Illustrator Interview: Emma Virke


Emma Virke has made the cover art for Early To Bed’s single on EardrumsPop.
She has studied art at Pernbys Målarskola, Stockholm. In 2009, she was selected as one of the winners in the childrens book contest by the publishing house Natur & Kultur with the book Mops. She also recieved a silver award in Editorial Illustration in the illustration contest Kolla 2010. In 2010 she was selected for 7th annual CURVY book and Exhibition. CURVY World presents a selection of the most exciting female artists in the world today.

This is our illustrator Interview with Emma Virke:

Can you give us a short presentation of yourself and your art?

I am an illustrator based in Stockholm, working for magazines, children books, invitations and lots more. When not working for clients I make images for various exhibitions. You can find limited edition prints for sale in my web shop.

How did you get started in the illustration field?

I have always loved drawing, but I started up working as a graphic designer. After some years I got a bit bored and I decided to go to art school. That opened new doors for me and now I can’t stop drawing.

What are you working on right now?

My first children picture book “Brevet till månen” (The letter to the moon) has just been published and now I’m working on a new story. I’m also making some new collage art for an upcoming exhibition
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What are your favourite tools?

Pencil, paper, water color and photoshop.

Please tell us about the process of making the EardrumsPop-cover! Is this the way you usually work?

I started by listening to the music to get in the right mood. Then I read the lyrics and images start popping up in my head

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. When I do covers I usually meet with the band and see them play live, so it’s a bit different this time, just getting to hear the music. I use to play the saxophone in bands some years ago and when working with musicians I get really eager to start playing again.

Who / what are your greatest Visual Inspirations?

I find inspiration by walking in the woods, in childhood memories and people around me. I usually get a lot of good ideas right before falling to sleep, and sometimes I still remember them in the morning.

Is music or other forms of art an inspiration? If so, what do you listen to?

I don’t listen to music so much while working, but sometimes I put on a record if I want to get into a special mood, depending on what I am drawing. I think everything around me, both music, art and everyday life can be a source of inspiration. I grow up with Swedish folk music around me (my parents still are playing (http://www.gladpackspelmän.se/Sidor/Lyssna.html), but I also love jazz, sing-and-song-writers like Marit Bergman and lots of other kinds of music.

Describe an average working day.

Don’t really have average working days. They are all different. That’s how I like it to be.

How did you develop your style? Is it different now than when you started?

I think you can still see some similarities to how I was drawing as a child. Much have changed of course and hopefully my style will keep developing over time.

What’s your favorite color?

One color is not so interesting, it’s the combination of colors that makes my heart go boom boom boom.

What are your future plans? Any exciting things you are looking forward to?

I’m looking forward to do the pictures for my next picture book.

What question and answer would you like to end this interview with?

Where would you like to be right now?

Cross-country skiing in a snowy landscape.

Read more and see more of Emma Virke’s art at

www.virke.net

www.virke.net/shop