LDNER #152 CLAUDINE O’SULLIVAN

There is something just mesmerising about illustration. The way something is interpreted and brought to life through a creative eye.  The colourful animal pencil drawings and art prints of Irish born but London based, Claudine O’Sulivan are nothing short of brilliant and is exactly why she was involved with the new Apple Pencil. This weeks LDNER ladies and gents…

Where do you live in London and what do you love about that area?

I’ve been in London almost seven years and have moved around quite a bit. For the first 5 years I mostly lived East, then 2 years ago I migrated South of the river to Camberwell. I had studied at LCC in Elephant and Castle, so I wasn’t a stranger to the area, a lot of my friends live here and there’s a strong creative scene. I’m a fan of the relaxed vibe and it’s really easy to get around London from. Camberwell Green is full of pubs and great little restaurants and it’s a short walk to both Brixton and Peckham, I reckon I’ll be here for another few years at least.

You recently featured in the new Apple Pencil ad, have you started to use this in your work?

I had been a fan of using a stylus before, my main tool is traditional pencil. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I adapted to Apple Pencil and the Procreate drawing app, it’s really great for detail and colour work. I won’t be giving up on my traditional methods any time soon but I have started using my iPad for certain detail work and drawing on the move.

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Where in London are places of inspiration for you?

It’s difficult to pinpoint somewhere in particular, my favourite thing about this city is that there’s always a lot of very different things going on at once. If I need some headspace I’m lucky to live across from a huge park, which is great to people watch and sketch in. If I have a free day I often head East to Broadway market and Bethnal Green. I used to live around there and the Museum of Childhood is a great place for a daydream, followed by a stroll down the canal. There’s also a great life drawing class in Bethnal Green which runs 3 or 4 nights a week, I don’t go as often as I’d like anymore but it’s one of my favourite ways to unwind. My ultimate inspiration/research spot is the Natural History Museum, I love when I have a chance to go there in the morning mid- week, when it’s a little less hectic and I can sketch.

What have you got coming up for the summer?

I’m now lucky enough to be focusing on art and illustration full time so I’m hoping to have a busy summer. I have a really fun, summer-inspired branding campaign launching in Italy in June, and a few other projects in the pipeline. I’m exhibiting at Clerkenwell Design Week in May and also at an illustration event in the Old Truman Brewery in June. I’m involved in a few aspects of the Camberwell Arts Festival in June, so keep an eye out for that. Aside from work, I’m planning a few trips back home to Ireland and hopefully a visit to Berlin. I’m getting married in September…so planning for that will have to kick in at some stage too!

ClaudineWork

What would your perfect day in London be?

My days are usually scheduled hour by hour so I love having a day with no solid plan every now and again, usually a Saturday or Sunday. I wake up pretty early, probably because breakfast is my favourite meal! My boyfriend Rob and I will walk down to The South London Gallery, which is always full at the weekends but well worth the wait. They serve a great vegetarian breakfast and delicious smoothies. We’ll chill there for a bit, we both always have a notebook with us so it’s nice to get a coffee and brainstorm ideas and projects with eachother. We’ll have a look around whatever exhibition is on at the South London Gallery and then stroll to Brixton Village or hop on a bus to Clapham or Southbank. I’m a big fan of Okan in Brixton Village, which originated from one of my favourite food stalls at Brick Lane market, they do amazing okonomiyaki (savoury Japanese pancakes). There’s a great South London Furniture Flea market in Clapham every now and again. We’re always on the lookout to pick up some furniture for our flat, but always end up being too picky! Wherever we end up we usually make our way back to Camberwell to meet friends for a few drinks in The Tiger or The Stormbird, then maybe get some pizza in Theos or head to Silk Road Chinese.

www.claudineosullivan.com

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