Donna McKenzie // Corella Design

Corella Design

Name: Donna McKenzie
Location: US/North Carolina
Website: www.corellasketchbook.blogspot.com

How about a brief introduction?
I am an artist/illustrator who believes that simple things are important. Music and movement feed my soul. As does chocolate, coffee, and red wine.

Who/what inspires you?
I am inspired by many other artist – their styles, ideas, the fact that each one is different and beautiful amazes me.

What message would you like to send out about your work?
That handmade – in my case hand drawn – is a worthy accomplishment. And have fun in everything you do.

What is your biggest accomplishment to date?
Corny but true. My two gorgeous children.

Share a secret with us!
Dance was my all and everything when I was growing up.

Sarah Anderson // Petit Reve

PetitReve

Name: Sarah Anderson
Location: Kansas City area (United States)
Website: http://unicornpoo.blogspot.com/

How about a brief introduction?

I’ve been an illustrator and designer at Hallmark cards for almost 10 years.
Every day I try to be open to all kinds of inspiration. Whether it’s a sweet old couple
holding hands in the park, a new song or and little critter in my backyard, good stuff
is everywhere if you keep your eyes and ears open.

Who/what inspires you?

I’ve been a fan of mid century design and art for some time. It never ceases to get my
gears going. Alexander Gerard, Ben Shahn and Mary Blair are some of my illustrator heros.
Love inspires me as well. Love makes the world go round. I truly believe that.

What message would you like to send out about your work?

hmm…this is tough 😉
seriously….uh…ok. here it goes.
Making art is very important to me. When I’m creating I feel the most alive.
My work represents things that make me happy. It’s also is a manifestation of texture, shape, color and ideas
Whimsy, humor, a bit o’ melancholy, hope..it’s real and what I feel everyday while I’m making art.
60’s form and illustration spur me on, inspiring me to think about shape and how that can play into my style more.
I just feel like in that era the artists were really on to something.

What is your biggest accomplishment to date?
As a human, my daughter. As a human artist, a book. I illustrated
and designed it. It’s called Ultra Gogo’s party fun book. It’s based on a
tween girl character based brand I co-created with my writer buddy Linda Morris. The book is
a hodge-podge of recipes, quizzes and tips for throwing cool parties with
your friends.

Share a secret with us!

I played bass and sang lead vox in an all girl band called Softee for 5 years with my best girl friends at work.
They were all illustrators too and we sat cubicles away from each other! Hopefully we’ll get back
together some day soon 🙂 Check us out on itunes!

Lydia Nichols

lydia nichols

Name: Lydia Nichols
Location: New York City’s largest borough, Brooklyn
Website: http://lydianichols.com

How about a brief introduction?
I’ve lived on the east coast my whole life (which will be a quarter century this summer!) and couldn’t imagine living someplace without the ocean or lakes. My dream is to return to school to study printmaking, languages, and bits and pieces of science until my head feels so full it might explode. In the meantime, I love illustrating and generally making things.

Who/what inspires you?
Oh so much! Mid-century art and design are the biggest sources of inspiration, but I also love looking over old animations, pop art, packaging, hand painted signs–it sort of runs the gamut. Barry McGee and Margaret Kilgallen are huge influences right now (even if it doesn’t seem it), as is street and folk art in general. It’s always evolving which keeps it interesting for me!

What message would you like to send out about your work?
My work says hullo to you from me. I can’t say it’s trying to be anything more or less than it is and hopefully you find something in it you can connect with.

What is your biggest accomplishment to date?
2010 has been a good year for me–many small accomplishments that all add up. I’m currently working on something top secret that I suspect will constitute my biggest accomplishment to date…but I can’t say what it is yet!

Share a secret with us!
Sometimes I’ll choose the mixing bowls over the pencils and bake up a storm. There are often moments where I wish I could be a baker/illustrator and open a shop with edible goods!

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