Artist of the Month - Lorna Siviter

15th August 2013: It's a pleasure to introduce this month's Artist of the Month - the prolific and dedicated artist Lorna Siviter. With successful ranges and designs under her belt for top publishers including The Almanac Gallery, Soul UK, and Customworks, Lorna is a true enthusiast and delight to work with!

What's your favourite design/piece of work & why? If I get the opportunity to be witty then I give it a go. I am particularly fond of a piece of work entitled ‘Too posh to push’ that shows a rather posh woman, nose in the air pushing a supermarket trolley! I have become rather fond of my recent illustrations of famous British Dishes licensed to Customworks which I had the opportunity to create the dishes in my own kitchen and photograph them for inspiration

What's been your best-selling design or piece of work to date? I was selected to exhibit at the RWA in Bristol a few years back in their Print exhibition. I exhibited two ceramic tiles (one of which was ‘Too posh to Push’) and the other entitled ’Barbie’s Blue Bangers’. During the show, reproductions in greeting cards were sold in the shop, and to my delight, they sold out! Great result. I also designed a range of greeting cards for Soul UK, a few years back, which I am happy to say I still receive royalties for!

 

Which part of the process do you like most? All parts of the process of design are enjoyable, however it is the coming together of all the elements I have created to form the final design. These elements could be typography, texture, pattern, colour and of course drawing. The overwhelming sense of achievement is amazing, and if someone else likes your design then it is all the more worth it!

Which part do you like the least?! I lead a busy life, and when I am feeling tired, I get very frustrated as this affects my creative energy and ability. By constantly writing down ideas and sourcing other artists and designers for inspiration, I am able to consolidate my ideas when I am feeling refreshed and ready to face a new project. Rather than read a book in bed at night, I jot down ideas in a sketchbook, and take a look at them in the morning to develop those ideas further.

What would your dream project be? Currently I have been dreaming of seeing my designs published by The Art File. A lovely set of 14 cards which utilise my style, licensed all over the world. Fantastic.

Who or what is your biggest source of inspiration? I have been heavily influenced by the design and advertising from the 1950’s and 1960’s, particularly the work of Lucienne and Robin Day, Saul Bass and the illustrators M Sasek and Charley Harper. This also extends into the work of the Pop Artists and Abstract Expressionists. As a contemporary artist, I feel it is important to add a modern contemporary slant to my work with a nod to all these wonderful creative people.

Which is your favourite Yellow House Art Licensing artist & why? There are so many talented artists at Yellow House that I admire that it is difficult for me to choose, however I am very drawn to the work of Sean Bennett whose colourful abstract works are fantastic. I would definitely have one of those on my wall! I am also impressed by the pattern work of Natalie Pedetti-Prack and Lisa Spencer. Surface pattern is a particular area that I wish to develop my portfolio in. I was very pleased when Jung Design in Germany published my designs for Christmas gift-wrap.

Which is your favourite Yellow House Art artist & why? (www.yellowhouseart.com – our closely associated site selling original artworks) - As I have a great passion for bold graphics, I am very impressed by the work of Sarah Jones and the beautiful work of Jehane Boden Spiers, particularly the fabulous luxury handmade pavilion cards! I also love Paul Thurlby’s alphabet prints!

 

Do you have your own work at home? I do have the odd piece here and there, particularly the images that were selected for the Association of Illustrators Images book (jury-selected competition). I am a sucker for vintage posters, postcards and plates, so the majority of wall space is covered by those

When designing your studio, what was the most important factor? I think light is very important and a nice big table to spread my work out. In addition, plenty of wall space to pin up images and designs that provide sources of inspiration without having to Google them or look them up in a book.

What's been your biggest mistake/cock-up?! Maybe not pursuing the children’s book illustration path. There are so many excellent authors and illustrators out there that I feel a little out of my depth in that area, however its never to late to try, so it’s definitely on my to do list!

What's on your drawing-board/ in your kiln / on your easel / etc. right now? I have various projects on the go right now. I have recently been developing concepts for Christmas Cards which provided me with the air conditioning I needed during the heatwave! I have also been working on a concept, inspired by famous composers. My current series comprises of Beethoven, Debussy, Elgar, Grieg, Strauss and Tchaikovsky. I recently took up violin again after 25 years, and have always listened to classical music. I will also be taking part in Somerset Art Weeks this year, which allows artists to exhibit work in their own homes or studios.

 

What is the last book you read? Marks out of 10? The last book I read was a biography of the French painter and artists model Suzanne Valadon, who provided great inspiration for Toulouse-Lautrec and Renoir. I am currently reading a biography of Claude Debussy (one of my favourite composers) and next Culinary Pleasures for research for my forthcoming PhD.9/10

What is the last exhibition you went to? Marks out of 10? I recently visited the Tate Britain in London to see the ‘Schwitters in Britain’ show. Schwitters’ was a German exile who was interned on the Isle of Man and this show highlights his work in this country from the period after exile in 1941 until his death in 1948. As a lover of collage and assemblage, I was intrigued by his strength in composition. Though seemingly thrown together, it is clear that Schwitters’ considered his compositions. The exhibition was over eight rooms, but enough to show a variety of collages, assemblages, sculptures and his famous Merz poetry. 8/10

If you could own a masterpiece, what would it be? I absolutely adore the artists of Montmartre in the late 19^th century, so one huge favourite of mine is Toulouse-Lautrec and his fabulous posters and paintings. I get a real sense of time and place from his work and loose myself in the excitement in belle époque Paris. I would love to own and original lithograph of Moulin Rouge La Goulue.

What’s your proudest achievement? Just last month, I was successfully accepted onto a PhD course at Falmouth University, with funding provided for four years. My project title is: Illustrating the Domestic. A study of Illustrated Anglophone Cookbooks, the interplay between author and illustrator and the role of women in the home (1954-1965). I was inspired by the commission for Customworks (so I have Jehane and Sue to thank)!

What’s been your biggest challenge? Constantly evolving my practice by experimenting in different mediums and styles so that I do not feel like I am being left behind. Learning how to use Adobe Illustrator is another challenge. Also I have two children, so combining study, homelife and of course my practice can be a challenge. I am lucky enough to have a very supportive husband though!

THANK YOU Lorna, it's great to find out more about you and the inspiration behind your prolific portfolio of artwork...