This is the start of a new series on Sketchbook Peeks, which is something that really fascinates me, partly becasue I am just nosey, and partly because I love looking at works in progress, processes and end results. We have been lucky enough to be able to feature a lovely artist and designer I stumbled across purely by accident, Jane Reiseger whose work and website I just love. Here is what she had to say…..

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Before we start, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into your art/craft/design career, how it all started and where you are now…
I actually was born in England in 1973 and moved to Australia when I was just a few months old

I have always liked drawing. I was a shy child and use to spend a lot of time drawing. I could talk to people thru my pictures. I grew up on a farm, which had cows horses and an apple orchard.

I studied Painting at the Victorian College of Arts completing a BA in Fine Arts in 1993 at the age of 20. After art school I had a few exhibitions and worked in cafés. I started my own illustration business in 1999 after a family friend asked if I could design a wine label for their vineyard. I really enjoyed the whole process and thought maybe I could turn illustration into a job. I started getting work with Wine and Food magazines and did illustrations for wineries and Chefs. I think I visited about 15 food and wine festivals in one year. I wasn’t getting quite enough to survive so I worked 2 days a week in a Home wares shop which was really great cos the owner let me hand write the point of sale signs and draw on the table tops. I also got to illustrate the Christmas motif each year, which was so successful, it was turned into product. The most popular was Albi the elephant.

With my love for homewares my interest in interiors grew and I started painting on walls. I have been working fulltime as an illustrator for about 4 years. I have met some really lovely and talented people along the way. I have worked with various companies including Country Road, Hallmark Australia and Rogerseller I work with graphic designers, stylists, architects, foodies and by private commission. I paint murals and do illustrations. I’m hoping to do some limited edition products soon…maybe prints?

How long have you been using sketchbooks?
About 15 years

How often do you use your sketchbook?
At the moment I’m drawing every few days…but it really goes in ebbs and flows.

Do you have a favourite and why?
My favourite one is the vana mapping book journal…. each page was fun to do…I experimented with textures and pattern, composition and positive and negative spaces…its playful and a bit quirky… not too serious. I love the greasy paper and the thin pages.

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How do you feel with the prospect of starting a new sketchbook with lots of lovely blank pages?
I actually get a bit daunted by brand new sketchbooks especially the leather bound amazing paper variety…I prefer more humble books…not precious or expensive looking. If I like the look of the book I want to hold it and feel the pages….i love drawing that first line and letting the ideas flow. I like a book you can get coffee stains on.

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When and where do you get your sketchbook inspiration?
My journal/sketchbooks can be a way to get thoughts/feelings out or simply to express a fun idea. I’m affected also by my surroundings and what’s happening in my life at the time. I like to do observational drawings too.

I often get inspiration when I’m travelling…I recently went to Tasmania with my boyfriend and got very inspired by our surroundings. The house we stayed in belonged to my friend who was a sculptor it sat on the side of a river the kitchen had great views and she had a very lovely collection of teacups, which I drew. I found some old books in a Japanese shop and recycled them into sketchbooks.

I got inspired to do drawings of fruit and ice-cream when we moved into our new house recently…it has a peach tree and we made jam.

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How would you describe your sketchbook process?
Things come out from the heart, imagination and observation…. its very spontaneous ….I sometimes prefer drawing on loose paper and then stick them in a book later.

What is your favourite medium to work with?
Black pens, colored pencils, textas…sometimes collage and sometimes I Like reversing my illustrations out on the photocopy machine and sticking them back in a book

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Where is your ideal sketching location?
I like cafes and I love sitting in my car especially when I park by the sea…I can look out and get inspired.

How have your sketchbooks evolved over the years?
Less serious not as laboured over.

If you had to pick one favourite sketchbook page which would it be and why
Rain man from the vana mapping book is a favourite image of mine…I like the continuous line and the quirky playful nature of the drawing…it makes sense but then at closer inspection doesn’t make sense…I also like the stillness in the picture…a man with an umbrella waits for the rain to come.

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Thank you Jane, for taking part in our blog feature. If you want to see more of Janes work then check out her website (I just adore those childrens bedrooms!!)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 at 8:37 pm and is filed under Sketchbook Peeks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.