The lovely Giselle Clarkson is a freelance illustrator based in our capital city. Inspired by all creatures great and small, on land and in sea, Giselle turns her sweet pencil sketches into watercolour and digital artworks. We especially love her Fish Species of New Zealand poster print, reminiscent of every good old NZ Fish n’ Chip shop, and perfect for the bach or the avid fisherperson.
Did you always want to be an artist? What has been the career and life journey to this point?
Yep! I was so sure it was what I wanted that I left high school early to study Fine Arts at Canterbury. I thought I was going to be a painter, but ended up in photography instead. It hardly matters though, because the most valuable lessons still apply no matter what tools you use. It was an intense four years and it was a long while before I felt the urge to create anything again. So, I’ve done a bit off all sorts since – shop work, sheep work, forestry surveying. I spent six months as a volunteer with the Department of Conservation in the Kermedecs. Then one day I thought I was probably watching too much TV and needed to do something worthwhile, so I sat down and sketched a snapper. Good decision. Great decision!
What’s been your most exciting/inspiring project to date?
My illustrated fish chart. I fiddled around with it for nearly a year, humming and harring over what to do, with a lot of doubts. After much prodding from family, friends, and a few people who had no obligation to like anything I did I started selling prints. People wanted to buy them and I felt thoroughly validated. I get a buzz whenever I think of all the people around the country who now live with my drawings.
What are you working on at the moment?
Too many ideas, not enough time! I’ve got thoughts for some more nautical prints. I’ve got many, many drawings of birds. I’ve made a start on illustrating some old New Zealand folk songs and a couple of storybook ideas. I write silly little rhymes and put pictures next to them too. Flags, maps, recipes…Everything’s half assembled. I’ve got a list of things that people have suggested – “Oh! You should totally do…” – from fungi to galaxids.
What would you love to work on?
To illustrate a book would be a dream, even dreamier would be for someone to send me to a remote island or Antarctica to do it. Any way I can combine art with adventure or conservation awareness. Go on, someone!
You’re drawing and you’re totally in the flow – Where are you? Who (if anyone) is with you? What are you listening to (if anything), what are you sipping/nibbling on?
I’m afraid it’s not pretty. I shuffle into my work hovel early in the morning with a cup of coffee and emerge after dark with a headache, bleary eyes, pins and needles, and a hunger so fierce that all I can do is stand at the pantry door eating cold chickpeas straight from the tin with my fingers. I listen to National Radio to keep my mind from wandering. Not glamorous, but on one of these days I can blast out an idea from start to finish and it feels fantastic.
Shop here for Giselle Clarkson NZ Art Prints
