“I lived for 18 years in a brown townhouse in the middle of the San Fernando Valley.” says artist Brianna Harden. With that simple fact Brianna’s seemingly odd combination of palm-tree and traffic motifs makes perfect sense. Her delicate illustrations and watercolor paintings that depict scenes from a childhood in Los Angeles caught the eye of GOOD Magazine, leading her to complete a lovely series of illustrations for their online articles. See what else Brianna has been up to in her 10 ANSWERS below.
1. How would you describe your work in three words?
Deliberate, detailed, designed.
2. Who is your creative role model?
I have a few, and they’re always changing as my personal goals change. A consistent one has been Maira Kalman—all of her work seems to be created from a place of happiness and purity of the spirit.
3. If you had an extra hour each day what would you do with it?
I have a handful of hobbies that I never get to spend enough time with, yet somehow I’m always taking on more. I would probably rotate between sewing, writing and photography. I also enjoy gardening, and I’m trying to learn how to play the ukulele!
4. What place in the world most inspires you and why?
When I was younger, my family would frequently go camping up and down the coast of California. One of the most magical trips was one we took to Big Sur. The beauty of the coastline paired with the lush redwood forest made for an incredible experience, and I can’t wait to revisit it.
5. If you could do a different job for a day what would it be and why?
I’ve always been curious what it takes to run a bakery. I enjoy making desserts, and it seems to be a great mix of food and craft. I’ve also never done any other form of art under a deadline besides drawing, and I’d be curious what that’s like.
6. What is your favorite homemade gift to give?
When the weather gets cold, I habitually pick up knitting and crocheting with an intensity that I can only attribute to animal instincts. Because holidays and cold weather coincide, I typically give out handmade scarves and hats.
7. What is your favorite object in your home?
I inherited an old wooden library card catalog file from a previous neighbor. He was a teacher and they were throwing it out at the school he worked at. I pulled out the cards and hardware and converted it into an organizer for my art supplies.
8. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
When asked how artists find their personal style, a teacher of mine responded: We must always stay true to our personal experiences, as these define who we are as individuals. I constantly remind myself of this.
9. What websites do you use for inspiration?
I tend to look at photography, interior and graphic design more than I look specifically at illustration. Some favorites are FPO, ApartmentTherapy, Box and Line, and Booooooom. I use Twitter for motivation.
10. When do you consider a piece of your work complete?
I have a very short attention span when it comes to my own work. After I’ve spent two or three sittings with something, I’m usually done with it. If more than a week has passed since I’ve worked on a piece, it automatically becomes finished because I’ll never get myself to touch it again!
RSS - Posts