Pargy 100th Post Birthday! Interview with "Pargy" artist Liz Adams; plus Liz Adams sketch giveaway!

Well, normally I like to keep my post titles short and snappy, but today is Popartrockgirlyeah!'s 100th post birthday, so I am well and truly pushing the boat out! There's an interview with renowned US artist and illustrator Liz Adams (creator of the Pargy character/ logo), plus a giveaway of one of her lovely sketches to one lucky commenter (see beautiful "baby bird" sketch below). Don't forget to subscribe by e-mail to Popartrockgirlyeah in order that I can contact you should you be that lucky commenter! :-)

Now onto the interview with the very talented Liz Adams

Hello and welcome Liz!

To start us off, maybe you could tell us a bit about your background?

I grew up in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona. As a kid I was always pretty creative and knew that I wanted to work as an artist. I majored in mixed media at Arizona State University where I focused on making sculptural work. After graduating, I moved to Los Angeles and worked as a photo retoucher and fine art printer for several years. I was constantly doodling in my notebooks and making little paintings. I started doing a few illustration assignments for my work and friends. I enjoyed it so much that I built up a portfolio and began promoting my illustration. About six months later I got my first job with a magazine and it has grown from there. I currently work as a freelance illustrator and the majority of my work is for editorial and publishing clients.

Popartrockgirlyeah! likes to try to promote new talent in the visual arts: For anyone starting out in art and illustration, what advice would you give them?

Find a flexible job while you are pursuing your work. I had one for several years while I was freelancing and it made things so much easier if my freelance slowed down for a while. I would also advise someone starting out to be persistent and have patience because it does take time and work. I was recently hired for the first time by a client who I've been sending samples to for years. You just never know when you will be the right fit for something.

One of the qualities I really love about your artwork is its quirky, whimsical style - it reminds me a little bit of the work of artist Marc Chagall - like a beautiful fantasy world! How would you best describe your art?

In a lot of my personal work I tend to show creatures and/or girls in playful, atmospheric environments. They are like little daydreams where things are sometimes floating or flying. I like to work in a lot of ways whether it is just doodling with paint, or working on a more involved artwork in Photoshop & Illustrator.

Your artwork is very colourful and colour is obviously very important to you. What are the everyday objects that particularly inspire you in terms of colour?

I use colors that are happy and peaceful to me. Everyday things that inspire me include animals, foods, cute stuff in general and video games. I am also very inspired by my childhood, the desert and the sea.

Some of the pictures that I have posted today of your work contains female rock n roll musicians - is being in a band something which you have experience of personally?

I have always admired a lot of female musicians. When I was little I was obsessed with the cartoon Jem and the Holograms. I played drums for an all girl band called The Peeps throughout high school and college. I don't really have the time or the drive to play in a band anymore, though I still like to make drawings about music.

What is your own personal take on fashion and style and what are your favourite items of clothing?

I like hoodies and sweaters that are so soft they feel like a blanket. Also anything with polka dots. I wouldn't consider myself a fashionable person by any means, but I like to look through magazines for illustration inspiration.

Do you get much in the way of inspiration from other mediums such as film and fashion?

I like John Waters' movies and Pee-Wee's Playhouse. As far as fashion goes I'm inspired by a lot of 60s' fashion as well as sci-fi and comic book ladies.

I can see from your blog that you have lots of interesting projects on the go at the moment; please tell us more. What sorts of things can we expect from Liz Adams in the future?

I've just been really focused on growing my illustration business in the last couple years. It has been really tough in this economy, but this is something I really want to keep plugging away at. I also want to make more personal work since that's been on the back burner for a while. I hope to sell more prints and things online in the near future as well.

Check out more of Liz's work at: http://www.liz-adams.com/