Coffee & Cigarettes babe: Under the spell of the sweet Marmushka

Under the spell of the sweet Marmushka | illustrator

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"I fall in love with her watercolors and characters,

It is a mixture of pastel colors that will fill you the view of love and curiosity"

P.S: I'm in love with her comics

(Read this interview in spanish)

Since I open my instagram account, it was supposed than my favorite thing will be post photos, about me and my artwork. But I found a better use, and is about discover new illustrators and plastic artists, and "Marmushka"its one of them. And even we don't talk the same idiom, it was a pleasure for me, make this cute interview to her... I invite you some coffee and read this.

Could you introduce yourself?

My name is Marie Walgraeve, I am an artist that goes under the nickname "marmushka".

I am Belgian and based in Göteborg, Sweden.

When was the first time you started drawing?

I have been drawing ever since I can remember. When I was little my favorite thing was

to copy the cover art of Disney VHS tapes. I used to draw a lot with my best friend too.

How would you describe your style? was easy to find it?

I always have a hard time describing my style. I think I just like cute, soft characters (and colors) with a pinch of sadness or the feeling that something is "off"....

I went through some hard years in college finding and developing my own style. After being very patient and spending a lot of time drawing I finally discovered a style that I could relate to.

What motivates you when you sit down to create something?

Drawing and especially painting is very therapeutic for me.

But sometimes it's just an urge. Music is a very motivating factor in my life.

what materials you like to use?

I use pen and black ink for my pen drawings. I scan them and color them in Photoshop.

For my paintings I use acrylics on canvas or paper and the cheapest synthetic brushes.

When I sketch in my sketchbook I use all kinds of materials.

Glitter, Copic markers, colored pencils, acrylics, aquarel... I like to play around with all sorts of material.

Do you have some goals as an illustrator?

One of my main goals was to have my own studio place where I could mess with paint, listen to music and have small exhibitions. In a couple of weeks that goal will finally be achieved and I am looking forward to moving in to my own little place.

My main goal as an artist is to exhibit in Japan.

(two of her comics)

Who are your favorite illustrators?

I am very inspired by Mel Stringer. Julia Pott has been

a major influence ever since I started illustrating.

These days I am more inspired by contemporary artists (although in my opinion illustration is just as much art as "fine arts") like Aya Takano, Yoshitomo Nara, Felix Treadwell, Jennifer Mehigan, Mia Christopher and So Youn Lee.

Define "ART" in a word that you really like:

Defining art in one word is pretty hard for me, but for me art is a way of

escaping my daily life and anxieties and flee into an imaginary dreamworld.

So maybe "Dreamworld" would be a good word to define what art means to me.