This month’s cover artist Lily Keogh talks about festivals, neurodivergence and perfectionism.
Tell us a bit about yourself…
My name is Lily Keogh. I am an illustrator and recent NTU graduate, living in Nottingham with one of my best friends. My work is celebratory, considerate and provocative. I use my illustrations to make a fuss and start conversation, taking a fun and cheeky tone whilst I express my views and observations of the world around me. I loveeeee drag and burlesque and everything that shakes up the status quo. My current goal is to make sure I stay soft and nourish my inner child when the world feels so unpredictable and heavy.
What is the story behind the cover?
I love putting little pockets of narrative in my work, so this cover concept was perfect for that. I wanted to capture the essence of the bustle and vibrancy of a festival, and treated each character with care. When we go to a festival, we come together as a community and take a little reprieve from our everyday lives. I wanted this illustration to feel that way too, and bring those vibes to the nooks and crannies of Nottingham. I hope someone will pick up the magazine and connect a memory to the illustration.
My work is celebratory, considerate and provocative. I use my illustrations to make a fuss and start conversation
What inspires you as an artist?
People inspire me. Being neurodivergent, people have been a case to solve my entire life, and that has resulted in a complete fascination with how we all behave. I love community, I create for that experience and to be a part of something bigger. I want to share my message - whether those are my raging feminist views, or my love for the smaller things - and to provide a little escapism for others.
Do you have any tricks for getting started and staying inspired as a creative?
Tips for staying creative… I’m still trying to figure that out for myself! I usually just get an idea and go until I run out of steam. But, maybe it’s ‘make it exist first, make it good later’ - that helps me with the paralysis of perfectionism.
If you could sit down and chat with any artist in your field, who it would be and what would you talk about?
If I could sit down to chat with any artist I would love to talk to Guerilla Girls. I just feel like I’d come away from that pumped up and ready to get messy. I would ask them how to care less and move more.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell the LeftLion readers?
I hope you go to a really cool festival this season, make some mistakes and maybe end up talking to someone who changes your entire perspective about something you’d never thought anything differently about. It’s always good to un-root your belief system and broaden your mind- festivals are a great place to do that.
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