Sophie Alda is an illustrator and artist living and working between Brighton and London.
Often character and situation based, much of the spirit in her work is derived from the muted-but-bright pastel based colour palette.
Working primarily with gouache and the smallest brush I have ever seen, Sophie’s paintings have the flat finish of a screen print, with intriguing attention to detail.
How would you describe your personal style?
An awkward look at people.
When you were a child, did you want to become an illustrator?
Yes, but all I knew about being an illustrator was that you got to do the covers of science fiction books, and I REALLY wanted to do that. I once emailed my favourite children's fantasy cover illustrator for a signed photo, but he replied saying I should be more interested in film stars.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Muscle men, aforementioned sci-fi book covers, Moroccan brides, cults, badly drawn perspective. Can you tell?
Could you describe your working process?
I paint in gouache, which is lovely and flat with great strong colour, I use that as the base which I subsequently work into on the computer.
What would be the ideal working setup for you?
Sometimes it is a spacious place surrounded by people I admire who are full of great ideas, sometimes it would be somewhere completely isolated so I can have my thoughts to myself.
What do you love the most about your life as an illustrator?
Being in charge of my own decisions and schedule, being able to work all night if I want to. It being constantly exciting and challenging.
If you had to do something totally different for living, what would it be?
A scientist because of the exciting questions, information and possibilities, a gardener for the space and weather, being a musician would be amazing but I can't even understand how to make noises sound good, and I've tried!
What kind of music do you listen while working?
Nothing too exciting or I'll just get distracted and stop working! Unless I'm at a ideas stage of a project I like to listen to audio books, even though a lot of the time I'm not really listening.
If you could go anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?
Coney Island or Lake Atitlán.
Who are you all-time favorite artists?
Amy Cutler, Robyn O'Neil, Chris Pell.
Who has been the most inspiring non-artistic person for you?
My secondary school geography teacher, and year 4 primary school teacher.
What is the most bizarre dream you ever had?
Oh! My dreams are so banal, they're more boring than my day-to-day life!
If you could meet any great name from known human history, who would it be?
It'd be great to pick Henry Darger's brains.
Thank you!