illustrator interview - charlotte trounce

Do you use old school or new school tools when creating your work?I try to stay as old school as possible, so I make all my work using pencils and paints, however I do have to touch up and arrange compositions on the computer. Show and tell your piece of work. Describe your submission for Old School.My submission for Old School is a gym-themed, illustrated alphabet. It's colourful and fun, and perfect for teaching ABCs. What is your creative process?I start any new project by first gathering lots of beautiful imagery to help inspire me. I then grab a pencil and scribble down lots of ideas in my sketchbook, and once I have settled on an idea I develop it as much as possible, before working on the final artwork in acrylic and gouache paints. I tend to paint every little element separately and then work it all together on photoshop. Does your work represent your personality?I think my work and I are a good match.

Describe your studio space.I recently moved into a great new studio space in Dalston, to work alongside lots of other illustrators and designers. My desk is still a little bare, I think I need some plants to brighten the place up. What's your earliest memory of drawing/creating?I'm not sure about my earliest memory, but in my last year of primary school my teacher would keep me in at break and lunch times to create extravagant displays for the classroom, such as a giant papermache spot cream tube when we were studying The Diary of Adrian Mole. Did you have an imaginary friend?No, but my sister and I were constantly playing imaginary games when we were younger. Did you know at school what you wanted to be?I think I always knew I wanted to do something creative. Other avenues I explored were wedding dress designer, cake decorator and architect. What advice would you give now to your 'old school self'?Make the most of all the creative facilities school and art college offer and experiment as much as possible.Smug's colour is yellow. What colour best represents you?I'd probably be a slightly dirty shade of red. I love colour, but something slightly more reserved. If you had to choose one Smug product what would it be?The green formica school desk please. As well as Charlotte's A-Z print, SMUG sells a collection of her wrapping papers commissioned by Wrap Magazine.