Artist: Marisa Saunders
Website: www.blackcherryart.co.uk

Who are you?
I am Marisa Cherry Saunders, a freelance illustrator based in South East London. I studied Printmaking at The University for the Creative Arts in Maidstone a few years back, I like to go in to the studio and get inky whenever I can.

What do you do?
I create the images that dance inside my head, eager to be released. I also create images for others. My practice involves lino cutting and illustrating in pen, sometimes using watercolours to enhance a fluidity effect and a softness against the bold black ink.

Why do you do it?
If I did not create these images then they would be lost and my head would hurt! I have a lot of creativity inside me and it needs to be vented. My images make me happy and I want others to enjoy them as well.

Who are your influences?
Tove Jansson, Niki de Saint Phalle, Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac and my peers.

What inspires your work?
I am inspired by nature (especially the Sea), wildlife, literature, music, friends and family.

What do you like?
I like owls, rabbits, eating olives, reading books by Juliet Marillier, drawing Harvey Keitel, playing Sims 3 with my husband Deakin, having moominish adventures with my best friend Lauren and cutting lino while listening to Tarja Turunen.

What don’t you like?
I do not like unnecessarily rude and impolite people. I also dislike people who take advantage of others and being really short at a gig full of tall people.

Find Marisa here:
www.blackcherryart.co.uk
www.etsy.com/shop/kookycherry

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