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Artist Focus: Esme Lower
last updated 24 March 2021
Esme Lower is a Bristol-based illustrator who has spent the recent lockdowns re-imagining her style and experimenting with character and pattern. She enjoys working on a range of illustration projects, from packaging to poster design, with a particular interest in editorial illustration and murals. We caught up with Esme to find out more about her creative process, why she loves being part of an artistic community, and more…
What is your creative process?
I have always loved sketching, so I start by filling my sketchbook pages with my initial drawings. This is a really important part of my process, I like working out ideas and compositions by drawing rough thumbnails over and over again. Once I’ve chosen my favourite design, I refine it as much as possible on paper before scanning it in and adding colour and detail on Photoshop or Procreate.
How do you work through a creative block?
When going through a creative block, one of my main focuses is to try and maintain a healthy relationship with social media by setting aside the pressures of creating daily or weekly content. I also make a conscious effort to not compare my progress with other artists, especially those who are very established. I think it is also important for me to find inspiration from outside of the illustration field, and experimenting with different materials is a good way to get my thoughts out in different ways and find new perspectives. I try to enjoy the process of what I’m creating rather than feeling overwhelmed by the thought of producing a final image.
Why, as an artist, is it important to have a creative community around you?
I’m extremely grateful for the creative community around me that has stemmed from my time at university. A few years on and I still have a network of people who continue to support each other in different ways. The online creative community has been particularly valuable in the last year as staying connected with other artists would have been extremely challenging without it. Not only has it been a platform for sharing my work and getting inspiration, but it has also brought me some normality and comfort in terms of being able to partake in creative meet-ups like online life drawing.
What are you currently working on? Can you tell us what to expect next?
I’m currently working on some images for a campaign run by ‘Sister & Co.’ raising money for the female domestic violence charity ‘Solace Women’s Aid’. The designs are playful, feminine and botanical, so it’s a dream brief for me, and I’m really excited to be part of the project and share the end result. I am also hoping to continue working on an exciting poster design project for music events running in London and Bristol which weren’t able to go ahead because of the recent lockdown, so that is something that I look forward to getting stuck into again. Aside from that, I am constantly working and pushing the boundaries of my style and I hope in the coming months I will be setting up my online shop.
Esme Lower is represented by Helen Biles — to work with Esme please get in touch. You can see more of Esme’s work in her portfolio here.