kikki.K window illustration, photographed by Brooke Holm
FK chats to Meeri Anneli, an amazingly talented illustrator and artist behind our latest Finders Keepers flyers!
Can you tell us about your background and describe your style of artwork and how it has evolved?
My work is mostly naturalistic & botanical inspired – with some stylistic illustrations & sometimes water colour patterns involved… It has evolved in that I moved from portraiture and people to nature and the natural world. My background is in Fine Arts – I studied in Australia and graduated from UWS with a BA Fine Arts, and then I moved overseas to Helsinki, Finland to complete my MA Environmental Art at The University of Art & Design Helsinki. Living abroad is very inspiring – although my drawing was put on hold for a little while (my work overseas was more sculptural and textile-based) all the experiences over there still fuel my inspirations and work now. Currently I work as a Stationery Designer, and so again my illustration style is very different for this purpose. I enjoy delving into different illustration worlds.
We absolutely love the amazing poster you created for the upcoming Finders Keepers, Melbourne Market! Can you give us an insight into the inspiration behind it?
Thank you 🙂 This poster was inspired by timeless adventure – camping in the wilderness and explorations…
“Notebook Mountaineering”, collaboration with Photographer Brooke Holm.
Who are you favourite artists? and what inspires your work?
I’ve always been a big fan of Norman Lindsay’s work. I love that he was a prolific artist in numerous mediums, and that he also created children’s books.
Another favourite is the work of the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood.
My own drawing & illustration work is inspired by the idea/s of exploration, and a sense of voyeuristic travel – within the natural world (in our minds and in the world). The natural world is a major driving force for me.
What materials and mediums do you enjoy working with and exploring? And what other areas would you like to explore or expand into?
I use mostly pencil, sometimes water colour and a little gouache. I would like to expand into mixing mediums a little more… Perhaps some ink/pen with water colour, and maybe even using some hand embroidery…
“Notebook Mountaineering”, collaboration with Photographer Brooke Holm.
“Notebook Mountaineering”, collaboration with Photographer Brooke Holm.
“Notebook Mountaineering”, collaboration with Photographer Brooke Holm.
Describe your workspace and surroundings and what your creative process is?
My desk space is a world of organised chaos – I like a lot of light when I’m working and my desk is quite large… I surround myself with current inspirations on the wall, and try to update this regularly.
When I’m about to start working on a drawing I put my headphones on, have a cup of tea next to me and just try to get lost in the work, in the detail and the elements of whatever I am drawing. It is quite therapeutic and relaxing!
What advice would you give other artists/illustrators starting out?
Be prolific, original and work hard.
Illustrations for Frankie Magazine
Illustrations for Frankie Magazine
What kind of clients have you got to work with, and what have been some of your favourite projects?
I’ve worked with Frankie Magazine – a collaboration between myself and photographer Amanda Austin was featured in Issue 37 (illustrations with a fashion editorial). A recent favourite project was working with Papier Mache magazine, I illustrated the cover for the Print Issue 5 that came out early March this year.
And, another fun project is an ongoing collaboration between myself and the lovely Photographer Brooke Holm. We’ve been developing a series combining her Photographs and my hand-drawn type, titled Notebook Mountaineering (developed from my own drawing series titled the same).
What aspirations do you have for the future and what would be your dream project?
I aspire to draw a lot more! And my dream project would be illustrating an entire book…
