Interview: Imogen Joy

Preferred Pronoun?
She/Her

Why did you choose to enter this work?
I wanted to enter this work for the award as it is a personal favourite of mine. The sequence of images which this belongs to has also caught the attention of a children’s publisher.

What’s your favourite thing about your shortlisted project?
This project feels special as it marked a turning point where I really honed in on portraying the relationship between two characters, and composing a sequence which could tell a story without words.

What excites you most about being shortlisted?
The fact that Elkie and Croc are up there on the AOI website amongst such incredible talent, and that my characters are being seen by people I may never have imagined would see them, is wonderful!

Where do you usually work?
I have carved out a corner of a room in my little apartment in Sydney (with space for my books and cat) and that has become my ‘studio’. It is all I need and I'm so grateful for my little work space!

How long did it take to complete your project?
I would say about one month, as there were 4 illustrations in the sequence and I spent roughly a week on each. They all evolved quite organically from some observational sketches I had done.

What is your dream commission?
I would love to see my own author-illustrated stories in bookshop windows. Or my work on any kind of products! Illustration is the most accessible art form we have which is why I love it so much!

What’s your favourite thing to draw?
Birds! I love everything about them, their form, the detail in their feathers, and their delicate heads and beaks. You will find birds in many of my illustrations. Also, flying machines!

What is your best tip for other illustrators?
Stay true to yourself. It's refreshing to see the unique vocabulary of an illustrator who really understands their own visual language. Find what makes YOU quirky and honour that in your work.

What are your plans for the future?
I'll definitely try to get Elkie and Croc into bookshops. As long as my hands and imagination keep working I just want to keep illustrating, because that’s what brings me (and hopefully others) joy!


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