Interview Series: Alice Potter
In the first of a new set of interviews that I have planned, looking at the work of some amazing illustrators, small creative business owners and pattern designers, I spoke to Alice Potter - a children’s book illustrator and surface pattern designer. She answered questions including about her inspiration, favourite tools for creating and future plans. I hope you enjoy the read, and look out for more interviews coming soon!
Please introduce yourself
My name is Alice Potter. I’m from London, and live here with my family including my two daughters. I’m a children’s book illustrator and surface pattern designer having set up my business in 2011. Since then I have published around 25 books and licensed my art to multiple products around the world.
Tell me more about your practice?
I’m a digital illustrator and I use mainly a Wacom Cintiq for creating all my designs and illustrations on Adobe Illustrator. I have 2 children so my work is woven in and around their days and I always try to be flexible and easy going. I divide my weeks between commissions, creating new patterns and greeting cards for licensing, or admin stuff that might need doing. At the moment, I’m mostly focussed on developing new illustrations for children’s book portfolio.
What inspires you, what would you say your strengths are as an illustrator and pattern designer?
Some of the best things I often get inspired by come from historical objects including textiles and ceramics. My favourite museum is the V&A in London, and I’m lucky as it’s very easy for me to get there. From my sources of inspiration comes a natural love of drawing flowers and nature, which end up in my patterns a lot. Animals are also a huge inspiration to me when working on books. I've been lucky enough to work on many animal themed books in recent years, and love the opportunity to stylise, or even, anthropomorphise an animal, when I can. Knowing my work brings joy to children is enough in itself to spur me on in this crazy choice of a career.
What are some of your favourite tools for making artwork?
Honestly, I am hugely attached to my Wacom tablet. Being able to draw big on a screen is so nice. I do have an iPad Pro, but use it rarely right now. It’s something I would like to get more confident using, so that when I travel, that’s all I need.
How do you manage your time to create a good work/life balance?
I try to work with and around my children and just be as flexible as possible. In the thick of a big deadline, I have to rely on a lot of help from family, and I’m used to pulling a few late nights, but mostly, it’s a healthy balance right now. I have noticed I am sometimes more creative later in the day as I’m not really a morning person, so learning to just go naturally to what I feel like doing at any moment seems to work best for me.
What projects have you worked on recently/ are working on now?
In January I came to the end of a few huge projects which I had worked extremely hard on for months. One was a dictionary, and the other 4 were an activity series. I was pretty much a shell of my former self at the end, especially so, as I worked with a newborn too. So, right now, I am working on my portfolio and taking time to create some new pieces for licensing.
What would be a dream collaboration?
My dream is to see my patterns on more kids clothes in a highstreet retailer or to get a book project with a huge publisher. Maybe even a line of homewares or kids bedding. It’s extremely difficult for me to name any one brand, as the options for an illustrator and pattern designer are so broad, that the possibilities for collaboration are seemingly endless. That’s super exciting.
Finally, where would you like to see yourself in 5 years time?
My eldest will be a tweenager, my baby won’t be a baby, hopefully I will have grown up a little too. Wherever we are, my hope is that we are healthy, happy and maybe living somewhere close to the sea.