We hear more about the February issue’s cover from the talented illustrator, Iulia Matei…
What was the inspiration behind the cover?
I wanted to reflect the eclectic music scene in Nottingham and the rich history behind it. We have (and had) countless brilliant venues and events here, and I wanted to give as many as I could a place to live on the page. It’s been so fun to arrange them in a way that was visually pleasing and made sense. The music scene has done so much for me, as I am sure is the case for most of us. I’m happy that I had the chance to honour it in the only way that I know how.
How does it compare with some other projects you’ve worked on?
Most of my projects happen within my day to day job, so to actually sit down with a pen in my hand and illustrate for fun has been the best! I love music, I love art and to see those two worlds collide has made me so happy and excited. I’m so grateful I was able to do this, thank you to everyone at LeftLion for trusting me with their cover yet again.
What was the biggest challenge that you faced in creating the piece?
Nothing actually! This was so up my street, I love Nottingham’s music scene so the ideas came quick. Also I had lots of time to think about it before actually starting the work so I was going about my days with my eyes peeled for any inspiration, which helped massively.
Tell us about some projects you’ve worked on in the past…
Last year I created my first zine rooted in folklore which was something I wanted to do for years now! I’ve also animated a music video for the heavy-metal band Evil Scarecrow and my own short animated film called Nymphs of the Woods.
What have you got planned for the future?
Definitely the same arty mischief I’ve been up to since forever. One thing I’m very interested in at the moment are comics and animation. I want to either create a short comic or a three to four minute animated film that I can enter festivals with this year. We’ll see how it goes!
Is there anything else you’d like to tell the LeftLion readers?
Stay playful, stay kind, and as always, be excellent to each other!
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