London-born and Rotterdam-based, Em is an illustrator who explores elements of youth culture in her bright, fun illustrations. She creates images for herself, but also for young people to relate to. She is in her third year of illustration study at Willem de Kooning academy in Rotterdam. Key elements of her work include nostalgic reflections on taboo areas of the development stage young adults experience, using a bold and cartoony style that applauds Nike footwear, oversized hands and feet.

Instagram: @emgal.png

Where would you like your work to take you?

I would like to be able to live off my work, for it to be my source of income. This is a realization I only had recently, I always thought I'd end up working for someone else, which of course I'm open-minded to in the process of my work's growth. But ideally, I would really love to make a living off of my work and do what I want, be my own boss. My work is the one thing I feel really able to work hard on and enjoy working hard on, putting 100% of my effort into it. So I think that would work well if I relied on making money out of my stuff.

Which part of your creative process do you enjoy most?

When you have such a clear vision of what you want to make, that you literally cannot wait to get it down on paper and start working on it. And then as you're working you get other ideas and add on other bits and pieces until you're satisfied. That whole process is my favorite. Being enthusiastic and excited to work on something. I also love the reactions to my work, it helps me build on ideas and collaborate with others to get ideas for what's next.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

It sounds lame but from everything. Really random at times. I did a drawing of a guy who was holding broccoli once, and it was literally because I was on my Instagram and someone had taken a really beautiful photo of broccoli. Sometimes I come up with a theme, or I have an idea that can be explored across multiple illustrations or within a project. Shoes, women, music, other illustrators, drug and alcohol culture, a whole range.

What piece of music would you say compliments your work the most?

I'm really into electronica and dream pop at the moment. I listen to it a lot when I work, especially bands like Air, The Chemical Brothers, The Underworld, Groove Armada, Massive Attack, etc. I would say Kelly watch the Stars by Air, I think it's really beautiful. It's probably my most listened-to song of the year. Or some underground London hip hop, I think that would soundtrack my work nicely. A lot of my work is inspired by my time growing up in London. Maybe Spaceship by Lord Apex.

Can you list a couple other creatives/friends/people you look to for inspiration?

Since I moved to Rotterdam I found my PEOPLE. I'm blessed to have found myself in a creative community in every respect, I'm constantly surrounded by inspiration through my friends. My roommate is a tattoo artist, she makes the most beautiful designs @krust.inc and also pushed me to draw more by how much she was drawing. My internship mentors @studiomaky, proved to me its possible to do what you want for a living, and make really crazy 3D and large scale installation pieces. My friend Dániel @bananiel26, Weia @weiatanphotography, my hairdresser and amazing friend Hedwig @hedwighomoet. I cannot list them all. As far as creatives go I love Simon landrein, Gorillaz (Jamie Hewlett), Kaws, Alexander McQueen, Madonna, Joan Cornella, Bryan Lee O'Malley. The list is really endless.