Meet the Artist: Monty Lee

Monty Lee is one of this year’s artist exhibiting at the annual Book Links StoryArts Exhibition held every year at the Richard Randal Art Studio, a glorious purpose built art space, set in the grounds of the  Mt Coot-Tha Botanical Gardens.

Date: From Friday 10 April – opening night 5pm until Sunday 19

Monty Lee is an Australian artist who has displayed work at exhibitions and collaborated with several artists on varying projects. Amongst her work are the illustrations for Songs to Edward Lear, Grumpy Bear, Grouchy Bear, Theo’s princess and A Special Treat. She has also been featured in international illustration magazines.

When did you realise you wanted to be an artist? I never actually made a decision that that’s what I wanted to be. I never thought about it that way, I just always drew, printed and painted. It was more a natural flow of things. Both my parents are artists and from day 1 I was surrounded by papers, canvasses, paints, crayons and pencils, music, dance not to mention lots of inspiring creative visitors. Our house was filled to the brim with books. And I am talking about a LOT of books, fiction, non-fiction. And an awful lot of picture books and books about art and artists. Whenever I wanted to embark on a new artistic adventure, I could find inspiration and the how-to on a bookshelf. So, there was not a clear-cut realisation, but I do remember the moment I decided I wanted to illustrate a picture book. One of my friends’ mothers was an award-winning illustrator of children’s books and watching her work (I was about 9) made me realise the direction I wanted to go in. It still took many years before I actually headed in that direction. I illustrated and wrote many stories for my children before getting my act together.

What were your favourite illustrations/illustrator as a child? I think my answer is the same as so many artists’ answers, I can’t really just pick one. There were and there are just too many fantastic artists. The variety of the work out there is just mind boggling.

But I can give you a few names of illustrators I admired (and still do):Maurice Sendak (especially his book In the Night Kitchen);Winsor McCay; Jozéf Wilkon;Tove Jansson;Edmund Dulac; Arthur Rackham; Marten Toonder.

The list can go on and on…

What do you see as your role when working with a writer on a picture book? I feel it should be a perfect equal collaboration. The words and the illustrations both do the storytelling; one adds to the other.

I really like to work with writers who can talk about what their story means to them and where the idea came from. That way my illustrations can add that bit of extra depth.

When writing and illustrating your own work what comes first – words, images, characters? I have only written for my own children up to now (but am working on a book as we speak), I usually have an idea for a story. Then I make lots of sketches of mainly characters so the story can percolate a bit. Then I write the story in detail (which doesn’t mean there will be no changes again) and start working on the spreads.

What is your preferred medium to work in? My work is multi media and I love the diversity of it all. I print, work with acrylics, pencils, crayons, watercolours etc.

Where do you go when you need inspiration? Sometimes I’ll go to galleries or a museum, sometimes for a walk in the garden but that’s more to clear my head, ready for a burst of inspiration to be found in my book case. And of course there’s a great way to get going by just random doodling.

How would you describe your art style?Playful and joyful.

Where and when and how do you work? I have no set times to work; I work whenever I can. I used to work in my small studio in the garden but at the moment I sit at the dining table and the coffee table (yes, I take up all the room) until the roof of my studio is fixed. It’s all very messy and disorganised but I make it work somehow and of course I couldn’t make it work without the endless patience of my family.

Is there an iconic children’s work that you would like to illustrate? Pippi Longstocking without a doubt.

Is/are there artist/s working today that you admire? There are (again) too many to list. I’m amazed on a daily basis, how can there be so many incredible artists out there that I just discovered on social media? Here are a few artists whose books shine in my bookcase:

Beatrice Alemagna who has written and illustrated many books. I mostly buy her books purely for the illustrations as I love how she bends the rules of proportions and perspectives to create unique illustrations. It can be very hard to let go of what you have learned which can make illustrations stiff and a bit run of the mill. But Beatrice is a star at looking at things like a child. She gets the essence. Here are a few of my favourites: A Lion in Paris, Never, not ever! On a Magical do-noting Day and Harold Snipperpot’s best Disaster Ever.

Jan Jutte has been a long-time favourite of mine. His illustrations are quirky and sensitive. I especially like his use of strong lines. Here are some of my favourites:Tiger Roar, Tien Stoute Katjes (ten naughty kittens), and Maximiliaan Modderman.

Jon Klassen is a star in conveying feelings by just a slight eye movement of his characters. One particular book (first one mentioned in my list) had me laughing out loud in the bookshop:This is not my hat, We found a hat, I want my hat back and Egg Marks the Spot (a Skunk and Badger story).

Karst-Janneke Rogaar. I have only just discovered Karst-Janneke’s work. Lucy en Donker (Lucy and Dark} was my first introduction to her work. The book is dreamlike, has beautiful textures and colours and it’s a lovely story, great for kids who are afraid of the dark.  (I’m not sure if there’s an English version yet).

Joaquin Camp, whose drawings are almost childlike (anyone who’s ever tried to draw like a child can tell you how hard it actually is) with almost every surface coloured in with felt tip pen. I find the work refreshing and the stories are great fun for kids. The See Saw, The Robbery, A Sleepless Night, and The Piano.

Andrea Antinori: Andrea Antinori, I’m still looking at getting some more books as Andrea Antinori has the same magical childlike style as Joaquin Camp. All books look so quirky, just what I like. I have “Christ’s entry into Brussels” – You will meet the characters based on James Enzor’s painting Christ’s entry into Brussels 1888, La Tierra no es Plana (the earth is not flat).

Sara Lundberg creates the most atmospheric illustrations (reminiscent of Sydney Smith) in Nobody But Me and The Cat Way.

Can you tell us something about the pieces that you are going to exhibit at the Richard Randall Art Studio? I will have a few collaged illustrations, a monoprint, probably a linocut print, small Tetrapak prints and a Diorama (with movable parts only to be handled with the utmost care). Tetrapak prints are the main medium I work with at the moment (I’m working on some illustrations for a book written by Margrete Lamond}. Almost all of the illustrations will be done by etching and printing tetrapaks (juice/milk boxes). I am just loving the textures it creates and the fact that you can make multiples (although restricted to probably 10 at the most). I have also made over the years a few illustrations using dioramas, which to me is always magical. It is almost a tiny real other world. A world where you can escape into your dreams. Therefore, I think one diorama is a nice addition to the work I’ll exhibit.

And as a little something special I will have some pins/brooches of some of my characters to add to the collection.

For more information please follow Monty on instagram.

Monty’s artwork will be on sale at the Book Links StoryArts Exhibition exhibition so be sure to come and visit.