I found Liza Corbett's gorgeous work recently, and dove right in to meet and interview her.  Within 24 hours of finding her work, I had two prints on the way and an interview in the works!  Lucky for me - and now you - she was game for everything!

[April 12, 2008] 

Hello Liza...I really appreciate you letting me dive right into an interview with you when we only "met" yesterday!  I found your work through Flavorpill and am still drooling over your incredible illustrations.  I can't wait to receive the two prints I just ordered from you!

Let's start with the basics...how long have you been an illustrator and how did you get started on this path?
I studied illustration in college but didn't pursue it in earnest until last year. I had created some small things, including some commissioned pieces and illustrations for design firms where I was working. I continued to do a lot of personal work and just tried to draw as much as I could - but I was hampered by working full time. I started working as a part time freelance designer last year and have just been devoting myself to creating and pursuing work since then.

You connect women with deer in a number of your creations - what is the story behind this particular imagery?
These images of women and animals (deer, bears, boars, etc.) are part of a dystopian world, that I've called FEAST, where ladies of the aristocracy or upper class radically deface nature and appropriate elements of plants and animals for their amusement, for pleasure and fashion. These woman have made themselves into these grotesque hybrids - feral beasts, while still maintaining elaborate coiffeurs and dressing in expensive finery.

 
I have to ask about the piece that caught my eye in the first place - The Confidence Woman - tell me how that creation came to life.
THE CONFIDENCE WOMAN is one of these society ladies whose theft has caused her to take root. To me that suggests some kind of punishment from the gods-- you could imagine it being a Greek myth.

Does your work as an illustrator lean more heavily towards commercial and/or editorial or towards personal work that you exhibit and sell?  
I'd love for it to do both - Commercial/editorial work is great because the projects are like problems that need to be resolved. When the illustration is finished the idea of it being published and seen is so thrilling. But then nothing beats the freedom and satisfaction of personal work.

Your illustration style reminds me of the illustrations you see in the Wall Street Journal, where shadows and contrast is created through tiny dots and simple lines...how did your work evolve into this particular look and feel?
Probably because pen and ink is a medium that is readily available and easily used. I think over the years, having such constraints on my time, having a pen to secretly doodle with at work or being able to quickly pick up in the evening, has caused it to be the tool I am most comfortable working with. Unlike painting, there is no set up or clean up for most of the pens I use. Cross-hatching has an old-fashioned look that i think is attractive. I love building pen marks and creating new shapes and textures that are highly controlled, yet often unpredictable.

In these worlds you create on paper, what are they like?  Do you go there to sit quietly and meditate...to conquer your fears....to dance like a wild bohemian?
Oh no, they are definitely too dangerous to visit!
 
You have created book covers, logos, magazine illustrations...where else would you love to see your work?
I'm working on some t-shirt designs right now, which I really enjoy and hope to do more apparel design, as well as create some tote bags and purses... Lotta Jansdotter Anderson is a huge influence. One of the t-shirts is now available in a limited edition through TastyTshirt. What is really cool about this project is that a portion of the sales go to Starting Artists, which is a nonprofit supporting teens in Brooklyn with hands-on training in arts and entrepreneurship.

When you feel stuck creatively, what gets your juices flowing again?
I have a huge archive of tear sheets from magazines and photocopies from books. I have tried to organize by types, women, fashion, illustrators, flowers, paintings...anything that catches my eye. I also keep dozens of sketchbooks with ideas that come to me mostly in the middle of something else - so I can come back when I have time. It works...most of the time!

Thank you again...I am so excited to share this interview!  Blessings...Christine