Twitter. It's a funny place to hang out. It's there that I discovered Chanell Kristen. I can't quite remember how, but I am sure it has something to do with the interconnectedness of Novocastrians in Tweetsville. It's like we are all apartment block neighbours having a chat between balconies and while we peg clothes on the line.
Introducing yet another super-talented Novocastrian, illustrator Chanell Kristen. Enjoy!
CHANELL KRISTEN
Condensed CV:
I studied graphic design and illustration for three years at The University of Newcastle, graduating in 2008. Then spent a year dividing my time between freelance design and working within a small print house designing signage and business stationary. Which brings me to today, recently relocated to Newcastle and am looking for a full time gig in design to compliment my freelance illustration.
The lovely, quirky Chanell Kristen.
What has been your most memorable project?
I spent the last semester of university illustrating for children’s magazine, Wacky But True. It gave me the light bulb moment where I realized that illustrating, rather than graphic design was the thing that excited me on the most and was something I should pursue professionally. It was there that I really pushed myself to develop into my own style, filling countless lecture notebook margins with character designs and spending endless train trips people watching for inspiration. I am incredibly grateful that the opportunity to find my passion came so easily.
What would be your dream project?
I would love the opportunity to draw many oddly peanut shaped, kooky characters with a wardrobe of mis-matched op shop clothes. The characters would all suffer from either a misfortunate over-proportioned or misaligned facial feature or some kind of quirk that would make them both endearingly cute and grossly fascinating. There would also be a plethora of hand drawn type involved. I’m not sure what medium would support this - maybe a story book, maybe a wall mural? I know working on a large scale really appeals to me.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
At this point in time I find that really hard to answer. I’m still early into my career and very much feel like a work in progress. I’d like to think that I’m right around the corner from that landmark moment when I realise I’m knee deep and there’s no turning back.
What is your most treasured possession?
Am I completely boring if I say my iMac? That little white box holds all my precious memories, is my most efficient artistic tool and is my lifeline to the creative community. Oh, and my entire music collection. All my daily essentials live in there.
What does a typical day at work involve for you?
Lately I’ve been spending a nice big handful of the morning job hunting which involves scouring the newspapers and web for the latest job adverts and emailing and calling around.
But a standard day in the life includes 7:30am awake with coffee and breakfast at my desk catching up on Facebook/Twitter and blog feed. From there on I’ll get dressed and walk into town to get any art supplies I might need, pay bills or package and send away sales. Then another coffee. The rest of the afternoon is pulling out design mags and my inspiration boards while sketching ideas, painting water colours over and then finally inking until I have a few things that are making me excited. More coffee, and a little indulgent procrastination. I’m lucky that if I am feeling stuck I can juggle my way through different projects throughout the day, chipping away at them little by little.
Then if I have a market, or big project due I will stay up until midnight framing, writing blog posts, photo editing etc. I tend to be a bit of a night owl and get my most interesting ideas when it’s dead quiet and I’m alone.
What is your most valuable pearl of wisdom gained since starting your business?
Time is the most easily accessible and most widely available tool you’ll use, but also the hardest to hold onto and to mould to suit you. Time does not budge for anybody so I had to learn to work with it. I’m a bit of a to do list nut, and have lists that are handwritten, two pages in length, categorized and numbered and written in pretty inks. It’s a pretty simple thing but has been the way I’ve managed to keep productive and on track.
Where do you derive creative inspiration?
I find a lot of inspiration from the creative blogging community. The hardest part of this profession is the isolation from your peers. I work from home, alone in my studio/kitchen, talking to clients via email etc. It’s always nice to hop online to my blog reader and be reminded there are other people out there doing the same thing as you. It’s also a great motivator to pick up and carry on with the multitude of talent out there to compete with. It’s overwhelming to say the least.
Which other designers, artists or creative people are you most inspired by at the moment?
Caitlin Shearer’s wistful women currently adorn walls of my bedroom
Newcastle designers like Heath Killen’s Tantrum Theatre poster sets and Neon Zoo are some locally inspiring names that come to mind.
One of Chanell's zines, One Sun Day"One Sun Day is an avid appreciation of
sleeping in under the blankets,
scouring shitty junk markets and garage sales,
lazing in sunny weather,
overfilling on roast dinners,
ie - all the ingredients for a perfect Sunday experience!
Guaranteed 100% to make you smile and forgot weekday pains"
What are some of your favourite websites or blogs?
Bianco Jagoe’s blog Goodnight Little Spoon is really rather lovely eye candy.
The Scribble Project is also great for getting out your coloured pencils and reminding yourself just how fun drawing can be.
Thereza Rowe’s Tiny Red Design. Tiny Red also blows my mind with it’s cute and quiet quirkiness on a weekly basis.
And I like to keep up with Renee Anne’s personal blog.
Share Some Candy to find out what exhibitions and events are happening around the country.
Apart from your work, what other interests, passions, hobbies do you have?
Trawling libraries or second hand bookshops, with a coffee in hand, judging books by their covers. It’s suits both my tastes and most importantly – my budget.
Another of Chanell's zines, This Side Up."a collection of my own incongruent thoughts
and daily musings on human behaviour
and the little things in life that make me smile"
How long have you been a Novocastrian?
I made the move from the Central Coast, where I’d spent the majority of my childhood, in January of this year, so just less than six months. I’m still exploring and finding new places within the city all the time. I would love some more suggestions!
Newcastle in a word?
Transitional
What do you love and hate about living in Newcastle?
Coming from the Central Coast I really appreciate the arts communities presence here. Projects like Renew Newcastle and The Olive Tree Market are such essential opportunities for emerging artists to gain much needed exposure, meet like-minded people and to make a living from their creativity.
On the Central Coast, I was (and am continuing to be) involved with the Youth Street Art Markets, which has been a fantastic initiative for giving me the confidence to believe in my own off beat art. The smile of passers by as they glance over my stall has been the biggest motivator to get my work off my bedroom walls and into the streets. Being in Newcastle leaves me spoilt for choice. Within two months of being here I was fortunate enough to have my illustrations chosen for the Look See 2010 exhibition. I’m hoping now that I’m settled I can keep stepping forward and start to get involved and also show my work to more of the Newcastle community.
And as for hate, well I don’t think I’ve been here long enough to feel cynical or bitter about Newcastle. It’s all bright and shiny to me looking on it with fresh eyes. Ask me again in six months time however…
Gloria, the avid travel enthusiast with an adoration of feathers and fur.How is Newcastle different to anywhere else?
There’s a constant tension between the old and the new, the organic and the engineered that ebbs and flows from one street to another. You can stand over the wharf, with a huge expanse of surf and sand behind you, a twisted steel city in front of you and a line of pastel coloured re-purposed historical buildings to the side. It’s a really eclectic mix of shops, surf, sleep and steel.
Frank, the spotted sleuth from the southern states.
Where are your favourite places in Newcastle / Hunter to:
+ eat
Sunday breakfast at Goldbergs Coffee House (137 Darby St, Cooks Hill, 02 4929 3122).
+ drink
Iced coffee at Estabar (61 Shortland Esp, Newcastle 02 4927 1222). Great view. Great coffee.
+ shop
Blackbird Corner (70 Darby St, Cooks Hill, 02 4929 4530) stocks a magazine collection I could drool over for hours on end and a bunch of cute knick knacks. It’s incredibly hard to walk out of there empty handed.
Susy Pow’s Bird in the Hand (100a King St, Newcastle) zine shop is also somewhere I would be more than happy to spend my money.
+ play
I couldn’t name one place in particular. I’d rather grab a friend and go for a wander around the city from across the wharf to a window browse along Hunter Street – heading towards whatever catches my eye that day.
+ relax
I’ve just recently discovered the Centenary Antique Centre (29 Centenary Rd, Newcastle, 02 4926 4547). I could very easily get lost inside all the nooks and crannies for hours. It’s somewhere that I can find something exciting in every direction I turn and leaves me with a peaceful feeling that there is potential in everything. It’s a nice feeling. I ‘m thinking of labeling it my new happy place.
Alfred, as rambunctiously round as his laugh is loud.
What is Newcastle / Hunter’s best-kept secret?
Honeybee (162 Darby Street, Cooks Hill, 02 4929 1886) has a courtyard café behind the main shop where I like to go for a quiet cappuccino. It’s like slipping into a secret hidey-hole within the city, adorably decorated with a stack of Frankie magazines in the corner. Even the spoons there are special!
Website www.cisforchanell.blogspot.com
Twitter @chanellkristen
Etsy chamelia
Twitter @chanellkristen
Etsy chamelia
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