Q & A with Emma Block

Nov29

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Emma Block is a very talented London-based illustrator, her work is just gorgeous. Emma very kindly answered some questions about her work, what inspired her and favourite things.

Your illustrative style is beautiful, can you share a little about your process?

Thank you. I start with sketches which I then trace on to coloured, patterned and found paper and cut out. Once I have all these tiny little pieces cut out I add detail with ink, acrylic paint and coloured pencil, and then stick them altogether with pritt stick to make people and things. Sometimes I stick these all down and sometimes I just scan them in lose and arrange them on photoshop.

Where is your favourite place to work?

I love working in my bedroom. I know a lot of illustrators like having studios, but I just love sitting in my room at my desk next to the window with a cup of tea. It’s important to me that I have everything I need all around me when I’m working, which means having my Mac, my scanner, boxes and bags and drawers of paper, pencil, ink, brushes, paint and a cup of tea.

Where do you find inspiration for your artwork?

I am inspired by vintage clothes, old films, jazz, books I read, 50s illustration, and most importantly by the people I meet. I love drawing people I see in the street. The things I love inspire my work, and I think that shows. I often get commissions that are perfectly suited to me , which I think is a result of creating work that reflects who I am and what I love, for example I’ve just finished illustrating a book called Tea and Cake.

When did your passion for art begin?

Since I was very young I knew I wanted to do art. I didn’t really want to be a fine artist though, and after trying my hand at a bit of everything during my BTEC in Art and Design, I realised illustration made perfect sense for me. I can’t imagine doing anything else now.