Introducing - Julie Mackey Yoke fEATURE FRIDAY
Drum roll please… for this #yokefeaturefriday we introduce the superb Illustrator Julie Mackey! We love Julie’s work because of it’s vibrant colours and clever approach to the subjects she paints. She specialises in watercolour and gouache paint.
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Hi Julie, so good to chat to you today.
Y: How would you define an Illustrator and what made you decide to become one?
J: An illustrator is a person who brings words to life with images. Like a dancer dancing to a beautiful song. I’ve always loved drawing, writing stories and reading. Growing up I just knew there was nothing else in the world that I wanted to do more.
Y: What kind of projects do you work on?
J: Editorial for papers and narrative illustrations for books.
Y: What is your creative process?
J: When a commission comes I will first read the book/poem/article while jotting ideas down in my sketchbook. Nine times out of ten my first couple of sketches will be the final image but I always have to explore every avenue before feeling really confident to go with my first image. It’s time consuming but I’ve always done this! Drawing about 40 images only to pick the first one!! Then I will scale up sketches and transfer over to work on my light box where I’ll paint with watercolour. Once finished I will scan and use photoshop to send files to editors.
Y: What are you working on at the moment?
J: I’m just finishing up the inside illustrations for a young readers book called ‘Fowl’ by Shaun McMahon - about a chicken who plays football and it’s fantastic!
Y: What is your favourite project you’ve done?
J: My favourite project to date was working with the Mums Poetry team illustrating the chapter pages for their anthology book. It was such a special project and such a privilege to be asked to put imagery to such beautiful poetry.
Y: What motivates you to create?
J: That feeling of going to sleep knowing I’ve made something special that day. I’m addicted to that feeling. Even if it’s something I don’t show anyone - just knowing I've made something - that’s what motivates me to create.
Y: Where do you find inspiration?
J: I feel inspired when reading - especially anything by Tove Jansson. I live by the sea so I’m blessed with fantastic opportunities for people watching, wonderful nature, and lots of boats. My children are a constant source of inspiration, they say and do the funniest things. I’m inspired by many artists and illustrators - Beatrice Alegmanga, Carson Ellis, Tomi Ungerer, Mama Andersson, Martin & Alice Provensen.
Y: What’s your favourite time to create?
J: Nighttime - as exhausting as it sounds when you have three children, working in the calm of the night is when I am fully focused.
Y: How useful has social media been for you?
J: It’s been a wonderful way to show my work, to get work coming in and to build creative friendships. Not only in illustration but there’s so many wonderful inspiring accounts I’ve discovered.
Y: What are your long term goals?
J: To publish my own children's book
Y: What would your dream project be?
J: Something big/large scale - to size up and do something huge!
Y: Any advice for people wanting to follow a similar creative path?
J: My advice to aspiring illustrators is to draw everyday and read as much as you can.
To see more of Julie’s work you can find her here:
