Strong, bright colours, a bold line, child like images.
What items are an essential part of your creative space?
A cup of tea, a radio, and, if possible, sunshine
Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Gouache. for it’s vibrant, opaque colours and it’s texture
Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Matisse. Picasso. My dad, who is a painter/ graphic designer. He does wonderful, quirky, funny drawings on birthday and Christmas cards.
Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
Ancient Egypt. I love the colourful, graphic style. I went to Egypt 10 years ago, it was visually extraordinary.
Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
My parents, who are both artists and my love of children books, which I have never grown out of.
Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often?
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
When inspiration is flowing and I am pleased with the pictures. It’s really wonderful and exciting when a new idea is going well. It is one of the nicest feelings.
What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Determination and perseverance. Keep positive. For five years at art college I felt unconfident using colour. My work was mostly black and white, but then suddenly it clicked and I developed my own way of working with colour. Keep experimenting.
Lucy Cousins is the UK author and illustrator of popular children's book character Maisy the mouse. Cousins has more than 30 million books in print in 27 languages. Her latest Maisy book, Count with Maisy, Cheep, Cheep, Cheep! (Walker Books), is a lift-the-flap book available in Australia from February 2016. Lucy Cousins will be visiting Australia in February 2016. She will be appearing at the Perth Writers Festival ‘Schools Day’ (18th Feb) and Family Day (Sun 21st Feb) and Adelaide Writers Festival Kids Weekend (Sat 27th Feb & Sunday 28th Feb). She will also be taking part in an event at Dymocks in George Street, Sydney on Weds 24th Feb.
