INTRODUCING BROOKE PERSICH
Words: Sarah Pratt
‘Tis the season to be jolly and a little bit hypothetical. For example, when trying to figure out what to get your Kris Kringle for Christmas, you cold ask your brother’s girlfriend: “Hypothetically, if I had you as my KK, what would you like for Christmas?” Perhaps she would reply with: “A print from Brooke Persich’s ’Hypothesis’ series.” Now that would be handy, as this week we’re showcasing Brooke’s work and we even have those conveniently displayed links that will take you to her online store. But seriously, hurry the fuck up. Christmas is three sleeps away. What are you doing man? Get to it! And if you have some drawings that you would like to share with us, well get on that too, just send us an email to submissions@spookmag.com
NAME: Brooke Persich.
AGE: 22.
FROM: I was born in Perth, Western Australia. But I am now living in London. I moved over about a year ago straight into Camden Town, which is a very cool, anything goes sort of place. There is always something to do, somewhere to go, London is a lot of fun and chaotic. I enjoy chilling out and coming home to Australia every now and again to get back to nature and have some down time. My home is near the beach so I have the best of both worlds really.
EXPERIENCE: I have been drawing for as long as I can remember. My mum is very creative and so I was always encouraged as a child to do activities, crafts and art. if you asked me what I wanted to be when I was about 5 or 6 I would have said an artist. I think vocations sort of just find you like that, it’s a very natural decision. After that it’s just sort of engrained itself into my life, I wouldn’t feel ‘normal’ if I didn’t do it.
JOB: Freelance artist, writer and designer. I went to university and have a degree in Journalism that has helped me develop the business side of designing and my art (which is 70% of the art process anyway). At the moment my time is spent developing my online store – www.brookepersich.com. I also have a debut collection of jewellery coming out in early 2012 – I’m really excited, it’s beautiful. Design is a new thing for me but I have worked with and for a lot of designers so it’s not unfamiliar territory.
WHY: I like the idea you start off with nothing – a white page or a blank canvas and then you make a tiny mark on the page and grow it out like trees or branches until it’s this intricate forest of secrets, shades and lines. I like how time disappears when you’re creating. To me I guess it’s about escapism into my favourite kind of reality.
INSPIRATION: Some illustrators I love and that anyone reading should check out would be Vania Zouravliov, Aubrey Beardsley and Takato Yamamoto.
Hypothesis
MATERIALS: They are all executed entirely by hand using Indian inks and black pen.
TIME: Each picture may take up to 2-3 days to complete.
WHERE: They were completed in Australia before being exhibited in the New Artist Fair in London 2011.
WHY: All the pictures are from a collection I did in 2009 entitled ‘Hypothesis’ – prints are available for purchase via my website www.brookepersich.com.
