TEA BREAK WITH….Dorien Brouwers, illustrator and picture book author.
As sponsors of the Wainwright literary prize, we were introduced to Dorien whose fresh and fluid illustrations were used in a series of artworks for the Prize Award.
Dorien believes: “Mother nature is the best designer and should be an inspiration to us all.” So, we were delighted when Dorien agreed to work with us on the Wainwright Colours from Nature collection.
Jamie Bartle, Senior Product Manager for Art and Print Papers, spoke with Dorien about her inspiration and impressions of the papers in the Wainwright collection.
1. What was your first impression of Wainwright Colours from Nature?
I was blown away. When the samples arrived, I kept taking them out of the box and then carefully placing them back, only to take them out again 5 minutes later — looking at the colour tones and feeling the texture. I instantly loved them.
2. What was the paper like to work with?
It is an incredibly versatile paper, one that can be used on a wide range of projects. It also took the ink better than I expected, certainly when it came to the darker tones.
3. What about this project has inspired you?
The people at James Cropper. Their passion, expertise, and can-do attitude are nothing but infectious! And then, there is the sustainability aspect to the way they run their business in general, and this paper range in particular. I prefer to use a natural palette in my artwork, so knowing that the pigments are actually extracted from nature (food waste) is just fantastic!
4. What has this project meant to you?
It is so exciting to be involved with the launch of a brand new paper range. James Cropper's innovative approach takes the art of papermaking to another level. It has been a fantastic opportunity to continue the connection with the Wainwright Prize. To come up to the beautiful Lake District and have a tour of the paper mill and laboratory was also a lovely experience and the cherry on top!
5. What does working with a papermaker in the English Lake District mean to you?
My own love for nature and connection as an illustrator to the Wainwright Prize (which James Cropper sponsors) meant that this felt like a natural fit from the start, and I am thoroughly enjoying this collaboration.
6. What do you love most about the artistic process?
What I love the most is when you’re creating something, and it’s going well, and you have some nice music on, and you’re in that flow state. I love that. And it’s nice to see people respond to the end result. I hope that the Wainwright collection resonates with a lot of people.
To find out more about Dorien, head over to her website here.
