Interview | Kareena Zerefos.

“His name was Sebastien”. Pencil, ink, gouache and letraset on paper. 2008.

“Elephant”. Pencil, ink, tea and gouache on paper. 2009.

“Boy with rat”. Pencil, ink and gouache on paper. 2008.

I am so excited to share with you an interview with the gorgeous and super talented Kareena Zerefos. Kareena is a Sydney based illustrator who had been capturing hearts all over the world with her delicate and nostalgic imagery. I remember seeing her beautiful illustration for Finders Keepers first commissioned artwork, Carnival Horses, which was featured on their Spring/Summer Flyer and their website a little while ago. Ever since then I have seen her work receive much deserved attention in magazine features and a number of major blogs. Such exciting times for this talented young woman – oh yes, that right, Kareena is only 25. Crazy! Imagine where she’ll be in 10 years time…

Kareena’s work is positively beautiful, innocent, soft and dreamy. Her illustrative style strikes a perfect balance between real and surreal – her images stir up moments of nostalgia and childhood memories. I bet you that you will find it almost impossible to not smile and escape even just for one moment when looking at her art. And therein lies the secret of her success – looking at her work makes you feel warm and fuzzy, just like a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

Thank you Kareena for being a part of yellowtrace, and for allowing me to share your amazing talent and some of your quirks with my awesome readers. Oh, and make sure to check out Kareena’s online store where you can purchase her signed prints, t-shirts, posters, giftcards and original artwork.

x dana
 

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Kareena Zerefos with Pelle, her beloved Italian greyhound. Photo by Jon Christensen.

Kareena, welcome to yellowtrace, and thank you for taking the time to share your story with us. Can you tell us about how you and when you decided to become an artist?

I studied design at the College of Fine Arts, but I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember – it all started out like everyone does, sticking macaroni to paper plates and painting with my fingers! I suppose I always knew that I wanted to be an artist (of some description) when I grew up, I worked as a graphic designer for a while and it wasn’t really until about two years ago that I took the plunge to do art and illustration full time.

What you are seeking to portray in your work? How do you describe your art?

Through my work I aim to evoke the delicate balance between isolation and companionship, as well as yearning and delight in long lost moments of escape to a world of make believe.

I am inspired by pieces of personal nostalgia – vintage postcards and photos, children’s books and delicate fine bone china tea sets.  From these I piece together my own little worlds in what I would describe as a fragile, slightly nostalgic and bittersweet illustrative style.

“Mood Swing” series for exhibition at 19karen. Pencil, biro, ink and gouache on pine wooden box. 2010.

Selection of Kareena’s recent work on wood. Pencil, ink and gouache on pine wooden box. 2010.

What does a typical day involve for you? Can you give us an insight into your process?

Typically my day starts with a morning coffee at Epi D’or with my little Italian Greyhound, Pelle, around the corner from my studio in Kirribilli. Then once I get into the studio, its kind of a juggle between working on commercial projects and my own personal artwork, as well as working on the ‘business’ stuff – going through briefs, putting together quotes and lots of emailing.

Having come from a design background, I think that I have adopted a fairly consistent process that I use to develop my work – although to me, it does feel like it evolves in a way that seems very natural and organic.

When I’m coming up with ideas for a new work, I spend a lot of time looking through old children’s books and family photo albums. I take this imagery as inspiration and in a way set up a scene of my own make-believe moments in time – that are often based on my childhood dreams or sometimes memories.

Before I start drawing I make collages from photocopied bits and pieces to plan out the composition and to find all of the right elements to bring into the work (I’m completely a Virgo). Then I use my collage as my reference to draw from. I always work with a really light and loose outline layer in pencil, work up a couple of layers by spilling and dripping ink, gouache and tea and then work over it all with the detailed pencil lines.

From Kareena’s sketchbook – “Gril” Ink sketch from 2006. Just quick little sketches for fun, while sitting on the bus or waiting in a cafe…

Some of the original pieces from Art Sydney in October 2009.

Creative people often find it really difficult to network and promote themselves – how do you approach this side of your work?

It is definitely a difficult thing to do, particularly when starting out. I have always been quite shy and initially found it really intimidating to put my work out there and see what people think… but its essential. I actually use to work as a web designer, so for me promoting my work online was the simplest way to begin – I set up a site and spent quite a bit of time emailing blogs, magazines and friends to see what they thought. Now I just keep the site up to date and promote my work through shows mostly, and then through anything fun that pops up!

What are some of your main sources of inspiration?

My collection of old super-8 footage from my dad’s childhood in rural NSW, travel, vintage postcards and photos, children’s books and delicate fine bone china tea sets, the resident owl that lives in the mango tree behind my place, vast open isolated spaces…

I’m also inspired by classic stories and fairytales, like Bambi, Thumbelina and the BFG, and films like The City of Lost Children, American Beauty, Amélie…

“Carnival Horses” for Finders Keepers flyer and website. Pencil, ink and gouache on paper.

The making of “Carnival Horse”.

What other artists/ creative people/ peers do you admire?

I love Egon Schiele’s figurative paintings and sketches, I saw his work in Vienna a few years ago which I feel was a catalyst for my art making, and kind of inspired my use of line and white space. Michael Zavros, Cecilia Carlstedt and Peter Callesen are amongst the many contemporary illustrators/artists that I really admire, as well as musicians and film- makers like Samuel Beam (Iron and Wine), Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Alan Ball. I’m also really lucky to have many incredibly talented, creative friends who I also admire and enjoy a good drink with!

What advice do you have for young artist who want to follow your path? What was one of your biggest lessons learned since starting out?

As cliché as it sounds I want to say ‘practice makes perfect’. It’s really all about finding what you love and just going for it.

Um. Biggest lesson, probably is that the term ‘staving artist’ becomes more familiar then you would expect!! That and it is really important to be persistent and stick at it.

Images from Kareena’s sketchbook and their further development. Even her unfinished work looks so damn beautiful!

Kareena’s sunny studio in Sydney’s Kiribilli.

Is there something professionally you would like to try that you haven’t done yet?

Huge detailed oil paintings on wood, I don’t know if I have that much patience though!

What are you working on at the moment?

Lots of drawing! A few private commissions, coming up with some concepts for Sparkadia’s new album art, a collaboration with jewelry designer Zoe Sernack… and artwork for group shows that are creeping up.

What’s next – can you share with us your vision and some of your goals?

I’m really keen to step away from the commercial illustration work and push myself a lot further with my personal artwork… delving into it all a lot more, exploring new techniques and working at a larger scale. I have also been experimenting with wood tints and gouache on pine plywood boxes… if all seems to work out, I’ll be looking into putting on a solo show later in the year.

Illustrations for Sportsgirl’s “in the spotlight” campaign 2010, included in the magazine, store displays and online.

Some of Kareena’s commissioned artworks. Above – portrait for melbourne hair salon, Shibui. Below – EP artwork for Sparkadia.

Let’s Get Personal:

What is the thing you most like about yourself?

Patience and a sense of humor.

What is the thing you most like in others?

Spontaneity.

Apart from your work, what other interests or hobbies do you have?

Traveling, eating Japanese food, playing guitar, seeing my dog run in the park, sleeping on the beach, singing shamelessly in the car, not leaving the couch to watch films all weekend, red wine and dark chocolate.

“If I were an animal I would be…” series. Pencil, biro, ink and gouache on paper. 2009.

“Zodiac” sketches – pencil, ink, gouache, tea and letraset on paper. 2009.

What are some of your favorite shops {fashion, home wares, stationery, collectables, antique etc} and galleries?

My favourite gallery is the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, my favourite fashion store is a tie between Pixie Market and The Grand Social online and my favouite miscellaneous store, I don’t know, I get really excited in hardwear stores, nurseries and paper stores!!

Your favourite cafes/ restaurants/ bars?

The Lounge (in Surry Hills) has consistently been my favourite bar since my CoFA days its just so comfy, but Borcht, Vodka and Tears in Melbourne also makes me happy, my favourite restaurant right now would be The Emperors Garden in Chinatown (because I love peking duck!) and my favourite café lately is Epi D’or in Kirribilli.

What is your most treasured belonging?

Pelle, my Italian greyhound. I’m not sure if its wrong to call her a belonging though!

“Sugar Glider” 2010. Pencil, ink and gouache on rives BFK. Below – Kareena & Pelle in her studio. Absolutely adorable!

It’s not very cool, but I really like…

Singing along to Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing in the Dark, and I can say that I definitely don’t do it well.

Your favourite joke?

Pretty much anything said by George Carlin.

How would you like to be remembered?

For making great drawings, and being ‘the crazy dog lady’.

Left – “Girl with hat”. Placement print for Von Zipper. Right – “Girl with torn stockings”. Placement print for Hurley.