7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #541: Featuring
Up-and-Coming Illustrator, Sophie Page
July 2nd, 2017 by jules
It’s the first Sunday of the month, and that means that here at 7-Imp I showcase the work of a student or debut illustrator. Today, I’ve got the artwork of Sophie Page, a mixed media and 3D illustrator and a recent RISD grad. Sophie is based in Brooklyn.
Sophie talks a bit about her work below, and I thank her for visiting and sharing today. Let’s get to it. (Pictured above is If Only He Stayed a Bear Forever, one of her personal pieces and her take on the fairy tale “Snow-White and Rose-Red.”)
Sophie: I am Sophie Page, an illustrator originally from the Hilltowns of Western Massachusetts, now based in Brooklyn, New York. I graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2014 but took a hiatus from illustrating professionally while working as an art teacher. I think my experience teaching has helped me to refine my voice as an illustrator and storyteller. I have always considered book arts to be my focus, especially children’s books.
I wrote my first book while studying at RISD — a story about a magic tree, inspired by one of my favorite fairy tales. I’m really drawn to fairy and folk tale imagery, maybe because the narratives were written by generations of storytellers, as opposed to individuals. So, even though the plot is sometimes nonsensical, there is a deep down old truth in them.
(Click to enlarge)
Nature is very inspiring to me. As a child, I was a total naturalist, absolutely in love with the garden and forest. It seems like this fascination is almost universal amongst children, and I try to bring that delight to my illustrations through interesting texture and color relationships. I’m also interested in the contrast between rough, expressive lines and static patterns.
I work with a variety of mediums, but my specialty is 3D sculptural illustration. I create diorama-like shadowboxes and characters to inhabit them. I use primarily clay, fabric, wire, and natural materials, such as dried plants. My technique differs from other 3D illustrators in many ways, and I hope to bring something new and interesting to the field. I also create masks and puppets; I’m excited to see what I can do with that passion in the future.
At the moment, I am working on a story about a swan.
All artwork used by permission of Sophie Page.
Note for any new readers: 7-Imp’s 7 Kicks is a weekly meeting ground for taking some time to reflect on Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week, whether book-related or not, that happened to you. New kickers are always welcome.
1) Sophie’s “Stay Nasty” reminds me of my first kick — that volume two of RESIST! arrived in my mailbox. Though I wish I’d also managed to get my hands on volume one, this issue is so, so good.
2) My new Shakey Graves album also showed up this week.
3) All the ALA speeches, but especially Javaka’s.
4) News on Nimona (the film) made my daughters happy. Here’s hoping it’s good. (They also eagerly await the Lumberjanes adaptation.)
5) Progress on a project.
6) Progress on organizing.
7) All issues of The Riverbank Review are now online. I remember that publication fondly and still have many of those issues.
What are YOUR kicks this week?
Really beautiful work, Sophie! I’m in love.
My kicks this week:
Progress on my first book
A great meeting with my publisher
A golden lined sunset after a storm
Prep for my bucket list trip to Ireland and Scotland this coming week to draw with my sister.
Jessica, I’m SO EXCITED for your book. Is your prep this coming week or the actual trip? Whenever you go, safe travels!
Sophie, so much to love in your artwork.
Jules, the Resist magazine looks interesting and Shakey Graves, yes!
Jessica, good luck on your first book.
My kicks:
1. Road trip.
2. Grandgirls.
3. Lakes
4. Reading outdoors.
5. Finished 11/22/63.
6. Walking.
7. Friend’s.
Have a great week.
Good morning, Imps! Happy July!
Hello, Sophie!
Jules: I haven’t read Nimona yet. I finished Real Friends recently.
Go Jessica go!
Jone: Nice. 🙂
My kicks for the past week:
1) New music
2) New opportunities
3) All done
4) Well done
5) Timing
6) Conversations
7) Certainty
Jone, happy road trip — hope it’s safe and fun.
Little Willow: Happy All Your Kicks, but I especially like the first two.
Have a good week, all!