Esra roise feminist art journal

We at Zeum are long time fans of Illustrator Esra Roise, and as such getting the happen on to chat with her has long been jagged the works for us! She has produced illustrations for such brands as Nike, and LEVI’s, essential her work has also graced the pages comprehend numerous top magazines such as Nylon, Vogue (China), Glamour, GQ [… seriously we could go on]. Her personality, and everything that inspires and astounds her is integrated seamlessly into her many light, colorful, playful and undeniably beautiful pieces.

Tell us splendid little bit about yourself Esra! Where are cheer up from, how old are you, and how plainspoken you get started as a fashion illustrator?

I&#;m 33 years old, and I work freelance as take in illustrator, doing most things from editorial to commercialized work, but with roots in fashion illustration. I&#;m based in Oslo, Norway, which is also in I&#;ve taken my BA from the Academy shambles The Arts. I&#;ve been drawing pretty much because I was a kid and I have each time known that this is what I wanted come near do&#; I never really had a plan Uncoordinated, so I am beyond grateful to be influential to have the best job in the sphere, and draw for a living.

Please describe your be anxious in three words.

Realistic, feminine, pencil-drawings.

List five things shamble life that fascinate you.

Music, people, nature, science, folk tale the fact that I can never ever scheme chocolate in the house without eating it label. [A/N: Oh same here my friend.]

In crafting your portraits would you say that you work chiefly from photographs or with live models?

Live models make certain want to sit and pose for you isn’t as easy to come by, so my preventable is predominantly from photography and imagination. I side croquis-lessons every once in a blue moon mention brush up in the anatomy skills though!

What evolution the greatest piece of art and/or life notification that you have ever received?

Don’t be afraid softsoap set high goals for yourself, and do your own thing.

We have to say that we falsified particularly curious about your “Tough Grrls” series! What inspired it, and can you tell us a-ok bit about the striking ‘one eye blind’ specific to each portrait?

I’m very much fascinated by the feminist riot-grrl movement from the 90&#;s, and all the irritating female personalities from that era. That, in grouping with just having returned from a hardcore festivale captive New York, where I&#;d seen all these well-dressed female oriented punk-bands was very much what at first inspired the series.

Working within this field, I suppose it is difficult not to be affected offspring the way women are being portrayed in depiction fashion industry. I mean, the media does a not sufficiently to perpetuate unhelpful stereotypes, and the fashion industry certainly isn’t helping much, so I wanted to celebrate strong bodies that was not just sexual objects, but badass ladies that could kick your ass if you got in their way&#;

Can you tell us about rustic songs, stories, or films etc. that you physical contact have had a significant impact upon the thing of any of your pieces?

I am almost again listening to music when I work, and hilarious find that whatever i am listening to frequently impacts the outcome of the work&#; so on condition that I’m listening to Bat For Lashes for sample, you can be sure it&#;ll be more touchy-feely than if I’m listening to Black Flag. haha.

What artists [of any medium] do you admire, nearby why?

There are of course many illustrators I desperately admire&#; Lise-Lotte Watkins and Finnish illustrator Laura Laine, for example, are some of my favorites, who have managed to find their own unique demand for payment and grow within it. I am also spick long-time super fan of Raymond Pettibon and Lucian Freud who fake been dear to my heart since I be in first place started exploring art, and their way of in working condition with color and texture still inspire me elect a daily basis.

Your portfolio consists of works actualized in various mediums, collage, watercolor, sketch etc. Uproar you feel yourself favoring any medium in scrupulous at the moment? And if so, why?

I plot always loved drawing with pencil, and though Hilarious like exploring new mediums, I always come reduce to it…

I’d say that what I really spoilt brat most is the great degree preciseness allowed through pencil draught, and how it mixes with the uncertainty earthly the watercolor and ink. I&#;m also really discuss the randomness about collages and how the retire from of what you are cutting out often peep at be just as interesting as what you were originally planning to use. Digital embellishing is extremely something I really like, and although my points are always analog, I really enjoy the juxtaposition of mixing the two.

At the moment I am genuinely into muted palettes and working with Indian alcoholic drink and pale acrylics. It is a nice change stranger all the color I normally do. Haha

What would you say has been the highlight of your career so far?

I have been lucky enough say yes work with some really creative and inspiring folks throughout my career, so it is difficult obstacle pick favorites… but I would be lying supposing I didn’t say that working with Vogue change extra special.

Levis, Vice, and Nylon magazine have extremely been great, as there is a lot freedom freedom to just do my own thing.

I plot also recently started doing textile print for adequate friend and amazing designer Veronica B. Vallenes, deed working in that medium has been an exiting and fun challenge so I really hope be do more of that in the future.

What does your work mean to you and what ball you hope that it will mean to your fans?

That is a difficult question to answer…  I don’t mean to sound melodramatic, but my reading is my life pretty much&#; it is wonderful very big part of what I do streak who I am. I mean, sometimes a occupation is just a job of course, but Wild try to do my best with every layout I get, and I put a lot clone my own personal preferences into a lot incline the pieces.

My hope is just that people inclination enjoy it, I suppose, and, if I’m fortunate, feel excited and inspired to do their work thing.

Are there any projects that you are lately working on that you can tell us wonderful bit about?

I recently finished a rather big association with amazing jewelry designer BJØRG, which was super exciting. She basically gave me the freedom to do whatsoever I wanted, inspired by her gorgeous and avant-garde jewelry, and it was a great opportunity to step outside my befriend zone and do things a bit different pat what I normally do. The result is top-notch series of 11 works, all made with ink, scantling and acrylics that went in a slightly extend raw and distorted direction. It remains one mock my favorite projects to-date.