Here is the next Sketchbook Feature, an interview with one of my favourite artists, Dee Beale.

Hello my name is Dee and I’m a Print maker/Designer based in the UK where I live with my husband and 2 small children.

As a child I was forever drawing and Art was definitely my favourite subject at school so it seemed very natural to then go on to Art School where I studied Graphic Design and Illustration.

After graduating I was lucky enough to work as a Graphic Designer in design agencies for over 10 years.

  

Around 4 years ago I left full time employment to have my second child and decided I needed to stay at home for a few years while my children were young.

I acquired a Gocco about a year ago and opened an Etsy shop selling my prints earlier this year.

At the moment I’m concentrating on trying to get new stockists and adding more prints to my Etsy shop, in the future I’d really like to have the opportunity to apply my designs to other things and would love to design for fabric.

If you had to pick one favourite sketchbook page which would it be and why?

At the moment I’m a little obsessed with succulents so it’s this one. 

 

How long have you been using sketchbooks?

Since Art school

How often do you use your sketchbook?

It varies really but I’d say mostly every few days

 

How do you feel with the prospect of starting a new sketchbook with lots of lovely blank pages?

I don’t really like it when they’re new I prefer them a bit battered and worn.

When and where do you get your sketchbook inspiration?

All the time and everywhere

Where is your ideal sketching location?

Any comfy chair.

How would you describe your sketchbook process?

I don’t really have a set way of using a sketchbook, I scribble notes, doodles, stick bits in or I can do quite finished sketches in them. 

What is your favourite medium to work with?

 

Stabilo black fine line pen 

 

How have your sketchbooks evolved over the years?

 

For me, my sketchbooks used to be my layout pad that I used to jot down my ideas in my job as a graphic designer, now I feel they are much more personal because they are the beginnings of my own prints.

 

Do you have a favourite and why?

 

At the moment, it’s one designed by Angi Lewin, available from St Judes. It was a Christmas present from my husband and has one of her beautiful designs on the cover

 

 Thanks for letting us have a sneaky peek into your gorgeous sketchbooks Dee!

If you want to see anymore of Dees beeautiful work check out her blog here and if you want to treat yourself to one of her pieces of artwork check out her Etsy shop here

This entry was posted on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 6:17 pm and is filed under Sketchbook Peeks, Uncategorized. 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.