Meet The Artists – Aurelia Lange

To finish off our next round of ‘Meet The Artists’, we will be chatting to the extremely talented Aurelia Lange! Based in Berlin, Aurelia has been with the Artworks since 2015 and is well known for her energetic use of ink, colour and playful animations.

“I have been lucky to work on many really wonderful briefs with many different and fantastic people during my time with the artworks. One of my favourite briefs was working with Timothy Everest on a fashion shoot for their Autumn Winter collection in 2017, mainly because they were open to my approach of drawing from life and experiments with line. I joined an incredibly talented photographer, Jim Marsden, who only shoots on film to draw on location with the models as they swapped outfits and we walked around the beautful Arnold Circus Estate.   (https://www.instagram.com/jimmarsdenphotography/) Reflecting on the illustrations now I think the role and use of colour has gone in a bolder direction in my work, I’m still really proud and happy of how the process and approach allowed an open space for interesting and responsive results. It was amazing to compare my drawings with the photographs that came back from the lab and see how Jim and I had framed quite a lot of our compositions so similarly, and also how Timothy Everest combined our imagery to compliment one another. I really enjoy the opportunity to study and understand the subject matter in first person that I am responding to through drawing.”

We caught up with Aurelia to learn more about her life as an Artist…

Where do you live?

I’m currently living in Berlin

Where is your studio located?

I share a studio with some photographers, writers and graphic designers In a shared studio space near Alt Treptow.

Can you describe your creative process?

I like to draw from life as much as possible. I really love to try and capture movement in my drawings and have enjoyed putting these lines back into life through animation.  My work is loose and bold and often quite graphic. I use pen pencil and ink. I have also started painting, trying to explore using colour more with vibrant gloss paints on wood. I like to work with tactile materials and still very keen to create by hand before bringing into the computer to refine. I try to resist spending too much time on the computer and really value the hands on paper to pen practice in my work.

Do you listen to music or the radio whilst you work? If so, what’s on your playlist?

NTS radio shows , (Zakia is a fave!) also listen to lots of podcasts

and documentaries.

How long have you been with the Artworks for?

5 years.

What drew you to Artworks?

I used to work at a publishers licensing contemporary illustration and first became familiar with the Artworks as a client. I actually licensed some of Debbie Powells illustration for cards and wrapping paper. Years later when I was looking for representation the Artworks really stood out to me as an amazing team. I found Steph and Lucy and Alex really inspiring and encouraging,  and continue to feel really proud of being represented by them.

What books or programmes did you love as a child? Have they influenced your work in any way?

As a child I grew up reading a lot of Roald Dahl brought to life by Quentin Blake. I have always loved to draw and remember seeing the making of Snow White as a young child and thinking I’d love to be one of the women colouring in the cells for animated films. Over the last few years I have been really inspired by the writings of Ursula Le Guin and Rebecca Solnit.

If you weren’t an artist, what would you be instead?

I’d like to work with plants and learn more about herbalism.

What was the most important lesson you learned at Art School?

To connect hand to eye, to never assume that you know what the outcome will look like, to enjoy the discovery process. Process, process, process! Process is everything. Also having a drawing practice means you have to practice.

What inspires you the most to create?

People, drawing from life, travel, learning about new cultures.

Name three artists that you admire?

Peter Doig

Misaki Kawai

Octavio Garabello

What kind of commissions do you enjoy the most?

I love being part of conceptualising and collaborating – I’ve been really lucky to work with some amazing projects through the Artworks. I have enjoyed working with Quadrille Books and really appreciate their beautiful book design and attention to print, the Where To Drink Wine Project gave me a lot of creative freedom and space to explore ideas and colour palettes, I was really pleased with the results.

What would your dream commission be?

To be employed as a reportage illustrator by National Geographic in the same way they commission photography assignments.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

See friends and family, cooking, spend time outside, travel, read, paint, gardening.

What is your current dream travel destination?

Peru! I’m going there for 5 weeks this Spring.

See more of Aurelia’s work here.