Irene Owens

Here is an interview with my friend, fantastic artist and illustrator Irene Owens. Enjoy!!!

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Irene, I'm 28 and I live in London with my husband and our nine month old son Riley. I'm a painter and a scribbler, I collect children's books and I have recently opened a shop on Etsy where I sell my art. 

When did you first become interested in illustrating?

I honestly can't remember a time when I wasn't drawing! My Mum is a fantastic artist and I think I started drawing trying to copy her. We always had plenty of art supplies at home so it was a great environment for creativity.

Describe your average day.

Well, since my son was born, my routine has changed so many times! Right now we're hibernating :) We get up at 7, have breakfast, go for a walk, then chill out at home. I try to draw or do some blogging whenever I can spare a minute during the day. When Riley is tucked in bed for the night, I paint! Or draw. Or take photographs for the Etsy shop and list new items. I blog. I read blogs. This continues well into the night.

Where does your inspiration come from?

A lot of my inspiration comes from dreams. I also actively look for illustrations and pictures that might inspire me. My collection of children's books is another great source of inspiration. All I need is a spec of an idea and then I can grow it into something special.

What is your working environment like? (you can provide pictures if you like)

My desk is incredibly messy! Any attempt to tidy it up lasts for about 5 minutes and then it's back to chaos!

What tips would you give to people thinking about becoming illustrators?
I think it's important to stand out in the crowd. The competition is so fierce in this industry! However, I believe that you need to stay true to yourself. Draw a lot.  Hone your skills, learn different techniques. Love what you're doing. Don't get discoraged when you face rejection, you can't please everyone.
 

What 5 things do you love doing most?

Spending time with my family, painting, drawing, reading, cooking

Which 3 websites could you not live without?

Etsy.com

DeviantArt.com

Lots of blogs, cann't possibly mention all of them

Who are your 3 favorite illustrators?

Ayano Imai, Rebecca Dautremer, Igor Oleynikov

Where can people find your work?

My website irenesart.net

http://ireneshpak.deviantart.com/

my blog http://tinyredart.blogspot.com/