29 Jan Lucie Conoley – Creative Me
Under the Oak Tree is…
A meeting place for creative folk. Be inspired by their stories.
Illustrator Lucie Conoley uses her unique eye for detail to create Mips, bespoke illustrated maps that detail the “Most Important Places”, from the planet’s capital cities to people’s beloved hometown streets. All Lucie’s Mips are hand drawn then completed in Photoshop and Illustrator. She also creates Mips as acrylic on canvas paintings.
Lucie joins us Under the Oak Tree to talk illustration, inspiration and ghost stories…
1. What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a piece for a public art event. It’s a trail but I’m not allowed to give details until the 1st May (and it’s killing me!!!!!). I am putting a map onto a 3D structure, which is something I’ve never done before – but challenge accepted and I’m excited!
2. Describe your desk or workspace?
My workspace is a hive of chaos with no order to anything, but I have a salt rock lamp in there, a very battered radio and a giant peace lily to bring a small sense of calm to it all.
3. What’s the soundtrack to your work?
I actually love listening to the plays on Radio 4 Extra. Anything period drama-y, or if I’m up late then it’s ghost stories, like Vincent Price’s ‘The Price of Fear’.
4. Who or what inspires you?
Goodness… I am inspired by so many people, for so many reasons. My dad who HAS to make music regardless of anything else that goes on in his life. I’m inspired by friends who have worked long hours at the bottom for nothing, and seeing them now in their 30’s doing what they love. I’m inspired by teenagers who already know who and what they want to be – and are so driven to make it happen. I’m inspired by anyone who has passion.
5. What do you need to create?
I need a cup of tea, and a 6H pencil.
6. What time of day does your brain come alive?
Always at night time… It drove my partner mad. I don’t do it anymore but I definitely prefer working at night.
7. What advice would you give to someone wanting to do what you do?
Someone once told me that, ‘In a world full of things, you only have to do one thing well.’
8. What do you do when you lose sight of your inspiration?
I find it hard to step back from things. I push on, which doesn’t always feel right at the time, but it works for me because it always brings me back to a positive place.
9. Tell us one thing about yourself that no one would guess?
I am absolutely mad for British history, in particular the Plantagenets through to the Elizabethan period.
10. What’s next for you?
After this current job I will be starting a large scale Mip of Manchester. Which is wonderful for me because I am from Macclesfield in Cheshire and Manchester is my home from home.