Interview with Creative Storyteller, Carys Price

Why did you decide to take up your creative trade?

I was first introduced to illustration at age 16 in college and since then it just seemed clear to me that’s what I would do with my life! I studied graphic design at uni which I enjoyed but illustration is what really makes me tick.

How do you get past creative blocks?

I find visual research is probably a useful tool to get over a creative block. I also find having reserves of sketches I can look back on and draw inspiration from helpful. If that doesn’t work sometimes taking a step away from my desk for a break works wonders! I find going for a run can help me reflect, detach and allow me to come back with a fresh pair of eyes.

What is your creative process?

My creative process always begins with visual research, before loose sketching and experimentation. I use procreate for pretty much all my work which is really handy as it means I can do all my drawing and colouring in one programme.

Where do you look for inspiration?

I would say my biggest source of inspiration is the work of other contemporary illustrators, so I Instagram and Pinterest a lot when looking for inspiration. Books have also always been big sources of inspiration to me! I’m currently working on a personal project inspired by A Series of Unfortunate Events, which was one of my favourite series of books as a kid. I’m planning on illustrating a cover for all thirteen of the books with a focus on the villainous characters.

What are you reading or listening to right now?

I’m having a reggae moment so I’m currently listening to Wicked a Go Feel It by Soul Syndicate! But my favourite song at the moment has got to be Bad Boy Tenor by Kiko Bun.

What has been your favourite project to date and why?

I think I have probably enjoyed working on Gaucamelon World the most, a personal project where I wrote and illustrated a short story. Gaucamelon World is about a carnival full of all manner of strange and wonderful characters, including a pair of taxidermy-obsessed twins, a troupe of acrobats and a family of not-so-fearsome crocodiles. I loved working on this project because it was something I worked on in collaboration with my dad and together we made up the silliest and most absurd story. I think that the ability to be silly and tap into my inner child is a really important part of my illustration practice because it helps me to make work that I have fun with and really enjoy. To me, personal projects are one of the most important things I can do because they allow me to push and develop my skills without the parameters imposed by client work.

A big thank you to Carys Price for contributing to our series of creative conversations with industry experts.