Unicorn Series | prints available
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UK illustrator/designer Thereza Rowe creates beautifully infectious work hallmarked by a very distinctive signature style which is often playful and richly patternistic. Last August, I had the privilege of featuring her illustration and design work when AQ-V was especially young (see here). Then I included highlights from Thereza’s fantastic El Justiciero solo art exhibit in addition to a small batch of Q/A’s. This was well before I had began a formal interview series. I knew I wanted to revisit Thereza’s marvelous work and conduct a full interview with her. Read/look on and enjoy…
Chicken Pox
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Q: Please tell us about yourself.
A: I live and work in London as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer. I drink a lot of pink milk, sometimes a whole carton in just one sitting. (Thereza later explained this is strawberry milk.) I was born in Brazil but have dual nationality Brazilian/British (contrasting combination, I know…). My degree was Graphic Information Design but due to my love for image making I’ve been developing and specializing in illustration. They say illustration is the poor cousin of graphic design, well if that’s so, I’m definitely more drawn to the ‘poor’ relation. In fact I never understood why it had to be two separate things. It’s all visual communication, right?! I have a surreal and hyperactive head and drawing allows me to creatively express whatever comes out of it.
Bandit Chickens | prints | pillow cover
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Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Simple, minimal, naïve, playful and representational of the world as I see it. I like to convey human actions and emotions through drawings of animals and creatures, a lot of the time, imaginary ones. I love the power of bold geometric forms combined with the use of colour and my work tends to rely on happy accidents as a direct result of playing.
(The two Q/A’s above were re-published from my initial article, August 18, 2009)
Amelia’s Anthology of Illustration | books available
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Q: How has your dual nationality and triple linguistic talents influenced your work?
A: I guess it gives me extra perspective in terms of perception and how the different cultures and ways of conveying communication can cross harmoniously. Most of the time my thinking process happens in English but sometimes I deliberately make myself think in Portuguese or Spanish to see what I can draw from it. It may be from memories, collected imagery, a particular film or a childhood program I used to watch and as a consequence different ideas begin to flow.
Workspace
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Q: What/who inspires you?
A: That would make a looong list! Anything that catches my senses. At the moment I’m inspired by the Barbapapas and The Pink Panther cartoons both of which I used to watch as a little child. Also Brazilian Cordel literature as I love the woodblock printing and style of illustrations used on those folk poetry booklets. I also have collections which I often refer to. Postcards, vintage signs and wooden toys, Pedro Almodovar’s films, etc.
Fox Ride | prints available
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Q: What are your favorite materials?
A: Paper, hundreds of pens and acrylic ink would be on top of my list but I really thrive on experimenting with other materials and mediums. Trying something new is always so exciting! I recently got myself a sewing machine and have been planning to start playing with ways to integrate thread into my artwork. Watch this space. :)
Shop goods | prints available
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Gullzilla | Giant seagull invades Australian news report | see clip
Q: Tell me about the projects you are currently working on.
A: I recently finished illustrating a whole feature set for Amelia’s Anthology of Illustration (best illustration book currently around, in my opinion), also a wallet for Poketo which will be released soon and am now beginning to work on some other briefs, one that involves a graphic novel for a charity, which will hopefully be a collaboration with the uber talented (illustrator/animator) Lesley Barnes. (Read my recent interview with Lesley here.) Plus I’m starting on another collaboration with Estibaliz Hernandez for a childrens card game with some other top artists which we’ll be able to name when it’s all confirmed. Busy times!
Studio
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Q: What might be your dream project and why?
A: Well, I could say that designing a whole promotional package (ie. Movie poster, dvd cover, etc) for one of Almodovar’s films would be a dream project as I love the colours and aesthetics of his productions. But ultimately, I think my dream project is to be able to continue to do what I love as all projects I get involved with give me great joy and fullfilment both as a professional and as an individual.
Workspace / Inspiration Wall
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[ All images ©Thereza Rowe ]
I am very grateful to Thereza for sharing her beautiful work and her time!
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>> See more of Thereza’s work on her website + blog + shop + flickr
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
ace interview - thereza is the best! love the chickens
Agreed, great work, love it all and her flickr stream is fantastic!
Way to go Thereza! It’s good to see how her work has evolved and developed over the pst couple of years. Fantastic artist and interview.
I love her work too - been meaning to write about her ever since I saw your interview last summer. I’m amazed at how much her work has evolved!
Yes, I’ve too been following Thereza for some tíme now … and even though she was Fantastic before she’s just getting better and better. Like in a fairy tale: the unbelievably beautiful princess grows more beautiful everyday.
A joy to read this interview with Thereza, and to see more of her inspiring work most imaginative.
(Tiny Red, I love Pedro Almodovar’s films too.)
Thereza’s work is fantastic, it inspires me and makes me smile. I love her way of thinking and how she manages to create awesome pieces with plain colors and shapes. I’m so flattered she mentioned me. Thanks Thereza!