Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Quirky, whimsical, playful, cute, nostalgic
What items are an essential part of your creative space?
I mostly create digitally so my ipad, apple pencil and sources of inspiration such as photos, picture books and sometimes background music. I also need lots of tea and snacks to keep me going.
Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Since I got my apple pencil two years ago, I have been mostly creating digitally but from time to time I dabble in other mediums and particularly enjoy using Japanese watercolours.
Name three artists whose work inspires you.
This is a tough one as there are so many and I’m discovering new artists all the time. Top of the list will always be Beatrix Potter, Tove Jansson and Ludwig Bemelmans.
Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I have always loved French Impressionism for its use of light, colour and beautiful settings. They are also the artists I feel most familiar with but I also love the work of artists such as Frida Kahlo, David Hockney and LS Lowry and the artistic periods that they represent.
Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
I’m still on the journey and it has been a process of discovery for me since Covid when I got back into art after doing online watercolour classes. I always loved art at school and had some amazing art teachers who inspired me. I have built up a fine collection of children’s books which are often sources of inspiration and contain some of my favourite artwork.
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 do not really have a designated creative work space or studio at this stage, I create mostly from my sofa in the living room with a view of the garden and deck and my constant companion, my greyhound Minni, who loves her snacks too.
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
I enjoy doing the line work and colour as well as the early planning stages and sketching for ideas and doing roughs.
What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
My advice as someone who is still on the journey is to keep sketching and experimenting. Look at other artists and picture books for inspiration, there are lots of great online free resources and I have done a few short online courses which were really useful. I also love taking part in insta art challenges which get the ideas flowing and it’s fun to see different artists interpretations of a theme or subject. Joining online artist and illustrator groups is also a great way to connect with fellow creatives as it can be quite isolated at times.Gemma Creegan is a British Australian writer and artist; she has contributed illustrations to the Toy magazine and her artwork is featured on coffee cups as part of a Biopak art cup series. Gemma’s first picture book as an author illustrator will be published at the end of this year by US non profit publisher Book Spring.
For more information, please follow Gemma on instagram.
