@orangejuicefordinner

Instagram: @orangejuicefordinner

1. What's your story? Where are you from?

I’m from Southampton in the U.K! I have been drawing since I was young and have always loved doing it. It makes me so happy and I’m determined to one day make it my full time job. I just haven’t figured how to get to that part yet :-)

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

I really love having a minimal and simple style but I feel like the more I develop, the more colour I’m starting to use. I really love neutral colours but I’m beginning to explore more variety and use more pops of colour in my art which I really like, but it depends on what sort of piece I’m doing! If I had to sum it up I’d probably say it’s playfully basic?

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

Most of my illustrations are digital, which I have really gotten used to as it’s so versatile and you’ve basically got a choice of everything to draw with. If it’s not digital then I use paint/poscas on some watercolour paper or any paper that’s nice and thick! For my portrait art I usually use super thin Sakura markers.

4. What is your artistic process like?

I always try and think about what I’m drawing about before I start. Sometimes I really struggle to think about it so I’ll just start drawing and just go with it to see what I end up with! I’ve also started drawing album covers in my style during lockdown which I really love doing. 

5. Who and/or what inspires your work? 

There are SO many artists I love that I’m inspired by but most of the inspiration comes from day-to-day situations and little phrases that come into my head. Sometimes photos are the inspiration, or songs but it’s usually just normal stuff. Sometimes hear things when I’m out in public and I’ll be like ‘Oh I’m using that later’ if I can remember it! Sometimes normal mundane situations are the best things to work with.

6. What role does art play in your life? How does it change the way you view the world?

Art makes me SO happy like I can’t explain it. I’ve been drawing since I was little, I’ve always loved going to art museums and I love all forms of it, music, film, animation, I’ve always wanted to do arty stuff. I think if we didn’t have it, the world would be grey if that makes sense. Especially during the last couple of months I feel like a lot of people including myself have come to appreciate art a lot more than before. If we had to spend the last few months indoors with no art, no music, no movies, no drawing what would there be to do? Art is an outlet for many and it helps with a lot of people’s mental health too. 

7. Where did you study?

I haven’t been to uni, but I’m really starting to think about going one day. I went to college but I didn’t enjoy it at all and when I left I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. Now I’m absolutely sure I want a career in illustration, maybe animation so I’m looking into it a bit more but I’m not 100% as I don’t want to hate it, but I guess you’ll never know until you try!

8. Where do you see yourself in five years?

I’d love to have a full time career in illustration or animation one day, maybe in 5 years but who knows?! I’d like to have my own place at this point too, a little creative space somewhere nice making art all day everyday with my dog :-)

9. What about in ten?

Same as 5, but with more sausage dogs.

10. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

The one thing I would LOVE is to make a living with either selling my art, or having a career in the industry. I want to send out positive messages with it more than anything, because a lot of people including myself use art to make themselves feel better and I’d love it if my work had that positive effect on others. 

11. Now, tell us a little more about you as a person: what is your favourite food?

This is so hard because I love pretty much everything. The first thing that comes into my head is fajitas. Or anything that’s covered in cheese.

12. Favourite book?

I really like crime and murder mystery books so anything by M. J. Arlidge is really good! I also love The Help, that book is amazing, and The Green Mile. Also Harry Potter books. They’re better than the movies. 

13. Favourite genre of music? 

I like everything! My favourite band since I was young is Panic! At The Disco. I also love Harry Styles, Queen, Elton John and lots of 70s/80s music! 

14. What are your hobbies? 

Drawing mostly. I’ve started playing around with clay too which is fun but you need the patience of a saint and I want to throw it out the window most of the time. I also like photography, mostly film! 

15. If you weren't an artist, what would you be?

If I could sing, I would love to be in music but I have a horrible voice. Maybe also a florist, I love flowers!