We (and a handful of @culturevultures Twitter followers) asked this months banner designer, Amy Evans some questions to get to know her better, here’s we found out:
What was it about The Culture Vulture that made you want to design our banner this month?
I’d been following The Culture Vulture for a few months, dipping in and out of the articles and chatting via Twitter. I knew it changed its banners very regularly, something that most community blogs rarely do (but should do more of!). Emma actually approached me at one of the Friday Picnics, where I’d got a little table and was selling my first ever prints. I’d been eyeing up the blog banner anyway so it was fantabidozie that she asked! I think The Culture Vulture has power in several ways – it keeps its regulars coming back but also manages to nab the newcomers. Every article I’ve read so far has been quite warm and welcoming, and its great to think that my artwork has been a part of that. That maybe it contributes to talking points.
If you could move the buildings in Leeds around, what would you move and where would you move it?
Oooh, interesting. A bit like those scenes from Inception, yes? Ideally, I’d just want to create a bit more flow to the city. I’m not that well travelled unfortunately, so I know nothing of any notable buildings beyond the city centre. So, I’d pull out some of those ghastly straight-up-straight-down blocks of shiny (aka skyscrapers). Next, I’d bring some of the older, or just generally more interesting looking, buildings together to create stylistic districts. The Hotel Metropole kinda looks like it’d be happy near the Leeds Markets. I’m sorry to say I’d rip out the bus station and all its conveniences nearby (Co-op, Bingo!?, etc) so there’s a nice big open space as you go towards the ‘arts quarter’ of Leeds (BBC, Northern Ballet, Munro House, etc). Or perhaps move the shopping arcades to this bit, so its like The Shambles from York. Finally, no specific names but I’d line up any buildings that are the same height and plant rooftop gardens with joining bridges. Like a tree top experience but in the heart of the city.
What inspired you to become an illustrator?
Illustration as a career was something I wasn’t aware of until really late in life, literally as I was choosing my degree course for university. I’ve been drawing and painting since I was old enough to hold a pencil and pretty much drew whatever came in to my head. Even now I still get people saying ‘Did you draw that? You didn’t copy it from anything, or look at anything whilst you did it?’ and they look genuinely gobsmacked when I say it comes straight from the head. Or heart. Most artist interviews say ‘oh it comes from the heart’ so I’d better as well. The need to tell stories or create pictures is something thats hard to explain or describe to anyone else. Its a way of projecting some of yourself to the world I suppose, and also connecting to the world. When you create something with a particular thought or feeling or story in mind, you are offering your take on it, and then inviting people in to feel the same or even to challenge it. Its always fun to see how someone else interprets something I’ve done, or perhaps noticed a tiny thing that I haven’t purposefully done but somehow changes the meaning of a picture. Character design is something else I’m really in to, stemming from childhood dreams of being an animator and watching Disney films all day. Even there, when you create a character that has certain recognisable characteristics or a personality, you’re asking people to recognise them, to empathise with them, even see some of themselves in them. Its exhilarating. I suppose, to put that in a single statement, I was inspired to be an illustrator because I have stories to tell and things to share in more words than a thousand books could manage.
@KateHargrave If you could be any sandwich filling which one would you be? And why?
Thats a question and a half. A part of me wants to say I wouldn’t be a sandwich filling at all, as the thought of being eaten is scary. But then if I was a sandwich filling, I wouldn’t have a brain and would therefore not think about being eaten. So, if I were to be a sandwich filling, I’d be something thats composed of two distinct flavours, like sweet and sour, as I truly live up to my Gemini sign and have two aspects to everything I do. I also want to say ‘cheese and grapes’ as I like to think I’m really sweet with a bit of maturity.
@domburch Do you like tiger bread?
I have tried it and feel it could be improved. When I think of anything with the word ‘tiger’ in it, it should be spicy and warm with a bit of bite (see what I did there?). Although it looks like tigers are having a tough time in the food world as well what with giraffe bread replacing it in some places. Endangered bread?
@EwanMitchell What is your favourite cheese?
Hands down, its Stilton. I don’t eat a lot of cheese (as it gives me headaches) so its a treat now and then. I wish I could say I eat a specific Stilton, or even an independently produced one but I’m not much of a connoisseur. I don’t know where to look either (suggestions welcome, as my partner is a cheese nut).