Elusive Muse is pleased to share an exclusive interview with illustrator Lorna Leigh Harrington.
To see even more of Lorna’s work follow any of the links below:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | ETSY | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM
©Danielle Kroll, Lorna Leigh Harrington
How would you describe your art?
I would describe it as dreamy, and aggressively cute.
How long have you been an artist and how did you become an artist?
It sounds cliche but I feel like I have always been an artist. My grandfather Joseph was fantastic at sketching, and would always encourage me to draw from a young age. I spent a lot of my childhood doodling, at school I was only really interested in art! I tried to get into performing arts, but I wasn’t comfortable in projecting myself in such a “look at me” way. I was also really bad at math, and still am to this day. Being creative makes me feel like myself. It is cathartic and lets me escape from the world for an hour or two. I graduated from The University of Portsmouth back in 2011 (gosh I feel old) and I guess I have been working as an artist since then.
What is your favorite medium and why?
It changes. When I was at school all I ever would work with was acrylic and canvas. University really changed my direction as an artist and opened my eyes to the world of illustration. I remember during my interview for University being told I would never work on a canvas again…..and I’m not sure if I have since!
At the moment I’m really into detailed line drawings, I get really hooked on adding detail to an image. The pens usually run out far too quickly.
Pick one work of art from your portfolio and tell us the story behind it. Why does this piece have meaning to you? What steps did you take to create the piece?
Probably a piece entitled ‘Wolf and Boy’ as I think it was the first illustration I created after University that I actually liked. This piece was created as an initial doodle, that I then took into photoshop and added some old scanned paper too. I felt quite lost at this time in my life, I was missing the independence of living away from home, and my friends. I was also working in a really boring, mundane office. I used to sit at my desk looking at excel spreadsheets waiting for it to reach home time so I could go home and draw. My Mum used to tell me that I was still an illustrator and that my job started when I would pick up a pencil in the evenings.
Wolf and Boy
Tell us about one medium, technique or style that you would like to try working with (that you have not tried before) and why you would like to try this.
I have a great respect for animators and filmmakers. That is something that I definitely want to try and pursue in the future.
How do you make time for art?
It isn’t always easy! I work as a freelance Graphic Designer as well, so I have to balance my time between various offices and my studio. I have to be in the right frame of mind. I find that if I force myself to sit down and work the chances are I won’t be happy with the outcome. My favorite pieces are usually created during evenings when I’m on my sofa watching episodes of Friends!
If you could imagine the “perfect art day” for yourself, what would it be like?
Probably waking up, cuddling my cat, having breakfast out somewhere with my boyfriend and then heading to my art studio. It’s located just around the corner from my flat, so the location is ideal for me. I like hiding away for hours listening to music.
If you could spend 24 hours with one artist, living or historical, who would you want to spend the day with and why? What would the two of you do?
That’s a good question….. there are so many artists that I am inspired by. Henri Rousseau springs to mind at the moment, as I love his animal paintings. Either him or Picasso, although if I spent the day with him it would probably end in an Absinthe induced coma!
Do you have any tips or advice for aspiring artists?
Keep trying, and remember what made you start sketching. Success doesn’t happen overnight for artists, there is no x-factor equivalent sadly!
