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timeofthethieves:

Time of The Thieves introduce you to Katey-Jean Harvey

TTT.What’s your name?

K.J.H. Katey-Jean Harvey.

TTT.Where were you born and where do you live?

K.J.H. I was born in South Manchester but moved to London in 2009.

TTT.What is your profession?

K.J.H. Illustrator / painter / pain in the ass.

TTT.When did you start being in illustration and why?

K.J.H. I became interested in illustration at school. I had an amazing teacher with an illustration background and she introduced me to a bunch of artists who drew ‘unconventionally’ so instead of slaving over perfect graphite drawings of shells and rotting fruit, I began to fill notebooks with doodles and silly ideas. I went on to study Graphic Arts at Liverpool School of Art and graduated in 2008.

TTT.What are your favourites artists or which artists have influenced your work?

K.J.H. My all time favourite artist and biggest inspiration is Raymond Peynet. I found a book of his drawings in a charity shop when I was 16 years old and decided pretty much then that I wanted to be an illustrator. His drawings were so clever and romantic it totally blew my tiny mind. Other artists I appreciate a great deal: Mary Blair, Oliver Jeffers, Laura Carlin, Stuart Kolakovic and Lucy Harvey.

TTT.What are the elements that inspire you in your work (images, feelings, music characters)?

K.J.H. When I first found my feet with my style I drew obsessively about love and relationships. It’s a bit embarrassing but I was obsessed with love during those years and fell in love about 5 times a day. Boys, cute old ladies on the bus, customers at the cookie stall I worked at every weekend. Everything. I’m not so quick to part with my heart these days but I’m still a huge people watcher and love the relationships between people and their environment. My family and childhood will always be a big influence for me. I am very nostalgic and constantly try to escape back to the days of sliding down the stairs in a blanket with my sisters.

TTT.Can you tell us what you’re looking to convey with your work?

K.J.H. To tell a story. Most of my work is quite narrative based and personal and a contrast of the playful and solemn. I like mischievous girls, awkward situations, sad songs and childish behaviour. I’m that girl who wants to slide down the banister with my dress round my ears and a cat stuffed in my pocket, but realise I’d get arrested for doing it in real life.

TTT.Have you ever exhibited and if you have, where has it been?

K.J.H. Yes! I’ve been very lucky. I’ve had my pictures on walls in Paris, Toulouse, New York, London, Liverpool and Manchester.

TTT.What music are you listening to?

K.J.H. Damien Jurado, Perfume Genius and Adele (obsessively).

TTT.Which websites do you like?

K.J.H. http://thoughtcatalog.com/

TTT.What are you reading now?

K.J.H. All Families Are Psychotic - Douglas Coupland.

TTT.What is your favourite place? 

K.J.H. Brooklyn in Autumn or Christmas morning at my parent’s house.

 

TTT.Can you tell us in what circumstances you made this illustration?

K.J.H. It was for Plan B magazine to accompany a review of Castanets’ - City of Refuge which was recorded in an isolated motel room in the Nevada desert.

TTT.If you could associate this image with a song, which would it be?

K.J.H. The whole of Scream, Dracula Scream by Rocket from the Crypt. I probably should have been listening to Castanets come to think of it but I made this picture whilst staying with my friend in New York and he blasted RFTC most days.

TTT.What do you feel when you look at this illustration?

K.J.H. It makes me think of the makeshift lightbox me and my friend made from his glass coffee table and weird Elvis bedside lamp so I could draw this!