This month STYLEetc features contributor Kathryn Bell caught up with Sophie Bampton, a freelance illustrator living and working in London, to see exactly what a regular day in the life of a creative living in the capital is like:
The city is filled with streets being marched upon by sharp stilettos and thick soled brogues, all marching on their own separate missions. It’s a crisp winter morning, but the blue skies and sunshine neutralise the discomfort of the cold. The whizz of London always puts me in a good mood, and it seems like the majority of the city is with me due to the good weather.
I meet Sophie for breakfast in a quirky little café down a back alley in Soho. We order what Sophie describes as ‘spicy milky goodness’ in the form of chai tea lattes and start chatting about what a normal day for her is like.
Tell me how you normally start your day?
A good breakfast! Something to keep me going which usually consists of a poached egg, avocado and rivita or porridge stuffed with blueberries and banana and always accompanied by a large strong cup of tea! The morning is when I do most of my thinking, so taking the time to make something nice makes all the difference to how my day progresses.
So after some wholesome goodness what is next? Does an ordinary day at work involve lots of different projects on the go at once?
Yes, I like to overlap a few projects at a time. Sometimes you get creative block on one and it helps to move onto another to keep things moving along. I always begin with brainstorming a few ideas or sourcing new reference materials (you can never have enough dog-eared books and magazines!) It’s always good to have pages to paw over when you are having a bit of a lull.
What are your “go to” magazines if you’re having a blank?
Anything that I have to hand! I usually find inspiration in the oddest places. I love picking up anatomy posters at markets…
And what else inspires you creatively? Books / music / art?
Pink Floyd always keep me going. They never fail to inspire but I always find the best thing to do is get out of the studio, GO for a walk, head to a market, exhibition, go to a gig. Keep your mind constantly active… Boredom can totally kill creativity.
And after a day of creative buzz how do you wind down in the evenings?
It sounds odd but after a hectic day of commission pieces I tend to unwind by getting stuck into some personal work. Quick illustrations and practice always helps me unwind. If drawing is totally off the cards then I head to the gym to let off some steam.
Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?
Just keep plugging. Do what you love and keep your mind active and well fed. Feeding yourself with knowledge, and surrounding yourself with creative people and places will keep those creative juices flowing.
And finally, do you have a favourite sketch?
I don’t have a favourite sketch. I am always looking to improve on a piece even after its finished. Knowing when to stop is always the hardest part of the process. But I would say that drawing people is what I enjoy most though.
Meeting someone like Sophie has left me on a high. It’s great to think that there are so many young talented starlets out there ready to shape the next generation of creative talent in the UK. To see more of Sophie’s work check out her website. In the meantime, I’m off to buy a pen and sketchbook!
By Kathryn Bell (@kathrynbee)
