you makes a successful fashion illustration?
Hmm.. I guess I am still working on that one myself, but I will say success is not based on money or sales, money helps but if you are doing what you love and people are enjoying it - that is succeeding at its finest.
* Which fashion illustrators inspires you? Why?
So many… I fall in love with new illustrations all the time… one I consistantly admire though is a New Zealand illustrator her name is Kelly Thompson, she is absolutely amazing and such a lovely lady! Another illustrator I have admired for such a long time is David Downton, what can I say? The man is an absolute inspiration!
* What about the illustrators of today?
One illustrator/artist I adore is LA artist Yuki Miyazaki, her work has really captured me… there are a couple of her works I really really adore and love where they take me, her work reminds me of where I am at in my life and I love that, when you connect with the work.
* How do you market/promote your work?
Mainly through the internet and making sure my work is out there, printed on cards left in cafes etc, however I would love to do more legal street art so I am looking for some buildings/walls to paint. I am going to New York next April and will be collaborating with one of the street graph artists there, I am really looking forward to breaking out of my own comfort zone and I love working with other artists who I admire.
* What methods do you use to apply color?
I use pencil, acrylics and watercolour. My style for my acrylics is different from the watercolours, watercolours are softer. All my works are hand drawn, I am not quite up with the digital illustration.
* Is illustration the only type of art that you do?
No, illustration is a big part but not the only part… I love painting street scenes, buildings, sketching animals. I don’t like to limit it to one style or subject.. I get bored very easily.
* What is the focus of your work?
Not so much fashion, but woman are my focus.. I love to capture a personality or a story and put it on to paper..
* What inspires you when you work to an illustration?
Life is my inspiration, getting outdoors and watching water run in a creek and leaves fall from a tree is inspiration…. so many simple beautiful things in this life inspire me everyday.
* Who would you like to have drawn?
For some reason lately I have been wanting to draw Madonna, or Dita Von Teese again.. I have painted Dita before but I adore her so very much!
* How do you maintain balance in your life between work and play?
Like most people today finding that balance is one of the hardest challenges in any busy life.. Lately I have intentionally slowed my life down a little to enjoy moments more and not let people or special times pass me by because I am caught up in all the crazyness of life… You know take the time to just sit in your garden and watch the life and movement around you, its beautiful.
* What are your dreams?
To continue on this amazing journey, sharing my work with as many people as possible in this life and enjoying other peoples art and hopefully inspiring others to do the same.
all photos are Copyright Maryanne Oliver
* What advice would you share with someone who is just entering in the world of fashion illustration, and is creating a work of his own?
However to anyone starting out the best advice I would share is to keep keeping on, no matter how hard it gets or how much critism you face, if you truly believe in what you are doing then keep working at it, it is the such a wonderful reward to be doing what you love!
Thank you Maryanne!
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