Inspiro girl: Holly Lloyd

If I say so myself, I’m pretty damn cute for an illustration but I can’t take all the credit, nope, the lady responsible for making both myself and the pink ladies look totes adorable is the g-g-gorgeous miss Holly Lloyd!

If you’re currently drooling over the cute-as-a-button illustrations in Think Pink, then check out the lady with the magic pens…

You’re an illustrator - that rocks - how did you become one of those and what does it actually involve?
Yeah it does rock, It’s the best job in the world I reckon! Well, I guess I always knew I wanted to draw, ever since I first picked up a crayon and started scribblin’. I carried on with my art right through school and became determined that it was what I wanted to do for a career. I went to university and took a degree in Graphic Arts, specialising in Illustration for my final year. Even though I went down the art route from an early stage, and worked hard for my degree, it was still a lot tougher that I though to make it as an illustrator. It took lots of determination and rejection letters before I got any decent jobs, but it was definitely worth it!

You’re responsible for how myself and the Pink Ladies look, how did you become involved in Think Pink?
Harper Collins, the publishers of the book, approached my agent who put my name forward. I did a few initial drawings of what I though Lola and the gang should look like. The guys at Harper Collins (and the lovely Lisa ) loved what I’d done, and I guess the rest is history!

How did you decide what the Pink Ladies and I would look like?
Well, the writing was so fabulous it was easy! Lisa had created such a gorgeous, girly world in her books, I had an immediate image of what the girls and their environment should look like. That happens sometimes with jobs if you’re very lucky, you get an instant feel for the book and the drawing just flows.

Can you describe the design process please? Do you draw them freehand first or is it all on ‘puter?
I always start with paper and a pencil first, I’m an old fashioned gal. When I’m happy with the sketches, I scan them into my applemac and re-draw them in a programme called Illustrator. This helps me to colour them and makes them look cleaner and crisper for print.

Tell us about your work space - do you work from home? DO you have a specific space where you create?
I can work from pretty much anywhere as long as I’ve got my mac! I do tend to work from home, but I moved house a couple of weeks ago, so everything is still all over the place! I think it’s important to have things around you that inspire you when you’re working, whether it’s your favourite books, magazines, posters or photos. Some people need total silence to work, but I need noise! I always work better if I’m listening to my favourite tunes.

How long did it take you to complete the first book?
It’s really difficult to say as there’s so much to and fro when you’re working on a book. There tends to be lots of changes and amendments, as lots of different people have to say that each element of the book is OK before it goes to print.

Who is your favourite Pink Lady?
That’s a tough one. I reckon it’d have to be Bella. She’s rockin’ that rock chick look! But they’re all kinda cool aren’t they? I just wish there’d been a book like Think Pink around when I was growing up, I think those girls could’ve taught me a thing or two.

What were your favourite illustrated books as a kid?
‘Where the Wild Things Are’ by Maurice Sendak, ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ by Eric Carle, and ‘Mister Magnolia’ by Quentin Blake have to be up there. These days I’m loving anything by J Otto Seibold, you should check his stuff out, it rocks!

What’s next in the world of illo-girl Holly?
Well, I’ve been working on the next Think Pink book of course, which is gonna be gorgeous! I also have some stationery ranges and greeting cards coming out this year.

Do you have any tips for wannabe illo-girls?
Just to be determined! It’s a lot of hard work, but I think that anything worth doing always is! You just have to be prepared for the knocks and keep going. I could wallpaper my living room with the rejection letters I got when I was starting out! Be inspired by everything and keep a pen and pad with you all the time and keep drawing and drawing. Above all, remember to enjoy it, it’s the best job ever. Keep doodling!