Our wonderful cover art this month is by Charlotte Thomson-Morley, a South Notts illustrator and printmaker who makes work based around folklore and Paganism. We sat down with Charlotte to ask about her ideas, inspiration and other work.
What was the inspiration behind the cover?
I wanted to depict our local heroine Maid Marian in a positive and powerful light and also feature some local wildlife that you will see this time of year. I’m inspired by Art Nouveau, psychedelic rock posters and (although this piece is digital) using limited colours and layers the way I do when I’m doing practical lino printmaking.
How does it compare with other projects you’ve worked on?
I’ve had a lot of creative freedom which is wonderful, I love making work for LeftLion.
What was the biggest challenge that you faced in creating the piece?
The dimensions of a LeftLion cover are a little different to a standard A-size so allowing room for the logo but still making the design balanced can be challenging, also choosing colours that will work well on newsprint paper.
Tell us about some projects you’ve worked on in the past…
I’ve been an illustrator for nineteen years. I create a lot of book covers, posters for bands and also have my own range of prints, postcards and other gifty bits that I sell at local creators markets and on Etsy.
What have you got planned for the future?
I’ll be exhibiting during Nottingham Open Studios month on 25 and 26 May. I’m developing my lino and intaglio printmaking and developing more digital artwork in this style. I’m working on a pagan Wheel of the Year series and busy working with small business clients.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell the LeftLion readers?
We’re all part of an amazing creative city and county, share the love with your local creative friends, we can all lift each other up.
We have a favour to ask
LeftLion is Nottingham’s meeting point for information about what’s going on in our city, from the established organisations to the grassroots. We want to keep what we do free to all to access, but increasingly we are relying on revenue from our readers to continue. Can you spare a few quid each month to support us?
