Hello Helen, it’s great to have you on Swide as I am a fan of your works for some time now. I know that you were a self taught artist before you attended college. So, what made you want to draw?

My interest in being creative started early on in my childhood. I used to enjoy watching the art programs on TV, and putting what I learnt into practice. My Granddad was a direct influence for me. He took art classes and became a very skilled painter, and shared a few of his tips and tricks. His encouragement helped me push my drawing skills further.

It’s great to know family member supports what you like to do and I am glad this is working out for you. Do you have a particular illustrator you look up to? If so, what have you learned from him/her?

I'm a big fan of Danny Roberts' work, and his blog 'Igor and Andre'. I mention Danny because it was his work and enthusiasm that inspired me to start my own blog and share my work.

I am actually a fan of Igor and Andre blog as well. Danny’s works are very inspiring and beautiful. So, what made you start illustrating Lady Gaga? What kind of qualities do you like about her?

My first drawings of Lady Gaga were inspired by each track of Born This Way, the album that made me an even bigger fan of her. I feel like being part of Tumblr, and following blogs dedicated to her has heightened my interest, as I'm exposed to new photos and updates each day. The fact that her style is so unpredictable is the reason I enjoy drawing her. She is very versatile as she can pull off any look.

I agree, Lady Gaga is just unpredictable when it comes to fashion. I know that you are currently an official member of Haus of Gaga and I am just wondering, has this changed your life? If so, in what way?

I couldn't believe it when I read Gaga's announcement! I'd never imagined that a fan could become a Haus member. It meant so much to meet Gaga and show her my works in person, and to find out she wants me to do some works for her is just surreal! It's given me the biggest confidence boost ever.

I have to admit your Lady Gaga illustrations are really beautiful and you can successfully capture the essence of her public appearances. Out of all the Lady Gaga looks you have illustrated so far, which one is your favorite? Why?

There is a recent outfit she wore that I really love! She looked like a modern Snow White in Paraguay, wearing a bright yellow flared skirt and red pumps, and red lips and black over-sized bow.

I like that one you mentioned just now but I also love the feather crown one. It’s simple and beautiful.  I realized that some of your illustrations are blended with Disney elements. Are you trying to apply pop culture elements on pop icon or do you want to just show the contrast between your childhood memory and reality?

It's definitely a combination of the two. Having seen clips from the Simpsons episode "Lisa Goes Gaga", I had wondered what a Disney interpretation of Lady Gaga would look like. I wanted the finished piece to resemble the cover artwork of a Disney classic VHS, so it also has a nostalgic feeling.

That’s an interesting concept and I really like the outcome of it. Other than celebrities, do you have a model whom you like to illustrate? If so, which facial feature on her do you like the most?

I have a number of favorite models to draw. Daphne Groeneveld has a really unique look, as her nose is her most defining feature. I love Allison Harvard's doll-like features, especially her eyes, and Charlotte Free has a gorgeous lip shape to draw!

All three of them are great models and I like your illustrations on them a lot. Finally, what kind of illustrator do you want to be when you graduate from university? Have you thought about working for a high fashion magazine in the future?

I'm influenced a lot by fashion and editorial illustration so I would love to see my work on the pages of a high fashion magazine! I'd also love to create illustrations for clothing, through collaboration or my own line.

Credit: Helen Green

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