Big hello to this weeks Illustrator spotlight, Zak Doodle.
I’ve already talked about how much I love illustrators who embrace their inner child and Zak is very much part of that group.
Zak’s really mastered layering of lines and colors to create an interesting but not overwhelming illustration. The below is my favorite. It’s full of bold squiggles of joy, coupled with details like the dainty tulips or the subtle almost halo like shading in the hair that bring a delicate fragile feel to the illustration. On to the Q&A’s!
Tell me a little about yourself.
I come from Greece and I live in Athens with boyfriend, dog, pencils, crayons. I am studying mixed media fine arts (getting my diploma next year), I have been working as a freelance graphic designer since 2010, creating posters, flyers and book covers.
What motivated you to start working in children’s illustration?
My head is full of strange little creatures, I have been working on them for a long time, for my own pleasure. When I show them to my teacher and he said they are really good I decided to show them to children and ask them what they think. They went crazy about them! So here I am now. I can’t wait for my first job as children’s book illustrator.
Do you have any favorite illustrations of yours to date?
Goldilocks and Pinnochio are my favorite ones to date.
Where do you look to for inspiration?
Everything I see turns into an illustrated creature inside my head so my inspiration is really everything.
Who’s favorite illustrator and why?
I absolutely love Chris Ridell. He is magical… I adore his line drawings and his fantasy creatures.
Thanks for sharing Zak!
You can find Zak Doodle at:
www.facebook.com/zakillustrator
