Artist of the Month: Liane Payne

It's our pleasure to introduce our Artist of the Month for March 2015 - the talented illustrator Liane Payne whose work consistently attracts attention for a wide range of product areas. Liane's best-selling images include her range of naughty dogs, read on to find out more!

Have you always wanted to be an Artist/Illustrator or did the vocation find you? It was inevitable I think, rather than a conscious career choice. My Dad was a commercial artist (as they used to be called) so I was introduced to the dark arts of graphic design and illustration from a very young age. The intoxicating smell of Magic Markers, inviting blank layout pads, ranks of Rotring pens…there was no escape!

How did your style evolve? Having a fine art training meant I experienced all sorts of mediums and disciplines so after art school, when I realised that being an illustrator seemed more fun than starving in a garret, I had lots of creative strings to my bow – particularly printmaking techniques. For many years my commissions were for my linoprint style but things really expanded when I started using a Mac at the end of the 1990s.

Where were you born? Croydon.

Where were you brought up? From the age of three I grew up on Mersea Island on the northeast Essex Coast. Lots of sun, sand, sea – and mud!

What was your favourite subject at school? I only did it for a year, but I absolutely loved metalwork. I came top of the class with my trowel! Maybe that’s why I later loved the steel plate preparation in etching and also became a keen gardener…Strangely enough, I didn’t really enjoy art at school. It was a very unimaginative curriculum; as I recall, it chiefly focussed on drawing bowls of fruit from life and making dodgy coil pots.

What piece of your work are you most proud of and why? Some years back I wrote and illustrated a series of picture books all about a busy little Rabbit called Warren. I really enjoyed creating a little world of adventures and friends for him. It’s a corny confession, but it’s feels nice to know that children enjoyed the stories at bedtime.

What's been your best-selling design or piece of work to date? Anything with dogs in seems to be striking a chord at the moment.

Which part of the process do you like most? If it’s a fairly open brief, I love the early stages of brainstorming; gathering reference, working out concepts with thumbnails, etc. Then seeing things come to life as the layout and composition is worked out, adding colour perhaps, and then the final tweaks to get things perfect and ultimately having a happy client…hang on, that’s the whole process, isn’t it?!

Which part do you like the least?! Micro-managed, unnecessary changes.

Do you carry around a sketch-book at all times?! Ideas and thoughts always seem to occur to me when I’m either on the bus or out walking along the street, so a sketchbook is essential – not just for drawing though: lists, notes, books to read, errands to run etc. all get jotted down too. It’s a much better system than backs of envelopes and knots in hankies.

What’s your favourite thing to illustrate? The natural world and decorative subjects are my natural leaning, but it’s good to be dragged out of one’s comfort zone now and then. For instance, facing up to using accurate perspective!

What would your dream project be? I’ve created a little gang of animal characters who are all waiting in the wings. It would be great to get them out in the world into books or onto products of some sort.

Who would be your dream client? I’d love to be commissioned by someone from the past; say an art director from about 50 years ago. I’m curious to see how the briefing process has changed over the years.

Which is your favourite Yellow House Art Licensing artist & why? Jane Human. For many years I’ve admired her accomplished paintings, but it’s her more recent printmaking that really makes my mouth water. Her compositions, use of colour and sense of place are simply masterful.

Which is your favourite Yellow House Art artist & why? www.yellowhouseart.com is our closely-associated site selling original artwork. I think that Melanie Porter’s knitted upholstery is sensational! So witty, smart and original. I love it when knitting moves away from the world of pastel bunting and cute bootees.

Do you have your own work at home? There’s stuff all over the place – piles of paper, disks, hard drives, old portfolios, a loft full of lino blocks I can’t bear to throw away…nothing actually framed and on the walls though. That would be weird.

When designing your studio, what was the most important factor? I don’t have a studio as such but depending on the task in hand, work in the most appropriate spot. For instance, I usually draw in one of the upstairs rooms where my lightbox is, roll up ink in the kitchen area, scan drawings in the computer room, and then there’s a separate room full of my wool and fabrics if I’m doing something crafty. I work at home with my partner who is a product designer/modelmaker, so our entire house is a workshop/studio really!

What's been your biggest mistake/cock-up?! Accepting a job as an art director and getting sucked into corporate office life for five years.

What's on your drawing-board/ in your kiln / on your easel / etc. right now? More drawings of naughty dogs, ideas for an allotment-themed book, and I’m just about to start some decorations and maps for an historical novel. And a lovely cup of coffee.

 

What is the last exhibition you went to? Marks out of 10? I tend to veer towards permanent collections rather than exhibitions. The V&A, the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford and the Grant Museum of Zoology in Bloomsbury are all places I’ve wandered around in awe over the last year. Sometimes the best shows are in the least expected places. There was a fantastic collection of children’s drawings in my local library recently – jaw-droppingly fresh and inspiring. I gave that 11 out of. There’s a street artist in north London famous for painting pictures on tiny spots of chewing gum. He’s often working in my local area so there’s a perpetual pavement exhibition whenever I go up the road!

What’s been your biggest challenge? To try and specialise in one style.

As well as being an amazing artist, do you have any other hidden talents? I can do some astonishingly bendy things in my yoga practice (although bendiness isn’t what yoga is all about per se), plus bake perfect scones. I’m also a bit of a whizz with knitting needles and the crochet hook. You can say that again! We've seen your amazing knitted cacti and wedding couple (for The Accidental Proposal book cover).

Do you have any top tips for being an artist that you can give us? When you’re not working, get outside and do something physical – sitting down indoors all day is so bad for you!

Do you have a favourite paintbrush or tool? An old-fashioned ruling pen. In the old days they were used for drawing clean straight lines, but held the wrong way and overloaded with ink, I can give my drawings just the right grungy feel I’m after – perfect for earthy subjects like gardening and grumpy dogs! Am I allowed to have two favourites? I’d obviously grind to a halt without my Mac.

What attracted you to/attracts you about working with Yellow House? It’s great to be represented by an agency whose client base is such a good fit for my work. And I really value their personal touch; e.g. you get lots of feedback and suggestions on how to develop your work, so it’s a much more collaborative relationship than I’ve had with previous agents.

Is there anything you would like to ask us? Your website always looks so fresh, you’re always out meeting clients and keeping connected, coming up with ideas and keeping on top of admin – how do you find the time to sleep?! Good question!

What’s your favourite joke? Trying on wigs with a group of friends. Anything that Harry Hills says.

See more of Liane Payne's portfolio here, Liane is available to commision - contact us for details.