Name: Rachael Smith (a.k.a Penelope and Pip)
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Website: www.penelopeandpip.com
How about a brief introduction?
I am a freelance illustrator who draws pictures of whimsy and adventure from the imaginations of two little characters called Penelope and Pip. My pictures are a little bit quirky and each illustration has its own story. Kind of like a one page picture book! When I am not drawing I play on my piano and dream of places I can holiday and new stuffed toys I can make for my friend Mister Mo (he’s a cat I made and he is always dreaming of new friends).
What’s your goal before the year 2010 ends?
I would like to create more balance between my work life as a teacher and my home life as an illustrator. Sometimes I get home from school and I have expended so much energy during the day I find it a little hard to be creative at night. To lessen my hours as my day job would be amazing but to do that I need to spend more time drawing – I never was good a maths but I think that equation needs more work!
What’s your biggest fear?
That I will run out of time to do everything I want to do and be all of the things I dream of being. My mother was recently diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer and it has really made me realise that life is very, very short. I don’t worry any more about how my art is perceived. I draw and write my stories because I love to be creative and that has become a goal I enjoy pursuing, more so than any financial gain I may have. This means I sometimes draw pictures I know will have a small market, but that is okay too.
What’s your favorite tool?
Without a doubt my graphics tablet! I am constantly amazed at how it works (I’m one of those people that don’t understand fax machines too…).
Share something random with us!
I put rosy cheeks on everything I draw. I just can’t help make my characters look sun-kissed and happy.
