Regular LeftLion illustrator and all-round good egg Agnes Papp gives us the lowdown on her beautiful history-themed cover and poster art...
Tell us a bit about yourself…
I’m a Hungarian artist/graphic designer with a love for any kind of arts and crafts (sawing to sewing), music (creating and listening), experimenting in the kitchen to binge watching Netflix. I’m a major procrastinator, leaving almost everything to the last minute or later. Somehow my production and creativity vastly improves under pressure.
What was the inspiration behind the cover?
As soon as I received this month’s topic I immediately started to get inspired by researching references from the different eras – this extended my pinteresting hours, which is by default, quite a few hours! Besides looking for images, a lot of TV shows and movies inspired the final result, including: The Durrells, Game of Thrones, Vikings, 1917, Peaky Blinders…
How does it compare with other projects you’ve worked on?
I’d never created historical themed illustrations, this was my very first time. I usually draw in different types of subjects, involving more software, using whatever fits the need most. One day I’ll be using my Apple pencil on my iPad set to pencil brush to create traditional style, the next day I’ll be drawing shapes in vector-graphic tools.
Tell us about projects you’ve worked on in the past…
I recently started to work for a start-up company called Presonate. They work with companies to improve their presentations, making them better-designed and more easily digestible. We recently won an award for Best Storytelling at the Prezi Awards competition, with a presentation that I illustrated completely. Also, a few years ago, a friend and I created a movie which won us accreditation at the Cannes Film Festival. That is something I’m very proud of.
What have you got planned for the future?
Improve! As an illustrator, as well as a person, so that my ideas and long-dreamt projects can be materialised and can come out from the bottom of the ‘drawer’. Having an exhibition of my art; painting – with oil for instance – on my father’s easel with his brushes; getting back to regular yoga; sparing enough time to accomplish my musical desire. That’s just a little idea of what my plan looks like!
Is there anything else you’d like to tell the LeftLion readers?
I absolutely love Nottingham, I have loads of good memories. Beautiful, quiet, but buzzy at times, which I prefer. A lot of artistic and indie initiatives, and of course the cafes and restaurants. A heaven for a person like me. Also, I hid an easter egg in the poster – the woman’s face is actually a sort of self-portrait.
@pappaggi.art
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