Alison Lilly is one of the featured artists in the upcoming exhibit, Design 24, a new bi-annual event featuring some of the west coast’s most reputable emerging and established artists, graphic designers and illustrators.

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We caught up to Alison for a promotional interview for Design 24 and have the pleasure to introduce her to you good people. 

wlfmrs: Some basic info to fill us in; where are you from and what is your art background?

Alison: Vancouver B.C.born and raised. I have loved to draw and paint since I can remember, and was always encouraged by my family to pursue Art from an early age. I was completely self taught until attending Langara Fine Arts in 2006.My main focus since then has been mixed media illustration and printmaking.

I find that your work has a dark, pulp comic look to it, what have your influences been in your most recent work?

Most recently I have really been inspired by Italian Edifumetto comics I stumbled across from the 70’s such as Zora and Sukia.They had some truly amazing illustrators and painters working on those volumes.

Is there a specific audience that you are intending to reach with your work?

Not really, but I think my work with musicians and bands gets my artwork out to other artists and fans interested in the metal/doom/hardcore scene.

Do you draw inspiration from other creators? Who?

I am constantly inspired by other Artists and their works.There are so many but to name a few I have been looking at lately: Suehiro Maruo, Robert Ingpen and DM Cook.

What would be your ultimate kind of exhibit that you would like to be a part of? Certain country? Artists? Theme?

I would love to be involved in another collaborative installation show, pretty much anywhere... overseas!

I get a real Speedwolf (rad band, look them up) kind of feel from your imagery, what kind of music do you listen to when you’re painting?

Can you give us a 5 track playlist of what you cranked during your last art session?

I did the ipod shuffle today in the studio...here it goes...Artist /Song. 1.Windhand- Heap Wolves

2. Chyna White- I GOT IT

3.Deadbird- Into the Clearing

4.Ascension- Grant me light 5.Flash Bang Grenada- Bernie

How was it that you affiliated with the Design 24 project?

I became affiliated with the Design 24 project through previous exhibits at ACME studios in Vancouver and through past work with the curators of the project.

Have you released prints of your work (screen printed or otherwise) previously?

Yes, I screen print a lot of my work. I usually print limited edition runs of posters, t-shirts or back patches. These are commission pieces for bands or my own illustrations that I create specifically with print in mind.

Has your work been issued within a limited edition run previously?

Yes,I have done numerous limited edition prints of my work. Most recently I worked on a collaborative project with Apocalypse Sunrise Records in December 2011 for a yearly music festival, screen printing posters and t-shirts for the event. I really enjoy working collaboratively with Artists and labels and for this project I had complete creative control over the project which was extremely rewarding for me.

What, do you feel, might be some of the benefits of producing printed work?

I think producing prints allows my work to be accessible to a wider audience while still maintaining an exclusivity in regards to limited edition print runs. I also really enjoy the process of screen printing in general as I am able to have complete creative control over the editions I produce.

You used to work as a screen printer, do you feel a screen printed edition has more integrity than a digital giclée print?

I have produced digital prints of my work in the past and was happy with the results, but I feel silkscreened prints have a much more tangible and original quality to them. And to be blunt, giclees are reproductions, even if embellished, and when hand pulled, Serigraphs are original prints in which characteristics differ from print to print. In my opinion that aspect holds more integrity and is a far more interesting medium to work in. 

How did you get into screen-printing?

I started working at a t-shirt/garment print shop back in 2000 and learned textile printing. Then from there I moved on to experimenting with poster printing.

I see that Kimprints will be sponsoring the show with a custom framing display of some of the prints at the exhibit and discounting frames for purchase post sale of the prints. What are your thoughts about framed and unframed work of this nature?

I think it is important to frame work for archival purposes.

What mediums do you work in?

I work in mixed media for my illustrative work: pencil ,ink and acrylic washes mostly.

I am also creating digital collage work for multi media as well as poster projects for live events and garment design.

Most recently, I have started a tattoo apprenticeship in Vancouver, and I am quite enjoying the challenges and benefits that learning process is bringing into my fine arts practice.

Creep up on more of Alison's work at... alisonlilly

Young." 

Launching on Friday April 13th at 8pm, Design 24 finds its inaugural reception as a new bi-annual event featuring some of the West Coast’s most reputable emerging and established artists, graphic designers and illustrators.