After sharing my 2016 Paperblanks diary (above) on Instagram, Paperblanks contacted me to find out if I was interested in being interviewed for their blog, Endpaper. I've loved Paperblanks products for many years, so it was an honour to be recognised by them via my little social media post. The questions they sent were great and very specific to my work, so it was lovely to get the opportunity to talk about it in detail. My answers for them include discussing my plans for 2016, how graphic design has influenced my art and what has inspired my most personal project so far. Check out the interview in full on the Paperblanks blog.
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I was asked by Computer Arts to give a brief description of three items which summarise my personal style. It was harder than I realised to narrow it down to such a small number but I eventually chose a Head Wrap (goes without saying), Gold Jewellery (never not on me somewhere) and Vintage Blouses (because I a love unique bargain). The spot illustrations featured for this piece were created by Mat Roff. You can view more snippets of my personal style on my Instagram account. Issue #240 is on sale now.
A couple of months ago, I was honoured to be asked by Computer Arts to illustrate the typographic section openers for their 2014 CA Collection Illustration Annual. As I primarily draw and colour my work by hand, I immediately knew that it was a huge task but a challenge I wanted to take on nonetheless. I love creating abstract, typographic artwork but don't have many opportunities to do so. Here, I was given the chance to produce not one but TEN typographic illustrations. Above are just a few WIP shots of this expansive project. A few days into working on this assignment, it was confirmed that I would also be interviewed for the Illustration Annual and a photographer would be sent to shoot me working. As a self-confessed awkward and shy person, this proposition was extremely daunting but I swallowed my reservations and agreed.
As expected, I was completely gawky and weird on the day of the shoot but I did manage to relax and have fun. I created a cute, little faux studio setup at the home of my boyfriend (because my true place of work is far less glamourous!) and even had an extended shoot with him after the real professional photographer had left. The four images above are taken from that playful, amateur session.
It was really lovely to see all the artwork and interview once the Illustration Annual was published. There were a lot of early mornings and late nights needed to complete this project on time but it's always satisfying to know the dedication was worth it when you get results you're happy with. Make sure to grab a copy to see my work and to read the interview in full!
For their latest issue #218, Computer Arts asked me and other freelancers if we consider other freelancers as rivals or allies. Get a copy to see all of our answers!
A really big thanks to Computer Arts for featuring my work in the Computer Arts Collection Illustration issue in March and in Computer Arts issue 214 in May! Both issues contain interviews and an in-depth look at the creative process of recent projects I was involved with. Computer Arts Collection features the progress of the artwork I created for MAC Cosmetics released last year. Computer Arts contains the progress of the latest mixed-media piece I designed for LoveDough this year. I'm an advocate for documenting the creative process so it was a great honour for Computer Arts to publish the developments of projects I loved working on.
All work and content © Nikki Farquharson 2007 - 2023. All rights reserved.