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Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Textured, painterly, loose and expressive.
What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Natural light. Paper and pencil – where every idea begins.
What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Natural light. Paper and pencil – where every idea begins.
Books are essential in a creative space. I am surrounded by my art books and often listening to an audiobook while I work.
Dogs. I have 3 dogs, so there is usually one or two lying under my feet and happy for some attention when I need to take a break.
Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Oil paint and also gouache. I love the opacity of gouache and the matt, chalky texture. It was the paint used for illustration and design before digital art, due to its reproduction quality.
Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Oil paint and also gouache. I love the opacity of gouache and the matt, chalky texture. It was the paint used for illustration and design before digital art, due to its reproduction quality.
Name three artists whose work inspires you.
1. Sally Gabori is an Indigenous Australian artist who began painting at 81 which is inspirational in itself. She painted prolifically, authentically and boldly for 10 years until she passed at age 91. Her works speaks of her family connection to Country and is energised with brush marks and colour. Every time I am up close to one of her paintings in a gallery, I immediately want to go home and paint.
2. Arthur Boyds landscapes always inspire me, especially when considering the Australian bush and rivers.
3. I love the paintings of Adrian Robertson - an Australian indigenous artist with the Bindii Mwerre Anthurre Art centre. His palette is unexpected and bold. His portrait painting style is not realistic and instead he conveys the quirks and personality of the subject.
I would love to visit Heide, the property of art patrons and collectors, Sunday and John Reid - during the mid 20th Century. Many significant Australian painters stayed there at one time - including Sidney Nolan, Joy Hester and Arthur Boyd. It was a melting pot of creativity and collaboration - as well as plenty of art world gossip.
Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
I loved poring over the illustrations in picture books from a young age. My parents were teenagers when I was born and we didn’t have a lot of books in the house. Golden Books that mum bought in the supermarket each week were my earliest introduction to picture books.
Illustration was what I enjoyed most during my graphic design studies. I have worked in various creative roles for 30 years and the opportunity to illustrate picture books came 8 years ago.
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I am lucky to have a garden studio at home with a big bushland reserve behind our house full of birds and a wallaby or two. It is a compact studio though! I am always in the process of cleaning up and sorting art my supplies. I still use an adjustable drawing desk I have had since I was a design student and it folds away when I need to make space in my studio for bigger painting.
While I am working on a picture book commission, I use the walls as support for my paper while painting. I pin up all finished illustrations around the wall to dry and to check consistency across the set.
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
My favourite part is the start of the process. Research, sketching and storyboarding. It is the most creative time when ideas are bubbling away.
What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Keep a regular drawing/illustration practice to build a strong portfolio. Connect with other illustrators and writers through industry organisations and events. Back yourself and don’t give up!
Tannya is a Sydney based artist and illustrator. She has illustrated picture books for Walker Books Australia, Hachette and Larrikin House publishing including The Heartbeat of the Land by Cathy Freeman 2022. Dingo by Claire Saxby was joint winner of the Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children’s Literature at the NSW Premier’s Literary Award (2019).
