Katerina Kerouli
How would you describe your work to someone who has never seen it before?
Hmmm, I’d say my style is constantly progressing and changing at the moment and haven’t yet nailed a specific ‘style’, maybe because I’m constantly changing myself, finding new inspiration every day and wanting to progress. I find it quite fun being able to try out different ways of illustrating when I can. I’d say currently however, my illustrations can be humorous, innocent yet quite playful and drawn to pastel and neutral colour palettes.
How did you start off in the arts?
Growing up in Greece till the age of sixteen, arts and crafts were non existent at school, so my mum would always try and use her initiative and get us involved with arty activities at home, from drawing ourselves on walls to making Christmas cards. When reaching the age of sixteen, I was still very much into my art, sooo, I decided to move in with my Nana and Grandad in Bristol, where the arts and crafts were far more accessible. Spoilt myself with picking up as many art subjects as I possible could in sixth form and one thing led to another..
How/when did you realise that you were an artist?
I don’t think I have ever properly come to that realisation. Possibly when I decided that my career was going to be in the arts?!
Please describe a typical day of art making for you.
Ohh depends which day of the week it is? If it’s a Monday – Friday, I get on my little purple Giant bike, ride to work, pick up a croissant on the way and get cracking with work at the graphic design agency I work at. If its the weekend and a day of illustration, I have a little lie in, eventually start getting creative at my desk in my bay window whilst people watching De Beauvoir Square and stay up till early mornings when most ideas come to mind.
What contemporary artists or developments in illustration do you find interesting right now?
Well. I admire dozens and dozens of illustrators and artists. My current ones however are Gemma O’Brien for her murals and typography and Timba Smits, Jon Klassen and Ruby Taylor for their illustrations and storytelling.
How long does it typically take you to finish a piece?
Oooh well that must depend on what piece it is? I could do a line drawing piece in a couple of hours, or I can produce a children’s book in a couple of months. The idea is certainly what takes the longest, but always worth the wait.
What do you do (or what do you enjoy doing) when you’re not creating?
I love the outdoors, so I tend to get on my bike and explore the numerous areas of the city I have not yet seen, even though I would prefer to do that in the country side and get out of London as much as possible. I am also quite keen in climbing and photography.
Any advice for aspiring young illustrators?
PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE, even if you’re not that sort of person, a chat or an email can get you surprisingly far. Keep faith in your work, take risks, keep the ideas constantly rolling, even if its just noting ideas down in a notebook. Get to know when to sacrifice parts of your life for your work and when not to. Oh. And do lots of it 🙂
