We checked in with illustrator Amy Sol and asked her about the impact her workspace has on her unique interpretative style: ‘It’s pretty minimal and not necessarily clean all the time. If you visit me you can tell immediately how busy I am by how messy my place is. I like my work environment to be comfy but clear of too many visual distractions. I don’t have much artwork or anything interesting on my walls, but I do like flowers and plants near me. I’ve got so much going on in my head, external visual stimulation often goes unappreciated in my studio’.

amy sol

amy sol

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One of our favourite illustrators, the New York-based Christopher Neal, just happens to share a studio space with Sam Weber. Oh man! To be a extra large fly on that wall. It would be so tempting to attach a canvas to your back and just buzz on out of there! We asked Neal what he would have done with his life if art and illustration hadn’t yanked him so firmly by the hand: ‘I think about it all the time. Before I got into illustration I played in a band and was set on a long career in music. Then I started working as a graphic designer. Finally, I fell into Illustration. My days playing in a band seem like a life time ago. It’s possible that I will find some other passion and look back on illustration the way I look back on music now. I’ve always been intrigued by film-making … Who knows, I may even come crawling back to music one of these days. I guess a lot of it depends on how I change as a person and how the Illustration industry changes over time. It’s hard to predict’.

New York artist James Jean doesn’t need any introduction. But, just in case you haven’t seen his work yet, take a peek now. And forever be in awe. We caught up with him recently in his studio and asked him about the props for his daily inspiration: ‘Sometimes I’ll have my laptop setup next to my work station so that I can listen to audio books, the radio, or have videos playing in the background. But mostly inspiration comes from books and magazines’.

Are you usually working on a series of paintings or illustrations at a time, or do you work on one until it’s finished and then move on?
‘I have a variety of things happening at the same time. A few projects on the computer and a few paintings on the easel at all times.Since I’m working on my show at Jonathan Levine, I actually have 3 easels and some unfinished pieces hanging up in the garage studio. It’s always nice to have something in progress waiting for a resolution. It’s how I get up in the morning’.

Is there a time of day in your studio when you generally feel most creative?
’10:00am – 10:00pm’.

What’s your studio missing that it could do with right now?
‘A fan. Things can get pretty heated in here’.

Seen any young artists or illustrators lately whose work has floored you?
‘I hired Jared Purrington not long ago to work with me on finishing storyboard for the Prada animated film, Trembled Blossoms. The site doesn’t do justice to his work, but I look forward to seeing great things from him in the future. I always enjoy the work of Jillian Tamaki, Josh Cochran, and Frank Stockton’.