by Nancy on June 19, 2012
Today, we are excited to post the second week of Grace Lee’s sketches (done exclusively for Anthology!). This time around, Grace is sharing drawings of some of her most treasured items. I especially love the illustration of her cat clock; I can completely visualize the real thing hanging up on a wall. We also asked Grace a few questions about her life and work in Japan.
When did you start drawing and decide to become an illustrator?
I studied visual communications at university and worked as a designer for about four years before moving to Japan. While working on editorials and advertising, I was really lucky to have brilliant art directors who let me do line illustrations on layouts that needed it. Originally when I came to Japan, I thought I wanted to continue doing design, but decided about a year ago that I enjoyed illustration more. I guess that’s when I made the switch and started to really focus on drawing.
Why did you make the big move to Japan?
When I was a teenager, my sister was a ‘host mother’ to a Japanese home-stay student and we sort of became pen-pals. She would send me bits and pieces from Japan and vice-versa. My brother-in-law also loved Japan a lot, so both of these factors had a huge influence on my moving here. After my first visit in 2007, I decided that I’d like to try living here. It’s a great source of inspiration for work and just such an amazing place to live. Things that are everyday here, are still so interesting and new to me even after two and a half years on.
Do you plan on living there much longer?
I have three more years on my visa, so I’m thinking I’ll stay for at least another two if not the whole three. I love traveling around Japan, so I probably won’t be leaving until I’ve visited most of the places I’d like to see on my list.
The cat clock’s name is Simone (as written on the box) but unfortunately I’ve since had to shut Simone down. The relentless noise her sliding tail was all too much. Eventually when I leave Japan, I’ll be taking Simone with me. She was given to me from my amazing and funny friend Mary. A couple of years ago, Mary came to visit and also bought me my pink fridge.
Blue pouch: This was from my mum. My mum has a whole drawer of these types of pouches. She gave this one to me (with some rosary beads inside) before I left for Japan. I’m not a believer like her, but the pouch and those beads always remind me of how much she believes in me.
Red cuff links: When I first moved to Japan and I didn’t have a lot of money. I needed to buy a suit for a job interview. One of my oldest and dearest friends, Michelle, sent a suit, shirt, and these cuff links over. They meant something to her and she passed them on to me to give me a bit of luck.
I don’t even think my sister knows, but I still have this Thoreau magnet from when I graduated from high school in 1997. Anne gave this to me back then and I brought it with me to Japan as a reminder of why I came.
by Nancy on June 13, 2012
I am very excited to kick off the second installment of our Sketches Exclusive series today with freelance illustrator Grace Lee. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Grace currently lives and works in Tokyo, Japan. I can see some of the Japanese influence coming through in her latest drawings, and I love how she playfully captures the smallest details in objects, like the patterns that line envelopes and the decorative borders on a condiment jar, that most people do not notice. It makes you stop and appreciate the things you see everyday. These illustrations were all inspired by patterns around the house; for more information, you can read Grace’s descriptions of each image below. We’ll be sharing more of Grace’s original work in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
Patterns from my electricity, gas, water, and mobile bill envelopes. I’m pretty sure the inside of utility bills back home were white. I don’t even remember keeping them.
I got this top from the local ward office bazaar. It was a lucky find, because the market was being held on the day I just happened to be going to get my resident card renewed. Plus, it was only 150 yen! I love the painterly floral pattern on the black fabric.
I love Japanese packaging. It’s completely different to stuff I’d find back home. I love the small details and unfamiliarity of it all. I really like the little white pattern running across the top of the honey bottle, the ‘coffee art’ markings on these addictive matcha latte chocolate cookies and the cute drawings on these matchboxes. There’s a different animal for each month and they’re all designed in the same way.
{Top photo taken by CBA}
by kate on February 2, 2012
It’s been such a treat for us to kick off our Sketches Exclusive column with the warm, amiable, and immeasurably talented Kim Krans of The Wild Unknown. Kim was kind enough to share a few of her old drawings and even make a few new ones exclusively for the site. Today will wrap up Kim’s series, so we decided to share a brief interview and a little celebratory treat for you all: Kim is offering Anthology readers a 10% discount on all items until the end of the weekend!
Simply visit her shop and enter the coupon code ANTHOLOGY10 at checkout to receive your discount. The offer ends Sunday at midnight EST, but I wouldn’t wait to head over there and shop the collection, as Kim’s coveted pieces can sell out quickly. You can read our interview with Kim and see her last pair of sketches below. Thanks so much for kicking off the series, Kim!
When did you first start making artwork?
My first official “job” as an artist was when my dad and his buddies paid me five dollars an hour to paint logos and characters on the sides of stock cars that they’d race on Sundays (picture very rural Michigan in the late 80’s). So I’d have to paint the Tasmanian Devil holding checkered flags, phrases written out of flames, that type of thing.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I get excited to draw just about any furry little creature… oh and I find lots of inspiration at our cabin upstate.
How has your creative process changed over the years?
The biggest change is that I’ve become open to making artwork that is affordable and appealing to a wider range of people, not just art for galleries. This was an absolutely liberating realization!
Do you have any routines or practices that you find helpful for working creatively?
Listening to records I love!
How many drawings/sketches/paintings do you create a year?
Eeeek, I make hundreds and hundreds of drawings a year! Sketches, doodles, finished pieces… thank god for flat files. I haven’t thrown any artwork away in a long time, but there are plenty of pieces that don’t end up being used for anything.
You just published a children’s book, ABC Dream. How did that project come about?
ABC Dream has a really simple concept, but its drawn in a way that gives kids and parents a break from the usual brightly colored and cartoony alphabet books. The books I love the most create an entire world that I can escape into, so I wanted to make a magical, intricate black & white world in ABC Dream. A few days ago I shipped my first order of books to the Whitney Museum and I just about cried with excitement!
What was the process for taking the book from idea to completion?
I spent quite a bit of time researching and sketching out each page, but once I was ready I drew like crazy for about 2 months and then had a fully realized book in my hands.
What are you looking forward to in 2012?
Finishing the drawings for my second children’s book… and drumroll… oh I can’t disclose the other project I’m working on! My instagram followers might know…
What’s the biggest challenge of your creative profession?
Phew, this is a big one: steering the wheel! Making sure that my day to day work is steering my business and life in the direction I want it to go. We live in a very distracting world and I could easily end up invoicing, emailing, making a few little drawings, and generally tweeting away my entire year. So I prioritize drawing, and I try to constantly envision my longterm goals, even though every day is filled with a zillion small tasks. Grab the wheel and turn it towards what you want!
by kate on January 26, 2012
Coming up shortly, we have a special sneak peek at the making of the cover for Issue 6, which will be hitting stands very soon. But first, we’re thrilled to share the third installment in our Sketches Exclusive series with Kim Krans of The Wild Unknown. Kim has been sharing a few pages from her old sketchbooks, and has been kind of to create a few original drawings for the site. This week, she takes her inspiration from the intricate beauty of nature. Thanks for sharing, Kim!
How amazing are snowflakes and spiderwebs? Each is based on radial symmetry, but has its own unique, intricate, fragile structure. I also like how easily they disappear, and that you can’t keep or collect them. Magic! —Kim
by kate on January 19, 2012
We’re thrilled to share Kim’s second week of sketches. This week Kim was digging through her archives and spotted these two portraits. Kim’s love of country music runs deep, and her inspiration for these drawings are two of country music’s greatest legends. It’s cool to compare the loose, breezy drawing style of these to her newer work from last week; I like the use of little dots to create both the depth in the faces and the pattern for the border. Thanks for sharing some treasures from your past, Kim!
During the winter months I try to make my house and studio space as cozy as possible. One way I do this is to have my favorite country records from the ’60s and ’70s spinning non-stop on the record player. There are so many amazing singers and musicians from that time, but Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton have always been on the top of my list. I found these portraits I made a few years ago in my drawing archive. — Kim
Willie Nelson portrait: My favorite Willie record is Stardust. So perfect for cuddling up to! The album artwork is amazing, too.
Dolly Parton portrait: The list of great female country music stars is endless … but I love drawing Dolly because she’s become such an icon. “Coat of Many Colors” is my favorite of her records.
