Small Talks: Alexis Winter

Alexis Winter is an illustrator and educator based in Melbourne, Australia. Working primarily in drawing, painting, animation, and print-making, as well as digital mediums, Winter has contributed her eye-catching lush, minimalist graphic style to numerous projects including The Speciality Coffee Book New South Wales for Smudge Publishing, a collaboration with plant ceramics company Plernters, and you may recognize her “Real Australians Say Welcome” enamel pins based on jars of Marmite. She’s the creator of the Self-Portrait Project and An Anthology of Objects, intimate collections of illustrations centered around her personal life and identity, and the Repeat Pattern Project full of colorful experiments in pattern design. As an art and design teacher, Winter continues to teach classes and her prompt-based Home Drawing Club has proven to be a great source of inspiration for beginners and veteran illustrators alike. You can keep up with her latest projects on Instagram or snag original work from her Etsy. 

On Friday, May 21st 5:30 PM EST, Alexis will lead a workshop on illustrating digital tapestries as part of our Small Talks workshop series.

I was hoping we could begin by talking about how you became an illustrator. Were you always interested in drawing from a young age or did you come into art-making later in life?

I’ve always loved to draw and use my illustrations as a way of making sense of my brain and reflecting on the world around me. It’s also been a source of personal entertainment as well. When I was about 6 years old, I found a whole stack of green paper in my Mum’s office and immediately set about creating a 16-page illustrative magazine about eggs. I didn’t even like eggs at the time, but it had a cover page, a contents page, egg recipes, a pull-out poster in the middle with egg characters that you could put on your wall. In hindsight this is pretty extra for a 6-year-old.

Do you keep a sketchbook in your daily practice?

My daily practice usually revolves around a personal challenge I’ve set for myself so the format I use for it often varies, however I do love filling a sketchbook! Last year, I actually ordered one of the Sketchbook Project books and set myself the challenge of filling it solely with ballpoint pen drawings. I also have a sketchbook printed with isometric grid paper as I have a long-standing habit of sketching isometric chairs during work meetings. I don’t know what it is, but I love it. Always helps me keep my focus and retain the information I’m listening to.

A lot of your work, especially your comics and illustrations are created digitally. Do you find that physically making and sketching helps fuel your creativity?

Absolutely! Last year, I set myself the personal challenge of trying a different artistic medium every month for a whole year. This came about due to the rise in digital illustration in the work I was producing and, while I love it, it’s great to have that balance between digital and manual. Over the course of the year, I created over 200 different experiments, exploring: animation loops, Posca paint pens, air-drying clay, acrylic on canvas, colored pencils, digital illustrations, collage, crayons, ballpoint pens, mixed media, printmaking, and sketch-booking. While experimenting with new and different mediums was hard to maintain at certain points, it made a huge impact on my art-making and took me in new directions I never would have otherwise.

Along with illustration projects, you also work as an educator and recently taught a cyanotype workshop. How does teaching tie into your creative practice? Do you find that working with students helps you learn and grow?

Teaching is awesome! It is also a fantastic reminder to explore and experiment, which is what we expect our students to do. I work within the Visual Arts and Design and Technology faculties, so anything I teach my students I always experiment with and test out myself. Cyanotype is actually a medium that I discovered through teaching photography, so you’re exposed to new mediums to test out and try all the time.

What’s the best piece of art-making advice you have ever received?

Sometimes, without realizing, people around you will develop their own dreams and ambitions for what you should be doing with your skills and talents. Only you can know what will sustain you and what will give your life meaning. Success is not something that can be measured by a universal formula. Trust yourself and block out the noise.

What is your studio space like? Do you have a designated place where you work on projects?

I’m very lucky to have a cozy home studio, so a cup of coffee or tea are never too far away. I have it set up using big open shelving where all my art supplies are organized into categories. I also have a big drawing desk with a built-in light box that sits just in front of my window, and a few extra shelves for book and plants. It’s my favorite place to sit quietly and make art.

Themes of family and nature make frequent appearances in your drawings. How has your relationship with your surrounding environment shaped how you think of your artwork?

Half of my immediate family live in Sweden, so I’m often thinking about the obstacles that an international family present and how some of those feelings of distance can be bridged through art. I look at surrounding environments almost as a reference point for a memory or experience that I’m trying to hold onto. I know I am not alone in being separated from my close family and, as a result, small things I make for my family often turn into things I make available for others as well.

Are there any art supplies or materials that feel essential to your practice?

I am obsessed with UniBall 0.7mm fine-liners. If I was told I could only draw with one pen for the rest of my life, I’d pick that over my Apple Pencil. I know, controversial and shocking.

Who are some artists inspiring you today? 

Where to begin! To be honest, I am inspired by pretty much all of my friends, however two artists that have been tickling my fancy quite a bit recently would be Almost Iris and Print Safari. Almost Iris has the most beautiful line-work to her illustrations. They’re so calming and reflective, I always find them inspiring. Holly and Ash from Print Safari create the brightest and boldest printed pieces and also run classes and workshops.

What are some pieces you’re working on now? Do you have any goals for this year or future work you’re looking forward to?

At the moment I’m working on a passive exercise and illustration project called “The Walking Magpie.” Now I know what you’re thinking, Alexis, what does that even mean? Well, as someone who’s prone to sitting in places for long periods of time drawing, I noticed I should probably start moving my body more frequently so I can continue drawing well into my old age. "The Walking Magpie” uses illustration as the motivator to get excited about going on walks. Each time I go on a walk, I turn that journey into an illustration. At this stage I’m 57 walks into this and as it turns out, illustration is the dangling carrot I need to motivate me to exercise. I’m not sure exactly where this project this going to lead me, at this stage I’m happy with stronger calf muscles.  

In terms of goals, I’d love to do some more workshops this year, so I’ve been snatching up those opportunities where they present themselves. 

How can people support your work?

You can check it out on Instagram and say hello! I love having art banter in the comments. I also have an Etsy store where I sell original illustrations and prints.