Illustrator Our little chat with Jesses. How many books have you done? I think I'm up to about 12 published now, but quite a few are coming out later this year. What inspires you to write/draw? I've always been addicted to drawing and crafting, it started from a kid and luckily my mum embraced it! I get inspired by my kids, other amazing work out there, nature - rainy walks and creeks, reading and gardens. What do you enjoy drawing the most? I love drawing animals, as I think people can read into them more easily (i.e. it doesn't have to look like you to reflect something in you, perhaps). What do you do to relax? Drawing, cooking, red wining, walking the pooch to our veggie patch, hanging with mates, going neighbourhood visiting with the kids. Do you like to cook? Absolutely love it, although my husband Matt thinks I use way too many pots and pans! (I tend to make a giant mess). What is your favourite food? Lemon sorbet ice-cream, or for actual dinner food - a pasta with almonds and sundried tomatoes Matt makes (is a pretend bolognaise!) with a mega salad. Did you take art classes as a kid? No, but mum used to encourage us to do hours... HOURS of it every day in the holidays/weekend! She'd set up a long craft table with clay, glitter, pens etc - and we would be happy for most of that time! What was your first job? My first "proper" post high school job was working in the HR office at a ski resort in the US - it was way too much fun, with lunch breaks taken while skiing, and apart from illustrating no other job has ever compared. Where do you live? In Melbourne, close to the city. It's a great community that sometimes feels like a country town, as we walk everywhere and know a lot of the neighbourhood. I do still long for a weekender though, somewhere with a bit more wild nature around to rebalance city livin'! Any new up coming titles coming out soon, that we should be looking out for? I just (as of last week!) had my first author-illustrated book come out, called "There's Only One Mum Like You" published by Affirm Press and next week "Hip Hip Hooray" is launching, written by Tania McCartney and polished by Windy Hollow. Later this year I will have a Christmas book out with Penguin, I'm finishing the pages this week! Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for us. You can find more information. jessesmess.com Instagram @jessesmess Facebook @JessesMessIllustrations
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