Tanya Cooper

All

Animation

Collage & Montage

Food & Drink

Graphic

Line

Maps

People

Zoom

Find similar

Zoom

Find similar

Zoom

Find similar

Zoom

Find similar

Zoom

Find similar

Playful ease in easy cutting

Isn't the whole world a collage?

Tanya is an Australian illustrator who lived in Berlin for some time. She has a preference for collages in bright colours, HB pens, imitation wood textures and cardigans ... and she loves to draw food. As a person who tends not to take life too seriously, Tanya takes her work with playful ease and tries, wherever possible, to incorporate a bit of fun and humour into the motifs. Of course, she can also be serious – if it has to be ;)

Tanya Cooper, Armidale (AUS); Languages: English

Impressions

Interview

Send Enquiry

Interview

What drew you to illustration/design? I wanted to be an illustrator ever since high school. I always loved drawing. It was the only career choice I ever made- and I stuck with it. Do you have any formal design training? I studied both Illustration and Graphic Design in Australia 2007, 2008 and 2010 Where do you live? In Neukölln, Berlin. Can you describe your studio for me? I work in a shared studio with a bunch of other artists, illustrators, animators. Its kinda dirty, dingy and messy but I love it. Have a nice little corner by the window with lots of plants. Daily visits from the kitty cat upstairs make it even better too. How do you get the best ideas? Brainstorming and mind mapping usually bring about my best ideas. Who or what is your biggest inspiration? I always get inspired by the people around me doing great and wonderful things. Thats why working in a shared studio is so great. What technique do you use? When I draw, I draw with a lead pencil then scan and colour digitally. Otherwise its digital collage mixed with handmade textures and a mix of found and bought imagery. Tell us about a favorite project you have recently completed. I’ve been doing a regular spot for a food column in Good Weekend Mag in Australia. Super simple collages, but they need to be super conceptual, witty and clever… and funny. Its always a challenge, but always so satisfying when I get that lightbulb moment. What would be your dream job/commission? Probably an illustrated recipe book. Who are your illustration heroes? When I was studying illustration, Josh Cochran and the Heads of State were my main heroes and inspiration. Today, my instagram feed is filled with all work from all kinds of whacky and wonderful artists- too many to mention! Do you keep a sketch book? I do, but sometimes it gets a bit neglected. Its pretty much just filled with drawings of whatever food is in my pantry. What are your hobbies? I’m pretty into the TableTennis this year If you were not an illustrator, what would you be? An animator? Or an astronaut maybe. Who would you like to meet? I would like to meet the world’s best dumpling chef….. so they can feed me the world’s best dumplings. If you could travel back in time, where would you go to? I’d go back to the 60’s and sit on every awesome piece of furniture I could find. What kind of music do you listen to? A bit of everything really. I let my mood decide. What is the funniest thing you have ever done? Flying to Thailand to get all of my wisdom teeth pulled out. If you won the lottery, would you still work as illustrator? Definitely Do you collect anything? Board Games. Plus this year I seem to be acquiring a lot of things made of orange plastic. Do you have a favorite game? I always loved Guess Who. I loved it so much that i took it everywhere with me which meant it was in my car the day my car got stolen. I haven’t bought another copy since….but I should! Pictionary is pretty awesome too. That being said, I’ve been getting pretty good at darts.

Favourites

Website: Lucky Peach Tool: HB pencil Gallery: I don't know, but the Pompidou in Paris is pretty awesome Shop: There's a bunch of little junk shops spotted around Neukölln - I can’t get enough of! Food: Dumplings Drink: Beer … or wine hmmm - I don’t know.