Tell us a bit about you and your
shop
I’m a professional illustrator
living in Chicago, Illinois, in the U.S. Most of my job is creating pictures
that are commissioned for books, magazines, ads and the like, but I also enjoy
creating pictures just for selling on Etsy. It’s fun to think up a picture
someone might want to hang on their wall, and then see what sort of response it
gets from the Etsy community. I especially enjoy drawing animals and plants,
and love using vibrant colors and lots of line and pattern to make each picture
unique.
Where else can we find you?
My main website is www.annibetts.com, and I have a blog that
links off of that site where I share updates on what I’m drawing.
Where do you get your inspiration
from?
Since part of the fun of Etsy is
tapping into trends, a lot of my inspiration comes from seeing what colours and
motifs are constantly popping up out there in the city around me, from shops,
to people’s clothes, to the work of other artists. I also love nature so in the
summer especially I’m always inspired by flowers, birds and animals outside.
How long does it take from
thinking of a new picture to it appearing in your shop? Could you tell us a little bit about the
whole process?
It sort of depends on the picture
— sometimes I think of an idea, and it just flows super easily and it’s only a
few days from thinking of it to having it up in my shop! Other times I’ll have
an idea for something, but it takes me a while to figure out how to use it. I
used to work in “traditional” media — pens, paper, watercolour — but I recently
switched over to doing more digitally. Now my process starts with sketches,
then I do an ink drawing, and then I do all of the colour work digitally. It’s
not only faster and more flexible, but I like to travel and now it’s so much
easier to take my work with me.
What advice have you got for any
budding artists out there that would like to make a living from their art?
My advice is to create what you
love creating, not just what you think other people might like. If you figure out
what you really love making, you’ll not only be happy while you’re doing it but
you’ll be able to create so much more. And I think usually if you love it,
other people will respond to it too. And of course, you’ve got to work hard!
What is your favourite item in
your shop?
Lately my favourite, and it seems
to be everyone else’s based on sales and favourites on Etsy, is my “You’re soFoxy” fox. He’s one that came to me pretty easily, and I love being able to use
the word Foxy again. It’s so 80s, but such a great way to compliment someone,
why did we ever stop using it?
Is there anything you wished you
had done differently?
I can definitely say I wish I’d
started my Etsy shop sooner! I think I was sort of intimidated by the whole
thing before, but my husband kept encouraging me to do it, so I finally did.
And now I find it’s so fun interacting with people that way, and it inspires me
to do more new work, I should have done it years ago!
If you could learn something new
what would it be and why?
If we’re talking new things as
related to my drawing, I have lots of ideas for more three-dimensional things
I’d like to do with my drawings, so I’d love to find the time to explore those
ideas and create new and different things. In the realm of things NOT related
to drawing, I’m looking forward to someday learning to ride horses. It would be
my 8-year-old self’s dream come true!
Where is your most favourite
place on Earth?
It’s hard to pick just one! I
love to travel, as I mentioned, and I love so many places for different
reasons. My first travel experience was Italy, so I guess you could say that
will always be my first travel love. In the US, my favourite place is
Yellowstone National Park. And for underrated destinations, I spent four months
in Beirut, Lebanon a couple of years ago (my husband’s family is from there,
and he’s an archaeologist and digs there) and it was great — it’s fun,
beautiful and there is always so much going on.
I’m a massive pizza fan, what
would be your dream pizza topping?
A mixture of mushrooms, truffles,
and prosciutto, with cheese of course!
What would your pirate name be?
The Dread Pen O’ the High Seas.
Arrr.
What question do you wish I had
asked and what would your answer be?
I wish you’d asked “Do you have a
cute dog?” And I would answer, “The cutest! And his name is Logan.”
Thanks Anni for a fabulous and very pretty interview. And now people, it's your chance to win a You're so Foxy Print. So get you skates on and start entering!!
Great interview and lovely work!
ReplyDeleteI knoiw, she's fantastic right? I love all her work
DeleteI love the artist you have featured. Also love your blog. Found you through on Etsy blog team :)
ReplyDeleteOh wow. How amazing are these prints. love them.
ReplyDeleteI love all her bird prints! So pretty!
ReplyDelete