KBR is thrilled to welcome the wonderful Caroline Magerl, acclaimed author/illustrator, to the blog to give us a teeny peek into her creative world.
Caroline Magerl, author/illustrator, Buderim
Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Loose, emotive and gently humourous.
What items are essential in your creative space?
A decent chair and a lot of bench space.
A good storage arrangement to keep artwork safe is important. And I do have a large bookcase, which I very much appreciate, because having books to hand is essential. I also like to have a big pile of rags and paper towels on hand, so any old sheets and towels are immediately diverted to the workroom. It is a practical space.
Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I have always loved watercolour, since first exposed to illustrations in picture books. The picture books of my childhood were sent to Australia by my grandmother, from East Germany. The watercolour illustrations in these books were really my first art crush.
Name three artists whose work inspires you.
I admire Zeno Sworder, the Australian author/illustrator. His work has a unique quality and his technique is interesting.
I have always loved watercolour, since first exposed to illustrations in picture books. The picture books of my childhood were sent to Australia by my grandmother, from East Germany. The watercolour illustrations in these books were really my first art crush.
I admire Zeno Sworder, the Australian author/illustrator. His work has a unique quality and his technique is interesting.
I also love the work of the late Kim Gamble, particularly his pictures of his native city of Sydney.
And Jean-Claude Alphen, a Brazilian author/illustrator, is an incredibly gifted individual whose linework and energy is a delight.
Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
The Edo period of Japanese art (1603-1868) produced beautiful woodblock art. I would love to understand more about how these works were made, as they have always impressed me with the use of space and colour. The works I love most from this period have a quiet power.
Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
The books my grandmother sent to me when I was small were what set my feet on the path of becoming an illustrator. The five books she sent over a period of several years contained illustrations in various styles by Russian and East German artists. These images captivated me, and I was determined to create worlds on paper, just like the worlds in my grandmother’s books.
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
It is often the first drawings that I most enjoy, before the final art process. In the initial drawings, there is often a charm which is unselfconscious and playful, a quality I try hard to keep throughout a project.
It is often the first drawings that I most enjoy, before the final art process. In the initial drawings, there is often a charm which is unselfconscious and playful, a quality I try hard to keep throughout a project.
Share a photo of your creative workspace or part of the area where you work most often. Talk us through it.
My workroom reflects my process. I think on paper and pile my ideas in various stacks around the room. It is a little like a horizontal crazy wall, but it is orderly in its way.
Because I work in various mediums, I have an easel for oils, a table for watercolours, and an etching press for printmaking.
Thankfully, there is a large sliding door that separates the workroom from the rest of the house, so that I can forget about the dishes when I am in the studio, and I can forget about my work when I am in the kitchen.
What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Caroline Magerl was born near Frankfurt in Germany and came to Australia when she was two. Until she was fourteen, she lived on a yacht, sailing the east coast of Australia with her family. Awarded the CBCA Crichton Award in 2001, Caroline is now an award-winning, internationally recognised illustrator, artist, printmaker and full-time author who is known for her lively children’s book illustrations, including Tomato Sandwich and Piano Fingers (both also written by Caroline). To be inspired by Caroline and see what she's creating next, please follow her on Instagram.
Each artist has such a unique journey. I would say that this being the case, try not to compare yourelf to other illustrators too much, and have faith that your own vision is what you have to offer the world. You need to be your own advocate and keep your enthusiasm in the rough and tumble that comes your way.
Caroline Magerl was born near Frankfurt in Germany and came to Australia when she was two. Until she was fourteen, she lived on a yacht, sailing the east coast of Australia with her family. Awarded the CBCA Crichton Award in 2001, Caroline is now an award-winning, internationally recognised illustrator, artist, printmaker and full-time author who is known for her lively children’s book illustrations, including Tomato Sandwich and Piano Fingers (both also written by Caroline). To be inspired by Caroline and see what she's creating next, please follow her on Instagram.
