Editorials, storyboards, packaging illustrations and children’s books: illustrator Anne QUADFLIEG expresses herself in beautiful watercolours, collages, in ink and feathers and sometimes even just armed with a pencil in colour as well as black and white. Since 2010 she has been working as a freelance illustrator in Hamburg. She currently mainly works for magazines and publishing houses. But you can of course also book her for advertising jobs and campaigns, approach her about a book project or have her do some ‘concept scribbling’ for your workshop. GoSee visited the studio of Anne QUADFLIEG....
How did you get into illustration?
After finishing my A-levels, I happened to see an advert for an illustration academy in the study guide. I didn’t even know such a course existed at that point and enthusiastically read the whole description. I really felt, as though it had been written for me, it was so relevant to me. A university course where you can learn to channel painting and drawing into a career. I immediately applied and was lucky enough to be accepted.
You recently illustrated some cocktails in a very summery way and we noticed that your style has become increasingly watercolour based. You just produced several pages of portraits and a map of Uganda for DROP magazine, which is striving to ensure clean water for the world, in watercolours.
I think it’s important to form your style in a continuous process and keep developing it. To use one technique or style for the rest of my life is unimaginable to me. But that’s what creativity is made of: letting life itself, new impressions and experiences and Zeitgeist influence your work. In the end this process will expand the range of your body of work. For commissions the most important factor is what the client wants and which style they find most appropriate for which topic.
Can you describe your working process to us?
First of all there is an enquiry with a brief. A good and clearly articulated brief is vital. I discuss the expenditure and timing with my representation and direct any follow up questions to the employer. They decide which technique – such as feather and ink, watercolour or mixed media – they want me to use for the illustration early on. It’s great if the client attaches one of my works as a reference point at this stage. But it’s also exciting if they want something completely different, where an example doesn’t exist yet. When the commission goes through I celebrate for about a second and then get straight to work, making sketches that will turn into the foundation for the illustration. We use this as a base; make changes and when the client is happy I create the final and clean illustration.
What’s your typical working day like?
My working day begins between 9 and 9.30 am. Like most people I start the day by checking my e-mails and messages, but if I have a deadline that afternoon I start illustrating immediately in the morning. I usually have set acquisition days and it takes time to update the website and fan page, even if you don’t think it will. In terms of acquisition my agency does a lot of work for me and we occasionally discuss new trends and themes with Kris Krüger from Egger Grey.
Are you interested in fashion and lifestyle? You regularly illustrated Miriam Collée’s column in LAVIVA magazine…
I often identify with what Miriam writes about. Fashion is definitely a topic that interests me. I think fashion and creativity go hand in hand somehow and I like when people make a bold statement with their look and strengthen their standing through their appearance. It’s often about fantasy and about making the most out of something minimal.
I also had the chance to work with Hamburg fashion label Etage Eins and create wall designs for them. I like to combine unexpected things, the threshold between high fashion and everyday items or something completely different. You can see that in last winter’s Christmas Goose illustrations for their flagship store in Hamburg ☺
Speaking of Hamburg, what are your favourite bars or hangouts for illustration enthusiasts?
In summer I can recommend Central Park. It’s a beach club that’s just around the corner from me on Sternschanze. This place is suitable for private and business meetings. We did the magazine critique for Viva Con Agua magazine there for instance. I also like to go to Yoko Mono in Karoviertel and to Le Fonque in Schanze. A friend’s shop called ‘Kunsthaltestelle’ on Marktstraße is great for illustration lovers. You can buy postcards, posters, stickers etc. with super illustrations there!
And where do you most like to eat in Hamburg?
I’ve got a very honest answer for you: Asia Cao in Schulterblatt, a pretty nondescript looking little shop! But they make the best coconut soup and everything else there tastes wonderful also. Ordering food there has become a Sunday tradition.
Last question – what’s the best thing about illustrating?
I guess there is no brand new answer for this. It is just amazing to do a job that I’m so invested in and passionate about. It’s great that you can mould and shape your work until you have created something very individual. It’s fascinating to me that every illustrator interprets one and the same subject in a different and personalised way.
As a little goodie we offer all GoSee readers the cool Whiskey Sour picture by Anne as a desktop calendar for July – August and September for all standard computer desktop formats (click here to download).
