Meet The Illustrator: Natasha Hagarty

Name: Natasha Hagarty

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Lots of wobbly, loose lines and gentle, whimsical characters

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
A jug of water and more than one of every art tool and piece of stationary because I’m perpetually losing everything!

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Most of my previous work is done in watercolour, but I am slowly venturing into a mix of watercolour, charcoal, ink, acrylic, collage and digital!

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
It changes on a daily basis! But today it’s Matt Ottley, Suzy Lee and Kim Minji 


Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
Oh anywhere from the Romanticists, Impressionists or Heidelberg School would be splendid. Their use of light, colour and design is just exquisite.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
I spent most of my childhood drawing stories, so nothing has really changed! I got a bit side tracked on the way due to a love for music and chocolate, but maternity leave helped to bring my focus back to illustration.

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
I share a little art room with my husband, except I’ve taken over most of the space! There’s three tables so I can have multiple projects on the go and some kind of haphazard storage system. Artwork on the wall varies from our amazing Australian illustrators to paintings created by my family. Inspiration from all sources!

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
I love the brainstorming and sketching out ideas part! Sometimes you get stuck but after mulling it over for a while, that lightbulb moment is marvellous!

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Don’t underestimate the magic of community when on your illustration journey. Australian illustrators are the most generous, helpful, supportive group of people and I have learnt so much from them! Find your people!

 
Natasha is a Sydney based illustrator. Her fourth picture book, Wizelda, The Little Witch Who Chased A Rainbow (written by Maggie Gordon) is being released later this year. She has painted commissions for over 200 clients and is in the process of launching a new organisation, The Cardboard Box Illustrators, to help Australian illustrators connect, learn and grow (www.cardboardboxillustrators.com.au live from July 2022!)

For more information, please visit Natasha's website or follow her on instagram.