On this episode of Workbook Radio, illustrator and animator Kirsten Ulve, whose work graces the cover of our 2019 Illustration Fall Workbook, talks with Social Media Director Thomas James about textiles, inspiration, dream projects, and upcoming work.
TJ: “I know that you are also getting into or have been into things like textiles and having your art on products. How did that all start, and how’s that been different for you from something like editorial work?”
KU: “I so want to do more products. I really do. The only one I’ve produced myself, I guess it was a year and a half ago or something, was this silk scarf I did of New York City. And it’s basically this condensed graphic map of NYC downtown…it’s very simplified. It took me a long time to develop this image, because I really wanted it to work, and it was really difficult for me living here and feeling like, ‘Okay, better represent well! You better make this good!’ You know? Cuz everybody loves New York.
“My being the client for that one was difficult. I’m really pretty strict with myself. I love having something practical that people can own and use and wear and buy that’s mine. I’m happy with the result. I think looks good! I want more! It was kind of a toe in the water. It’s a little beginning.
“The thing about objects as opposed to work that I’m doing for magazines and editorial;[which you know] I love both jobs. I love interpreting articles and things like that. It has a practical use but then it’s very disposable. You know?”
TJ: “Right.”
KU: “So doing something that is a physical thing is appealing because it lasts, and it’s a thing you can use in your life and touch. You know? So I want to do more stuff like that.”
TJ: “Do you try to make it a regular thing to seek out inspiration and get out of your own creative space?”
KU: “I mean, if I can. If I have time, yeah, sure. It’s always great to get out of the studio and be inspired by greatness, like, all around…and also seeing other mediums. I really have a longing to bring [my art to] other surfaces and mediums from just doing digital. I love digital. I love GIFs. I love animation. I love all of it.
“I also recently saw this show of Tolkein’s early drawings over at the Morgan Library, which is really close to me, too. It was just fascinating to see drawings he did of dragons and Middle Earth. Super fascinating. Beautiful lettering. It was super inspiring. Yeah.”
TJ: “I know you have a print shop. I’m curious about how much…how much work does it take for you to maintain something like that? I know some illustrators tend to get overwhelmed, or they try to make prints and they just don’t sell. So what is your experience, personally, about having a print shop?”
KU: “Well, this last year is the first time I’ve done it… maybe ever! I casually offered prints from different exhibitions. Like they were for sale in the moment. Or I’ve offered prints people wanted one time. But this last year was the first time I actually set up a shop on my site where you can order stuff, and I’m shipping it.
“It’s been kind of eye-opening and good! I was a little afraid, [thinking] okay, is anyone going to want these? That would’ve been weird. But it’s actually been pretty good but not in a hugely overwhelming way that I feel like I can’t handle.
“My print sales have been doable. I actually really enjoy printing and rolling them up and sticking a little note in there. I want to make stickers to put in there now just as little presents. I actually really like the contact I have with sending people stuff. It’s been really fun. I’m really very into packaging and just making it fun to open and get, you know? So it’s been a nice diversion from the digital world; put it that way.”
TJ: “Having been an illustrator who’s worked on so many things and is still working on some things it sounds like you’re really excited about, what are some wish list items for the future? Or things you haven’t done yet and you’d really like to do, projects you’d like to do, or areas of the industry you’d like to explore?”
KU: “I think what I want the most at this point in my career would be…I just want to make more of stuff. I mean, I love working with people and all the art directors I’ve worked with have been so fun and awesome to work with for the most part. But I would really love to do more prints and big pieces and to [just] explore non-editorial, [fantasy] imagery that I feel like making would be my number one goal at this point. And it’s starting to kind of lean that way.
“I just recently did some pieces for a hotel here in New York, and they’re all in the lobby. They’re really big prints, they’re like six feet high. They’re permanent there. That was kind of the first time I’ve done something like that. They basically purchased five pieces that were kind of my…I had some pieces of NYC which I’ve been doing a lot of imagery about in the last couple of years with the scarf and stuff like that. So, I did these five pieces for their lobby, and it [feels like] I can say, ‘I’ve been living here 23 years. So here [is my version of the city]!’ And so even though those are straight up recognizable images (they’re very representational), I would love to do more pieces that are kind of more surreal.”
TJ: “Often you may not be able to say exactly what you’re working on, but can you tell us what kinds of projects are on your table right now or [in the future]?”
KU: “Good stuff! One of them I definitely can’t say because I’m not allowed to say. But I’m very excited!
“So, I just recently did this piece for a Moroccan couturier, a maker of gorgeous couture gowns. And he wanted an image of my take on Morocco, basically. Or just the beauty that is Morocco. And I did this piece with a group of Berber women. I don’t know if you know Moroccan culture, but I have always been fascinated with Berber women. They’re just so decked out and adorned with different jewelry that they’re making and just absolutely gorgeous. I wanted to put a piece about that, and I did this grouping of women. He’s turning it into this, I’ve seen the fabric, it’s been printed. It’s on a beautiful gown he’s making that’s not quite finished yet, and I can’t wait to see that.
“Speaking of the textile thing, I’m kind of taking a little break from my usual editorial duties and stuff like that…just a couple weeks to finish up this project I’ve been working on for a long time, which is the Zodiac series. I’ve been trying to find a printer who can do metallic ink because I want to do prints, but I also want to do scarves with those [designs]. And I found a printer.
“My friend was telling me recently, ‘Holy shit (sorry!), there’s this new print process with Indigo printers that can print metallic ink,’ which I am absolutely thrilled about, and I want to look into that. But also, there have been a lot of technological advances in that regard because now there are fabric printers who can print metallic inks as well. So there are a lot of possibilities to do some kind of magical imagery with a little metallic, and I’m super thrilled to finish that up. So, that’s what I’m going to be working on for at least the early parts of summer.
“I’m continuing to do some stuff for Japanese Vogue, which is an excellent opportunity to do some fashion illustration. I always like bringing that in…you know, all of these things that I’m [doing], like caricature or fashion or editorial or advertising or game [design], it all kind of ebbs and flows. And sometimes I’m doing a lot of one and hardly any of another, so it’s good. I guess the takeaway from that is it’s good to diversify [if you want to stick to something].”
Listen to the full episode below.
See more of Kirsten’s work here.
Kirsten is repped by Mendola Artists Representatives.
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