Interview: Sarah Walsh

Why did you choose to enter this work?
I love the playfulness of these two pieces. Púca/Ghost is a softer, quieter story in contrast to the burst of colour in Hidden World. Bringing them to life through animation still makes me smile.

What’s your favourite thing about your shortlisted project?
Both pieces are joyful and originally started out as still images. However, being an illustrator/animator, I couldn't help but push them further, animating the humour and magic I saw in my head.

What excites you most about being shortlisted?
To have my work recognised on such a huge platform is incredible! I am so proud to be shortlisted alongside so many great artists and their work, it's pretty amazing!

Where do you usually work?
I work from home on my laptop and tablet that's plugged into a monitor. I'm surrounded by a lot of plants, books, and a cat that likes to pop in to say hi.

How long did it take to complete your project?
The drawings for both images were created in two weeks, however, I set myself a deadline of animating each project in just under a month while I was working full-time in animation.

What is your dream commission?
I write and illustrate stories all the time so I would love to work in Children's Books. I also really want to have my animations projected on street walls and in galleries alongside my still images.

What’s your favourite thing to draw?
Nature, people and anything with a bit of humour and colour. I am always trying to push my work and exploring new ways of creating moving and still images.

What is your best tip for other illustrators?
Believe in what you're creating and try not to rely on perfection. More often than not a rough sketch or a 'silly' drawing can be the very spark you need to ignite something new. Have fun and stretch!

What are your plans for the future?
To make children's books and to carry on making more animated illustrations. I hope the future is filled with lots of new opportunities and commissions. I'm very excited to see what's next.


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