Author: Kamila Sukhanova

How did Nana inspire fashionistas on TikTok while being on hiatus for almost 15 years?

Since the pandemic, the attitude towards anime and manga has changed. It is not associated with something childish or embarrassing anymore. The popularity of anime such as Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen has surprisingly turned more and more people into ‘otaku’, which is the Japanese description of people who have an intense interest in manga or anime.

As an old fan of romantic shoujo ani-mangas, I was surprised to see Nana inspired outfit videos all over my TikTok feed. Since middle school, I spent my free time watching shoujo anime. They were light, funny and targeted to a female audience. You could be laughing one moment and crying the next. For me, that was the mark of a good anime.

Yet, Nana was something completely different from ordinary ani-manga. It wasn’t just the plot that kept me glued to my screen, but the interesting fashion present throughout the entire series. Ai Yazawa, the author of the manga, was a former fashion student. This influenced the style throughout and the punk-inspired aesthetic.

The ani-manga tells the story of two girls called Nana, who coincidentally meet on the train to Tokyo and begin to share an apartment together. Even though both girls are named Nana, they are the absolute polar opposites of each other.

Nana Komatsu, known by the nickname Hachi, is a positive, naive hopeless romantic who engages in messy relationships. Her personality can be seen through her feminine looks mixed with Japanese Y2K harajuku style.

Nana Osaki on the other hand is the complete opposite of her roommate. She had a troubled childhood and is hardened and sarcastic. She is also the lead singer of a punk rock band, which is one of the main storylines.

On TikTok, I stumbled upon a video with music from Nana in the background, with the creator presenting several outfits based on the style from Nana. Excited to see if there was more, I followed the hashtag and ended up discovering thousands of videos dedicated to Nana. It was clear that the anime had a large online fanbase.

Most videos were fan edits of the series, but what intrigued me was the incredible fashion content. People were sharing their favourite looks from the manga and anime and then re-creating them. Some were dressing up like a certain characters. Others were happy to show their collections of Vivienne Westwood pieces, treating them like official merch.

“I get a lot of inspiration from the characters’ outfits. Every time I put on an outfit, I subconsciously find myself dressing based on one of the characters,” says Julie Hjerppe, known as @you.3.141 to her 85.3 thousand followers on TikTok.

Julie posts her daily outfits, thrifting hauls and outfit ideas based on movies and anime. Her first TikTok on ‘Nana-inspired outfits’ received so many views that she ended up making a series on each character. The 10-second videos get up to 200k views, where the comment section is flooded with excitement from Nana fans. Someone even commented: “I’m glad Nana is getting the recognition it deserves.”

For Julie, making TikToks about Nana is like paying tribute to her fashion inspiration. She says: “for me, specifically, the show inspired me to have fun with fashion. Nana Osaki is the one who made me feel more comfortable dressing both grunge and feminine at the same time.  She also made me super into plaid skirts, which are a huge staple in her own wardrobe.”

Though the plot does not revolve around the fashion industry, Nana is considered one of the most fashionable animes, remaining trendy and stylish for 15 years. The style of the ani-manga is filled with punk rock culture, and the punk aesthetic would not be complete without the Queen of Punk herself. Ai Yazawa merged the world of manga with designer Vivienne Westwood’s fashion in her work.

You can spot the British designer’s pieces in many of the main characters’ looks. She is mentioned in almost every volume of the manga, making the fans wonder if Nana is Ai Yazawa’s personal ode to Vivienne Westwood.

Leather jackets, tight corsets, plaid minis and enormous black boots – Nana’s style screams punk mixed with ‘femme fatale’. With edgy looks, she draws the line between her and the standard female characters of shoujo anime, whose outfits are often simple school uniforms and casual shirts paired with jeans.

For example, Nana Osaki wears various corsets that are inspired by the ‘Mini-Crini’ — a victorian dress with, as ladies from that century would think, a scandalously short crinoline.

The ‘Mini-Crini’ first appeared in the Autumn-Winter 1987/88 ‘Harris Tweed’ collection. Vivienne Westwood was the first designer of the 20th century to change the structure of the corset, allowing it to become a staple of modern wardrobes. To this day, such corsets have become Vivienne Westwood’s speciality.

“I love the fact that Nana Osaki specifically has a lot of recurring clothing pieces, which she continues to style in so many iconic ways,” says Julie. “She does a great job with what she has. This just goes to show that you really don’t need a huge wardrobe to look cool. I also really admire the way ani-manga shows how much accessorising can affect your outfit.”

This is true, as jewellery is an essential in all the main characters’ outfits. The character of Nana often wears the ‘Armour’ ring from Vivienne Westwood. It symbolises Nana’s desire to be protected from the external world and the problems that it contains.

Julie continued: “the fashion itself is so iconic in Nana. After all, it keeps inspiring people to feel confident. Personally, after watching Nana and trying out new styles because of it, I found a new way to look at clothes and I got into, specifically Vivienne Westwood. I also always used to think that I needed to dress one way, but Nana showed me that you can mix styles together.”

Another iconic Vivienne Westwood piece is Nana’s Rocking Horse shoes, first presented in the Autumn/Winter 1995 “Mini-Crini” collection. The British designer was inspired by traditional Japanese geisha shoes, ‘Okobo’, where the platform can be from 7 to 13 cm. These shoes were for geishas to not damage their kimono with dirt while walking.

Iconic for several reasons, Super Elevated Gillie heels were spotted in Nana as well. The extremely high heels were inspired by a ribbon-lace design from the 18th century. However, they became iconic for the incident that happened on the runway of the Autumn/Winter 1993/94 ‘Anglomania’ collection.

Naomi Campbell wore the 30.5 cm heel and fell during the show. That moment is still legendary in the fashion industry with the Super Elevated Gillie getting free product advertisement from it. Many celebrities were spotted wearing the shoes after the incident, and of course the character of Nana Osaki.

The male characters in Nana do not disappoint either. Shin Okazaki is one of the fashionable male characters present in the manga.

Shin’s transformation from a naive high schooler to the bass player of the punk band reflects in his appearance. Strong inspiration from punk culture comes from his desire to accept a new personality and finally leave his past behind.

Casual teenage clothes change into ripped t-shirts with vulgar slogans and costumes inspired by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren’s Spring/Summer 1976 collection. In 2003, the V&A displayed Vivienne Westwood’s iconic pieces, including the Bondage suit that as they described “borrows elements from army combat gear, the motorcyclist’s Belstaff and fetish wear, and was the archetypal Punk outfit popularised by bands like the Sex Pistols.”

Similar to Nana’s ‘Armour’ ring, Shin’s orb lighter necklace is another iconic piece. The orb is Vivienne Westwood’s famous logo created in 1986, which is still present in many designs today.

Ren Honjo is another fashionable character. Guitarist of the band Trapnest and Nana Osaki’s romantic interest in the ani-manga, with his hairstyle, clothes and mannerisms on the stage, he is inspired by Sid Vicious. Both Sid and Ren wear a padlock necklace. Vivienne Westwood’s husband Malcolm McLaren was the manager of the Sex Pistols, which is where the inspiration may have come from.

After all these years, Nana stays relevant without being promoted, as Ai Yazawa hasn’t appeared in the public eye for 15 years. Ai Yazawa put Nana on hold to focus on her health. However, since then, there have been no updates regarding the author and the manga.

Julie, as one of many dedicated fans, who even has a tattoo dedicated to Nana, says: “I feel like there’s a very specific connection between resonating with the story itself and getting into fashion. There’s something so raw about the series that keeps drawing people in, specifically the younger audience. When watching the series, I think it’s impossible not somehow to be influenced by fashion and punk culture.”

With Nana having no ending, fans are still holding out hope for a proper finale. But, considering the news of Vivienne Westwood’s death this year, their chances are most likely minimal with the main muse of Ai Yazawa not being present anymore. Despite this, Nana continues to be a fashion inspiration to many fans around the world.

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Featured image by NANA © 1999 by Yazawa Manga Seisakusho/SHUEISHA Inc.

Jolene is not just a bakery. It’s a whole community that connects people in Shoreditch with the help of delicious pastries and cups of coffee.

Shoreditch is known for being a vibrant, artsy and grungy part of London. The tourist version includes techno nightclubs that are packed even on Thursday, authentic coffee shops where a limited variety of milk alternatives is considered a crime, and vintage stores with a price tag the same as in Selfridges.

Amongst of all that, there is a different side of Shoreditch that its residents really appreciate. I’ve been living here for two years, but only recently have I discovered the place that makes you feel ‘included’ over a cup of coffee.

Walking along the high street can get overwhelming. There is always a noise coming from the heavy traffic. It makes you put your guard up and look both ways. In such a chaotic area, even the air feels polluted. You don’t want anything at this point except to find a place to catch a break.

The corner of Redchurch Street feels like a portal to another dimension. The surrounding chaos shifts to calmness the same way as leaves hanging on the trees slow down after the scary storm.

That sudden change comes from a tiny bakery with terracotta-painted brick walls and big windows, where you can catch a glimpse of pastries covered in icing sugar. Entering Jolene, there is space only to grab a Danish and order a filter coffee. Even the coffee is going to be served outside through the open window.

People all over Shoreditch gather around Jolene starting from 7am. The smell of freshly-baked sourdough bread, cinnamon rolls and other goods is mixed with the extract of coffee beans in the air. There are only a few benches to sit around, but it doesn’t stop customers. The ground works just fine.

Whenever I pass Jolene before noon, it always have empty shelves with just crumbs left. So now I was dedicated to finding out what is so special about this bakery when Shoreditch is not the place lacking pastries.

Waking up at 8am was easy as the thought of getting fresh croissants was already a motivation to get out of bed. I went to Jolene expecting to be the first customer. However, outside, one guy in a sportswear was sitting on the bench drinking his coffee, and a lady was walking her dog with a bag of bread in her other hand.

There were rhubarb and custard danish pastries, almond croissants, caramel buns, and much more. Each day, the bakery changes its options. I have decided to try pain duisse, which looked beautiful the same way as it sounds. Surprisingly, only two people were working. One takes orders, and the other gives them out through the open window.

The barista’s name is Mikaela. She has worked at the bakery for a couple of months now. When I asked her about her time at Jolene, she replied with a kind smile as she talked about her family.

“It is a meeting point for everyone around the neighbourhood. We connect people and make it in the sweet way possible”.

While making me a coconut latte, Mikaela was sharing her secret of a good cup of coffee that attracts everyone to return after trying it. “It’s all about making it with love. Nothing new,” said the barista, laughing. But, coming back next weekend, I found the answer myself. Jolene makes their customers feel special.

“I know mostly everyone’s order here. In the early morning, a couple takes two lattes of almond milk and three buns after dropping their daughter at the kindergarten—one to their daughter. The guy before you runs every morning, and after his workout, he drinks his cup of filtered coffee. That’s what ‘Jolene is about. It is a meeting point for everyone around the neighbourhood. We connect people and make it in the sweet way possible”.

I took a bite of my pain Suisse. It felt like the whole world had stopped. There was only me and crispy laminated pastry outside with a filling full of smooth almond creme and chocolate swirls. I looked over and saw the lady next to me having the same blast.

The mystery was solved. When you try Jolene once, you cannot leave it behind. You always find yourself coming back to feel again that warm atmosphere of the bakery in Shoreditch. I was about to leave when Mikaela approached me through the window and said, “see you tomorrow, coconut latte and one pain suisse”.

All photos by Kamila Sukhanova.

From century-old tea ceremonies to modern trends, matcha has transcended time, enchanting everyone around the globe.

By Kamila Sukhanova

You probably live under a rock if you have never heard about matcha. Because even my little, 12 years old brother, goes to get his cup of matcha frappuccino after school. 

The greenish liquid beverage has gained massive popularity in recent times. As a result, there are more and more not special-oriented places that have started to serve matcha, which means only one thing. Matcha has found its place in the world alongside usual coffee, tea, and other beloved drinks.

According to Emerge Research, demand for matcha will not end any time soon. The global matcha market expects to rise to around seven billion dollars in 2030, where the last market value was approximately 3 billion dollars in 2021. So should we expect even more goods with green powder in the ingredients?

Besides the drink section, matcha took over baking goods, sports supplements and the beauty industry. For real matcha lovers, Le Labo has even created a fragrance reminding the comforting and grounding scent of matcha. 

Unfortunately, matcha often falls victim to biased judgments. Some people would intentionally be sceptical about trying just one sip of the green drink. Though matcha has found its place, it was the black sheep or, better to say, the green sheep of the beverage family before its peak. 

Matcha’s rich historical story often remains hidden in the shadows, and as it can be known poetically, shadows tend to keep secrets. When people think about the origin of green tea powder, they would immediately assume it to be the land of the rising sun. But there are a few details that are needed to be cleared up.

Going back through the annals of time, the history of tea first begins to unfold around 2700 BC in China. Back then, only representatives of elite Chinese society could have the luxury of enjoying tea. However, the arrival of one Buddhist changed everything. 

明菴栄西, Myon Eisai or commonly known as Yosai Zenji, which means Zen master Eisai, was an important figure in the introduction and spread of tea culture in Japan. During his transformative journey in China as a Buddhist priest, he immersed himself not only in the teachings of Zen Buddhism but the art of tea cultivation.

When it was time to go back home, zen master Eisai picked his knowledge on preparing powdered green tea along with some seeds. His mission was to share the benefits of discovered-powered tea with his home country. Master’s writings on the medicinal factors of tea influenced the growing tea culture in Japan, crowning him with the well-deserved title of the father of Japanese tea. 

As the seeds that Eisai brought from China would yield vibrant and flavorful leaves, he would wait for them to be harvested. So then, the leaves, carefully steamed and dried, would be ground into a smooth powder using a stone mill. 

What’s unique about matcha is the amount of care and mindfulness put into making it. Each step carries the importance of the ceremonial preparation and serving of matcha. It is something we don’t pay enough attention to in modern times. 

“In Japan, it is all about ceremony. It is all about slowing down and taking time. Even when they wisk, its all about purpose. In the UK, people be drinking matcha like as they are zooming out the door to get to work. It is all about getting quick and natural energy boost”

Master Eisai’s method emphasised the act of whisking the powdered tea with hot water in a carefully crafted bowl. Not only it enhances the flavour, but it also brings up a sense of tranquillity. Over the centuries that have passed, the master’s traditional method of making matcha hasn’t changed its foundation.

You will need a few essential tools to archive the perfect cup of matcha and enhance your experience with it. A 天目茶碗 chawan is a wide matcha bowl in which matcha is prepared and served, typically made of ceramic or pottery. 

The important detail of the traditional process is using 茶筅 chasen, a specifically designed wisk. Then, you would also need 茶杓chashaku, a small bamboo scoop traditionally used to measure the appropriate amount of matcha powder. Making matcha with the use of these essential tools is a great way to not only experience the proper art of matcha making but also to cherish the memory of Myoan Eisai.

In a world where there are sommeliers with expertise in wine, it is expected to have tea sommeliers who possess an appreciation and expertise for the world of tea.

Leane Tilley, a tea sommelier and a founder of KINETA, began her journey with matcha on her first trip to Japan. Seeing huge green tea fields, brewing the leaves in an iron cast teapot and trying it just purely with water was an eye-opening experience for Leane. 

“I was surrounded by people in their 70s and 80s. They all had more energy than me, because we would climb mountains and going for tea haunting, and they would drink only matcha .It was the first time I’d tried it in such traditional form, in a traditional setting in a surrounding that really tea is all about, which is community sociability connection, connecting with people”, said Leane

The next journey was to bring that taste of matcha to home, facing its cultural difference. Leane told me, “in Japan, it is all about ceremony. It is all about slowing down and taking time. Even when they wisk, its all about purpose. In the UK, people be drinking matcha like as they are zooming out the door to get to work. It is all about getting quick and natural energy boost”.

However, matcha is well appreciated in both countries for its health benefits. The drink’s vitamins and minerals help boost our beta brainwaves. But, the main reason why people prefer to drink matcha is the state that we don’t want to have it, for example, after drinking coffee.

“I switched up to matcha for about a year now. I couldn’t bear again the awful anxiety I was getting after drinking a simple latte. My heart would pound like crazy and hands shake so much. With matcha I don’t get same affect…”, said a 24 years past coffee addict.

The natural caffeine in matcha interacts with our system when it bounds to the amino acid L-theanine. So after it drips and feeds into the system, we don’t get the hard hit that we usually have with coffee. 

The other reason matcha is so popular is the image she got from the media. From matcha lattes and desserts to matcha-infused skincare products, matcha has also become a segment of social media aesthetics. 

@matchaonomu

🍵🍃 #matchalatte #icedmatcha #matchaoatmilk #matcha #icedmatchalatte #fyp #fypシ #xycbca #tiktokph

♬ Golden Hour (Piano Arrangement) – The Theorist

Influencers share aesthetically pleasing matcha content mainly on Tik Tok with captivating visuals, tasty descriptions and lively music in the background. “To be honest, after seeing beautiful tutorials on tik tok, I couldn’t help myself but get to try matcha for the first time, and I was disappointed in myself for not trying it earlier. I’ve got a full set ready for matcha now”, shared with me, a 29-year-old matcha lover.

I still remember how fast I frowned my face after trying matcha for the first time in Canada. But, here I am 4 years later, impossible to spend a week without buying a cup of matcha latte.

If you also tried matcha and didn’t like it, it’s probably because the powder wasn’t of good quality or the choice of milk was wrong. The taste of a matcha latte depends on what kind of milk you prefer to drink it. My advice is to choose a latte made of alternative milk. For example, choose coconut milk if you prefer it to be sweet or oat if you like a neutral but smooth taste.

London is very lucky with its variety of matcha places. As a person who loves drinking matcha almost every day, I have a list of my favourite places.

From the beginning of its birth in Japan to its modern-day glory, matcha has always been a symbol of wellness and cultural history. The green tea beverage captures the hearts of tea lovers and just health-considerate people worldwide. 

With its traditions, health benefits and aesthetic features, matcha will continue evolving and enchanting people with its unique taste. However, if you still tried to avoid the whole matcha obsession, I recommend you judge the drink yourself. Who knows, maybe after trying it at any of my recommendations, you will see green in a completely different way. 

Clair Rossiter is a British-based freelance illustrator who draws colourful illustrations for children’s books, jigsaw puzzles, greeting cards, and even dining halls at The University of Oregon.

By Kamila Sukhanova

Have you ever wondered if paintings come alive the same way as in “Harry Potter”? You would think I’m crazy for believing in such a thing, but I actually do. To me, every illustration has its own live world in it, especially if Clair Rossiter illustrated it. 

Her work delivers the ambience of portrayed places with vibrant and perfectly combined colours that brighten your eyes in a second. The small hidden details in the illustrations pique your curiosity, making you find each of them as Clair, in a way, hid them like Easter eggs. 

“To be an illustrator, you must love drawing in whatever drawing means to you. You might do something not traditional for this world. Even just making marks on the page, but please fully enjoy doing so.”

Eight thousand and fifty-six kilometres. This is the distance between London and Eugene, the city in the U.S. state of Oregon. The distance through which Clair was working on a massive 53 feet long illustration for the new dining hall at The University of Oregon.

Who would think one map illustration would appear as an invisible thread connecting two completely different continents? Definitely not Clair. The artist was surprised when the interior designer hired by the University of Oregon emailed her. 

Apparently, the university was redesigning its entire cafeteria. After carefully browsing Etsy, they finally found the right style for the wall art, which happened to be Clair’s work. But there was only one ‘but’.

“When they told me how big it was going to be. I was quite daunted because I had never worked at such a scale. It was the only project that I had ever had when I actually thought: ‘I might not be able to do this’…, said Clair

The illustrator had no team or anyone to help her with the project. So It was only her and the requested 53 feet, 4 inches long and 4 feet inches wide illustration to make. 

To create any commissioned work, you need a structured plan, a strong vision and, what’s important, skills to draw. Clair had everything ready for the big project except a fast-running computer and solid knowledge of Adobe Illustrator. 

The artist always got her work done in Photoshop for her usual illustrations. However, large-scale projects require the use of Adobe Illustrator, which Clair had to learn about briefly. That is when things got much more complicated, not to mention the time difference between U.K. and U.S.

Even though the illustrator was doing her best to figure out all the technical parts, it didn’t matter as the computer wasn’t still working well with large files. Clair would scan all her drawings and then try to layer them in Photoshop. However, the program would start lagging every half an hour and then crash in the end. Rossiter told me, “It was the only time when I had a deadline, and I realised it was going to be absolutely impossible to make it on time.”

As much as she hated to break her number one rule about missing the deadline, Clair has got another three weeks to finish the project. The constant fear that she wouldn’t make it was following the illustrator through the entire process. 

“I wanted to show the client that I was doing my best, meantime having my insides scrunched up. I thought, ‘He doesn’t know me. How is he going to trust me?’ Well, I was fortunate that he did”, said Rossiter

The freelancer put all her blood, sweat and tears into the project. The numerous troubles and obstacles she faced on her way were all worth it after seeing the final results with pure joy. Now students can admire the installed illustration in the food hall area of the University of Oregon. Sometimes the biggest challenges are the ones that level up you professionally and spiritually. 

Back to the time when Clair was little, somehow she knew while looking at the illustrations on the back of the cereal box that she would like to be the person who draws them. As she grew up, the desire didn’t disappear anywhere. Moreover, Clair admits, “It went to the point when I couldn’t imagine doing anything else, really. It has always been a fate”. 

Usually, parents have bits of doubts about their kids following art as a profession. Clair’s parents, on the contrary, gave nothing but full support to their daughter. 

Her foundation course the illustrator did at the London College of Communication. But, even before going there, Rossiter already fell in love with every course image and description that she could possibly find on the website.

“It was one of the gut things. I don’t have them as clear in my life, but it was there when I knew that I belonged here”, said Clair

As we know, expectations tend to be different from reality most of the time. Sadly, Clair wasn’t an exception. The illustrator found her time at the university very difficult.

There weren’t any problems with the student environment or anything close to that. It was more of the critiquing part that brought everything upside down. The illustrator told me, with her voice going a little bit quieter, “I had to grow up really quickly. So I would make things, and then the feedback from them would be so direct and harsh that I’d be crushed. I even remember crying a few times because of that”. 

Though everything didn’t go as Clair imagined, her time at LCC taught her the most important lessons – to be determined and never give up on your goals just because someone told you you are not good enough. Especially if you want “to be an illustrator, you need to love drawing in whatever drawing means to you. You might do something not traditional for this world. Even just making marks on the page, but please fully enjoy doing so”, said Rossiter.

Clair’s hard efforts to develop her work to another level paid off a bit later. The illustrator received her first properly paid commission during her third year at the university. The BBC History magazine was working on a food article about aphrodisiacs. So they were looking for someone to make illustrations of still-life arranged food in quite suggestive ways. 

As it was the first paid request, the artist was feeling excited and terrified at the same time. She couldn’t believe that a real person wanted to pay her to do the artwork for their publication. However, making a commissioned illustration is not the same as doing one for yourself.

When you work with an art director, one of the essential steps is to show them your drafts first, so you both would decide what works and what doesn’t for the project. At the same time, Clair used only ink to do all of her preliminary sketches. Not only did they not capture the final vision of the art, but they were also quite hard to understand for everyone except Rossiter herself.

Now she does pencil sketches and colours them digitally in order to produce a clear and understandable draft for her clients. Apart from that, there was another aspect that Clair hadn’t done before her first commission. The illustrator told me, barely holding her laugh, “I didn’t know how to invoice people at that stage. So I did all the work, sent it to the client and wondered, ‘Why they haven’t paid me yet? Then, the art director emailed me, saying that I needed to send him an invoice. I was so funny and naive to the business side of freelance”.

For some, doing freelance would sound very liberating. There is only you and no heads bossing around, which in a way, can be seen as the definition of freedom. But, most tend to forget what an actual responsibility you carry around freelancing. The financial side of it is something that you always keep in your head. As I mentioned, there is only one employee. Meaning there is only you in charge of getting enough work to pay your bills. 

Clair noticed the number of received projects had changed significantly since the pandemic. The illustrator promised to take as many requests as possible, including personal and commissioned ones. 

Now she has her schedule busy doing wedding stationeries, greeting cards, book covers and her favourite, maps. Yet, it is essential for Rossiter to keep everything in balance so that the burnout wouldn’t catch her. 

 “I think the hard bit of freelance is keeping up. On top of creating, you run a business, keep a record of finances, advertise your work, and answer emails, which doesn’t come all naturally. It takes a lot of time. You sacrifice time in order to do something you love”, said Clair

At the university, you get taught to meet deadlines, stay up late and produce high-quality products. But there is nothing about getting yourself overworked and losing all inspiration. Like many others, the illustrator had to teach herself how not to carry away. 

It is absolutely fine to rest, take a break, go for a walk and then produce excellent work. However, sometimes pressure from multiple deadlines causes panic attacks. At that moment, all you need is to stop and breathe. Learning that helped Clair a lot to see everything around her again.

Inspiration plays a significant role for anyone in creative industries. As part of freelance, you tend to spend a lot of time indoors, making you feel stale. When it comes to Rossiter, she finds inspiration for her illustrations in everything that she sees, listens and reads. 

From talking to other people or passing something beautiful, as an illustrator, she always collects everything in her head, even if it happens unconsciously. Clair told me, “You are kind of drawn to things that you visually like. Because you look at things, you love how they look, and then you draw them”. 

Finding their unique style is something that most illustrators hang on to. However, as Clair enjoyed working in different mediums by using ink, gouache and other sorts, she felt she couldn’t have only one style during her study years.

As the illustrator has begun to get more and more commissioned work, she realises that her style mainly consists of trusting her hands when she draws. From picking a pencil to sketching, it becomes the natural way of making art. All of this is what makes clients know what to expect.  

“I think when you get that awareness… the visual awareness, your ability to draw and your taste kind of come together, and then you’ve got a style. It takes quite a long time for your abilities to match what you like actually. You can’t get to the place you want to be in your head without doing all the drawing”, said Clair

Working freelance, especially in the art industry, makes you your own worst critic. If you look at your past works thinking how on earth you were commissioned to do that, then you are going in the right direction. From Clair’s point of view, it shows your growth, which is so much better rather than staying still.

Though being an illustrator can have its own ups and downs. It is important to have a reminder of why artists become ones. To remember the opportunity they have to gift the world an escape from reality within their drawings. Because without it, life would lose its colours, and everything would look like a black-and-white movie. 

Clair Rossiter is living proof of that. After 12 years, she still has passion in her eyes for doing the thing she loves the most, which can be felt through all of her work. The light and energy coming from her illustrations magically invite everyone who looks at them to become a part of the drawings.

Feature image courtesy of Clair Rossiter. To visit her website, click here.