Molley May

Most of your drawings depicts stories and situations. You claimed that you love to observe people. What’re, in your opinion, the most interesting stories to contemplate and draw?

For me, the most interesting stories to try and depict are those quiet, intimate, often unseen moments between people. I love to watch couples and strangers interact and am also hyper aware of my own relationships. I definitely have a fixation with romanticism in particular and write these huge passages in my diaries about my own interactions. Most things I’ve made this year have been inspired by parts of my diary/own experiences.

Your fascination with comics is very clear. What kind of comics do you read? Do you think they can be considered art as well?

I adore comics. I think that at the moment lots of people are making them and pushing the boundaries of what a comic is or can be, and I find that very exciting. I like to pick up little homemade comics at fairs mostly, a couple of my favourites from this year are from Peony Gent, who’s also this year’s illustrator in residence at House of Illustration, and Molly Fairhurst, with her amazing emotional mini comic about an AI baby.

Do you have a favourite historical painter or artist you draw inspiration from?

Somewhat, embarrassingly I’ve only become interested in classical painting and ‘high art’ this year. I went to the Pierre Bonnard exhibition that was showing at the TATE Modern and found it deeply inspirational. However, a lot of the time I’m more inspired by contemporary artists. This year, I also loved Mark Leckey’s collection of films that were showing at the TATE Britain. I had seen one previously at a Joy Division exhibition in Manchester, but I couldn’t remember that I had, so this layer of déjà vu really added to the unsettling and mystical atmosphere I get from his work.

I’ve noticed that sometimes you use colours and sometimes you don’t. What way of drawing do you prefer more, and why?

I don’t think I necessarily prefer either. When I began working as an illustrator, it was primarily about colour for me, but I found that this was often getting in the way of the images I wanted to create. So, I dropped all colour for a very long time to focus on line and tone instead. I’m still working out a way to combine both of these things, but individually they both give me different things.

Do you think that, over time, you’ll evolve or adopt a different style of drawing?

Yes definitely, I think that change and development are natural and excellent. I can see a change in my style even from the past six months. It’s exciting!

What’s your opinion on drawing, and visual art in general? Is it still relevant in 2019? Do you think this kind of art will survive through the years and will continue to be appreciated?

For me, drawing is essential to all art practice. I went to a George Shaw talk this year and he recalled being a child, his father pointing at things in his living room and saying: ‘At one point, all of this was drawn by somebody’. I think that sums up its importance perfectly.

Speaking of a more modern type of art, what’d you think, for example, of digital illustrations or digital/interactive installments, now more frequent in art galleries?

As long as you’re drawing or creating in a way that makes you personally happy, that’s all that matters. For me, I find digital drawing a bit too clean in the process, but so many of my favourite illustrators work that way and produce incredible work. As for digital and interactive installments, I find them interesting and fascinating - it’s a way of working creatively that’s so different from my own I can’t help but be mesmerised.

What’s your relationship with social networks? Do you enjoy them? Or do you feel they’re a good platform to share your art with others?

I have a lot to be thankful for due to social media, so I can’t feel too bad about it. However, there’s a certain level of pressure and expectation that I feel from it and I could do without!

What’s the coolest aspect of your job? How about the most difficult one?

The best part of my job is definitely all of the other incredible people I’ve gotten to meet and become friends with. I’m so lucky that I’m surrounded by other artists and illustrators just designing and being friendly and supportive to one another. I think the most difficult part of the job is balance, both personally and financially: it can be hard to not completely isolate yourself in the studio or burn out trying to have a social life, a part-time job and make new work.

What’re your top three moments of your career so far?

I think, this year, making and selling out of my first proper comic ‘Magpies’ was a huge achievement. I was also lucky enough to have made the selection for this year’s Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, which felt pretty special, and finally I was nominated for a breakthrough comic book artist fellowship prize also this year!

Are you inspired by other forms of art as well, like music or literature? If so, who are your most beloved musicians/authors? What’d you like about them?

I love music, films and books! I listen to music and go to gigs all the time, I get a lot from seeing people working together and making something amazing before sharing it with everyone else. Visually speaking, I think I’m most inspired by cinema. I live in South East London, so there are a couple of great independent cinemas where you can go and see a film for a fiver, which I take full advantage of! I think the most amazing piece of film I saw this year was either ‘Annihilation’ or ‘Midsommer’ - I like them weird and rich in folk-horror.

Moving to fashion, would you describe to me your personal style? Do you follow trends, or is there a brand you particularly admire?

I love fashion, I’ve always been very invested in dressing and clothes, my wardrobe is a pretty curated collection. I wear a lot of vintage clothes and get most of my clothing from charity shops. I was raised doing the charity shop rounds with my mum at the weekends, but I’m also aware of how much damage fast fashion is doing to the planet. I’m not a die-hard about any brand in particular, but I’m enamoured with the growing number of hand-made small brands that are gaining traction, such as Gemma Rose, who crafts knitwear, or Heksie, who makes the most perfect blouses.

Do you have any must haves that can never be missing from your closet?

Dr. Martens for sure, I pretty much don’t wear any other shoe. Boots are my biggest weakness and Docs take the crown. I got my first pair when I was 16 and I’ve been devoted to them ever since.

What’s your biggest ambition? Is there a dream you’d like to achieve that would make you over the moon excited and proud about?

I used to think I’d feel like my job would be done the day I published my first book, but now I think otherwise: as long as I feel like I’d be able to impress my past self, it’s enough.