10 Questions with Bobbi Rae
Friday 17 March, 2023
10 Questions
We decided to ask Bobbi ten questions as part of our new ‘10 Questions’ series with the fabulous artists in the shop. We see their art every day, print their lovely designs and package them nicely for all you guys who stop by and see us, and now we want to know what goes on behind them. If you’re just as keen as we are to get to know our artists, then keep reading. Say hello to Bobbi Rae!
Who are you and what do you do?
Hello, I'm Bobbi Rae! I'm an illustrator and designer based in Leeds. I make bright, bold, often silly work which has a strong feminist slant. I draw, paint murals and run an online shop. You'll usually find me doodling away in my studio, out walking the dog or at one of the indie art markets that like to pop-up around the city.
How did you get started?
I've always been a big fan of cartoons, drawing and making stuff. I made cards and teddy bears and all kinds of crap for my friends and family as a kid. I knew I wanted to do something creative in my career pretty early on. In college, I fancied myself as a photographer. I studied textile design at Uni, and illustration was just a hobby. It wasn't until I left and started going to art markets and exhibitions that I realised it was something I could actually pursue! Since then it's been a matter of practicing and developing my style to a point that I felt confident in looking for commercial clients. I'm there now; I get to work with some really great people. But I don't think I will ever stop working on my style and building my skills to get to the next, big, fun project!
What kind of work do you most enjoy doing?
My favourite projects, generally, are those which predominantly involve drawing from the comfort of my home studio. Although I do also love anything a bit cheeky and risqué - like the exhibition I recently worked on at Thackray Museum. Projects like 'Private Parts' are well worth going outside for!
“I get to choose who I work with and I never have to sell something that I don't really believe in.”
What do you like most about being a freelance artist?
Some days, my mind works at 1000 miles a minute. Others, it really struggles to switch on at all. So what I love most and what really suits me is the flexibility. The way I can set my own goals and work to my own schedule. It means that I can work til 3am and sleep til midday, if and when I need to. I like working alone, for the most part. It gives me the ability to focus and the comfort to wear my dressing gown if it's that kind of day. It means I get to choose who I work with and I never have to sell something that I don't really believe in. It really is an ideal job for me and the kind of person that I am.
What is your dream project or collaboration?
There's so many things that I would love to do, I couldn't pick just one. But imagine being asked to design a collection for Lazy Oaf (like Laura Callaghan)?! Or having a character licensed by a hot-shot animation studio and it being turned into a show (like Lisa Hanawalt)? Imagine being asked to design a mosaic for a swimming pool? Or a fountain! I'd love to design a public fountain. I've got big dreams, but nonetheless I'm always VERY excited each time any project comes my way. No matter how grand or tiny.
How do you find inspiration when you’ve hit a block?
I try to give myself a lot of time with projects that I am working on. I never leave things til just before the deadline because it means that if there happens to come a couple of days where things just aren’t going right - I can take a time out, work on another project or just get a bit of rest, if that’s what I need. Giving myself that option, reduces a bit of the pressure which I think causes creative block in the first place. I find going outside helps. Or doing a monotonous task. If I occupy myself and try to stop thinking about it, usually that's when the inspiration will come.
“It was the first painting I ever saw that made me really stop and think ‘what the actual fuck?!’”
Do you have any favourite paintings or artworks?
I tried to milk a year’s worth of dissertation writing out of Hieronymous Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights, during my MA. I've spent an unhealthy amount of time studying it and I think it was the first painting I ever saw that made me really stop and think 'what the actual fuck?!' I love that about it. It's definitely the first painting that springs to mind!
How has your practice changed over time?
I used to paint a lot of murals but I lost my zing for it. Designing them is super fun, painting outside for days on end and scrubbing your skin raw to get the paint off, every night - well, that's much less of a vibe. I still paint from time to time but I've been focussing on developing my digital portfolio over the past few years; trying to reflect more of the work that I would like to do. I've found that the more jobs I get as an illustrator, the more of my day I spend doing admin work. Which is a bit disappointing, but a price I'm willing to pay to get to do the work that I really love!
“Make your portfolio all thriller, no filler and never, never, never work for free!”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Early in my career, when experimenting and looking for some kind of creative style which felt like it fit... I remember being told that I should lean into whatever came naturally to me. It felt very poignant. I had spent a lot of time trying different stuff out, trying to pull away from what came naturally. I was never good at realism and I really wanted to be. I was trying to be something else. So I went back to baby steps. The disproportionate, cartoonish style you see in my work today was born from that, from just accepting that I don't draw in a realistic way and having fun with it.
Do you have any tips for artists who are just getting started?
Make the most of free platforms like instagram, twitter, tiktok and all the other media sites - but don’t get too caught up in it. Real world exhibiting matters too. Apply to be part of exhibitions/group publications/events using sites like Curatorspace. Sell your work! Online or at art markets and events - make a range of things to suit a range of different budgets and get out there and test the waters. Respond to what people like. I’m not saying that if you’re an abstract artist and somebody comes and tells you that they want a picture of a unicorn, you should make it.... But if you notice a pattern in colour choices or preferences for a particular print size or style, you’d be wise to take note! Other top tips: make your portfolio all thriller, no filler and never, never, never work for free!
