Nathalie Lété
Robbie the robot, and Blanche the rabbit by Nathalie Lété.
New at the little dröm store.
Also available at our online store: http://shop.thelittledromstore.com/
dröm sessions: Lili Scratchy
We catch up with French illustrator – Frédérique Bellier, better known as Lili Scratchy! Read our full interview with here over at our website here.
” I would tell all aspiring illustrators out there that having the sensibility is more important than the technique. To feed your spirit, with readings, exhibitions, movies and music. Keeping your eyes & ears open very big!!!” ~ Lili Scratchy
Lili Scratchy’s badges and postcards are also available at the little drôm store!
Gemma drawing for her exhibition mural at Chapter, Cardiff.
Happy December all you drömmers! We’re sure Gemma is no stranger to many of you, you might have already stumbled upon her works on magazines such as Frankie and Anorak.
We all know her illustrations never ever fail to put smiles on faces, they could possibly chase all your Monday blues away too. Occasionally, we’ve even had customers giggling to themselves quietly at a corner while browsing Gemma’s products over at our store.
And so, especially to all you pug lovers out there, this month we speak to UK illustrator Gemma Correll!!
#1) Hello there Gemma! We’d like to know how did illustration became a part of who you are, what started your passion?
As a child, the things I loved to do most were read books and draw pictures. My parents had some cartoon books, like The Far Side and annuals by the British cartoonist Giles and I’d spend hours reading those. Even though I didn’t completely understand them, I loved the combination of text and image with humour. I’d collect old notepads and make my own “books” and I wrote and illustrated a page in my church newsletter every month for nearly 10 years. At school, I used any project as an excuse to draw cartoons and I entered lots of competitions, too. I knew very early in my life that I wanted to draw and write for a living.
Cartoons for Emirates Airlines In-Flight magazine 2
#2) Seeing that you always draw up something daily, we’d imagine you’d have heaps of sketch books/pads by now, how do you decide/choose which illustrations get to see the light of day? What inspires you to illustrate the way do?
Yes, I have lots of sketchbooks. I love them. I think they’re the things I would save first (apart from the Pugs and Anthony, obviously) if my house was on fire. I keep the ideas until they fit a particular project, or sometimes if I really like an idea and I have a bit of spare time, I’ll draw it up ‘properly’. My style is very quick and intuitive, I like to get my ideas down onto paper in the simplest way possible.
#3) What are some of your favorite tool/object from our studio, things that you love very much?
My favourite things are really just the simple necessities- my sketchbooks, paper, pens and pencils and inks. My chair is pretty comfy, too.
pictured above are snippets of Gemma’s studio#4) Do you have an all time favorite Gemma Correll illustration/project piece/product?
I guess it would have to be my “Pugs Not Drugs” illustration. Even though I am kind of sick of it now, it is my most popular image and it’s really helped my work get noticed, especially since it’s been printed on various different products, including T-shirts and tote bags. It’s a couple of years old now (I drew it in 2009) but it’s still popular and it reminds me of Mr Pickles, because sales of the tote bag helped me raise the money I needed to buy a pug puppy!
Gemma and Mr Pickles
#5) What are some of the things you do to cheer yourself up, or to relieve you from any ideas block? Any favorite places you’d visit or some of your all time comfort food that do the trick?
We have a local café that I love to visit, we are friends with the staff and they always cheer me up while also providing me with much-needed caffeine. I also like to go for a walk- if it’s not raining- with the pugs or have a look in some secondhand “charity” shops in the neighbourhood. If I’m having an ideas block, I often read some magazines or the newspaper, somewhere comfy, with my sketchbook next to me. That usually helps!
Gemma Correll badges for Made By White
A snippet from Gemma’s What I Wore Today collection
#6) Your husband, Anthony Zinonos, is also an illustrator, how do you both inspire and encourage each other? It’s always heartening to know that your partner is also in the same industry, that way, both are able to better understand and share each other’s woes and joys as artists. (Our puggiest congrats on your recent wedding too btw!!)
We both work in the same studio, so it’s nice working together in a comfortable silence or with some nice music and being able to bounce ideas off each other. Our illustration styles are very different- mine is cartoon-y and he does collage - but we share a similar sense of humour which comes across in our work in different ways. It’s great to be able to help each other with the less-fun bits of being freelance, like accounts and admin, and we both understand that freelance hours are not the standard 9-5 but encourage each other not to overwork and to take breaks and eat proper meals!
Screenshot of Anthony’s Website.
#7) What are both of your biggest aspiration as illustrators, do you & Anthony have any future plans to collaborate or perhaps even set up a design/illustration studio?
We are always talking about collaborating, but we never have time. I guess we’ll do it one day. We would both love to live in America somewhere and have a big open plan studio but I don’t know if that will even happen, realistically.
An embroidery for “Ceci n’est pas un Pug” at Land Gallery PDX
#8) Your super adorable pugs, Mr Norman Pickles & Bella must be such bundles of joy to have around your studio! Do they bug you at all while you are working, secretly hoping for some treats and walkies? How are you able to resist their adorable silly faces? We know we can’t with our pugs around, we’re often very easily distracted by their subtle acts of emotional bribery. What are some of their quirks that often amuses both you and Anthony?
Usually, when we’re in the studio, the pugs will sleep in their baskets. Mr Pickles sometimes wants to play and it’s hard to say no when he looks so cute. He also likes to jump up on my lap while I’m working which is lovely but it’s not very easy to draw with him there! They are both so entertaining though, I love having them in the studio. They’re always making funny little noises. They have a basket each but Bella will often go and sit on top of poor Mr Pickles in his basket.
The tao of pug
Bella
Mr Norman Pickles
#9) Do you travel overseas frequently? Would you by any chance, ever pop by to our little sunny island, Singapore?
I do travel quite a lot. I’m very lucky. I’ve never been to Asia though (or anywhere further east than Cyprus, in fact) and I would absolutely love to visit Singapore. It looks beautiful.
Exhibition at Small Stuff 4 at Bird Gallery, Launderhill (Florida)
INKYGOODNESS exhibition at Custard Factory (Birmingham)
#10) Lastly, is there anything that you can say to advise or encourage all new/aspiring illustrators out there?
I always encourage aspiring illustrators to work hard and persevere, even though it can seem like an uphill struggle at times. You really have to love what you do. As they say, genius is one percent inspiration and ninety nine percent perspiration.
Mural for Comma exhibition (Oxford) with Mr Pickles basking in the sunlight!
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If you’d like to bring a piece of Gemma Correll’s awesomeness home, hop on over to our store! We’ve got a couple of Gemma’s products stocked at the little dröm store. For your (almost) daily dose of Gemma’s wit, visit her blog here!
Matryoshka Dolls
by Swedish Illustrator Ingela P. Arrhenius are now nesting in the little dröm store!
Available via our online store too, buy them online here!
July exhibition: Mary Bernadette
Happenstance is the visual playground spawned of rollicking good times and the bold prismatic play of water color, ink and childlike imagination. This was a wonderful opportunity to have fun and be spontaneous in creating fantastical variegated creatures. Each showcase artwork are one-off pieces and are also available in giclée print on archival paper. All are available for sale unless otherwise stated.
3rd July to 31July 2012
By artist Mary Bernadette at
the little dröm store
7 Ann Siang Hill
Singapore 069 791
For inquiries: hello@thelittledromsore.com
DRÖM SESSIONS
featuring :: Yamaguchi Yohei (Japan/Singapore) ::
Happy weekend to all you drömmers!
“dröm sessions” is something that we recently decided to introduce to our blog. We hope to seek out and feature some of our personal favorite artists/designers/crafters/creators, to share a little insight of what they do and also what goes behind their work(s).
To start with, we’d like to feature Yamaguchi Yohei, a Japanese artist currently residing in Singapore. At first, we were thinking if we should edit his answers, but we thought to ourselves: “You know what? Let’s leave them unedited, his replies are endearing and adorable as is!”
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Yamaguchi Yohei.
I am a native Japanese guy from Hokkaido in Japan. I am a certified language teacher, teaching Japanese to people here. At the same time, I am also doing some freelance illustrations for clients in Japan. My favorite food in Singapore are Economic rice and dessert, Chendol. My hobby is traveling around Asia countries.
Why do you love what you do?
I think drawing is a good communication tool for building good human relationship. Sports and music are as well. Using my drawings, I can communicate and connect with many people around the world. I always think my drawing is like my business card or identity card. For example, when someone ask me “who are you?” I can say “I’m an artist”. They see my drawings, they see me.
What started your passion in illustrating? What is the driving force behind your drawing passion?
I couldn’t remember exactly. I started having this great passion in drawing at a later age, compared to many people who might have started at a young age. I think probably anger, misery, some desire or when I feeling very negative about my life that make me draw. I would not draw if I’m completely happy and satisfy with my life. I just want to draw for people who wants to see my drawing. Guess drawing is my identity. I want to know people, so I use my drawing to make friends and connect to the world.
How long have you been living in Singapore?
I have been living here since Feb 2010.
Has living in Singapore changed you in anyway as an artist?
Singapore changed me a lot. I feel more relax here compare to the always fast paced Tokyo, and I can draw very freely now. Because no one and nothing here gives me stress.
How does is feel to as a Japanese illustrator/artist living in Singapore. Is these a huge cultural difference?
Living here, drawing here is great. Singapore is a stress free country compare to Tokyo. Culture differences? Yes of course I experience that all the time. But it does not hinder or affect the way I draw or how I draw.
We understand that your wife is a Singaporean, has she influenced or inspired you and your art in any way?
She is my number one fan! I always draw for her. I might not draw anymore if she says she does not want to see my drawing one day.
What do you hope to say or share with the public with your illustrations. Is there a message behind your illustrations?
I hope many people can see my drawings. Actually I always enjoy looking at peoples’ reactions when they look at my drawings for the first time. I don’t think too much when I started drawing, inspiration and feeling just come out naturally. I don’t have any special message for the public. I just hope everyone will love my drawings. That’s all.
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Selected artworks, collectively titled “It’s not dinner” is currently being exhibited at the little dröm store.
14 May to 31 May
(we’ve extended the exhibition to another extra week!)
The Little Drom store
7 Ann Siang Hill Singapore 069791
Tel +6562255541
open Daily 12pm - 8:30pm
except Thursday 12pm - 7pm
& Sunday 1pm - 7pm
the little dröm store exhibition: MAY
山口ヨウヘイ個展
“It’s not dinner” by Yamaguchi Yohei
2012. 5.14 - 6.2
The Little Drom store
7 Ann Siang Hill Singapore 069791
Tel +6562255541
open Daily 12pm - 8:30pm
except Thursday 12pm - 7pm
& Sunday 1pm - 7pm
*new* Living Things Series Zine Vol. 5 & 6
Artist contributions include APAK and Becca Stadtlander for issues 5 & 6, respectively. Volume 1 by Lizzy Stewart is also back in stock again.
View past issues 1 to 3 here.
Living Things Series Zines, Vol 1 to 6, now available at the little dröm store.
Fuwari, the hero of our hopes & dreams
Fuwari “Dreaming Dreaming” and the world portrayed by japanese artist Yusuke Shimura.
Button badges are now available at dröm,
