Artist spotlight: Alice Skinner

The 8th of March marks International Women’s Day, a global celebration of women’s political, social and economic achievements that calls for gender equality.

To celebrate the occasion and shine a light on this month’s Visual trend, The Fluid Self, we partnered with Alice Skinner, one of London’s hottest illustrators. We challenged Alice to create three images using Adobe Stock that celebrate women in 2018.

Alice champions women and gender equality all year round. Whether it’s campaigning against the Tampon tax, commenting on hip-hop misogynistic culture or empowering the curvy woman, there’s nothing this outspoken creative can’t do.

Check out our interview and her latest work below. As always, don’t be afraid to let us know what you think in our comments section…

Adobe: Hi Alice! Tell us a little bit about what you do?

Alice: Hey! I am an illustrator and visual artist from London. I create lots of work led by my activism and angst at the world, however I also like to inject a sense of humour and playful colours to my illustrations.

A: What’s the concept behind your International Women’s Day pieces created for this month’s ‘Fluid Self’ trend?

AS: It’s my view that in 2018 Women can be whatever they want, there is no mould as to how we should be anymore. In these pieces I was playing around with the notion of women wearing the trousers. I was thinking about the Fluid Self, about clothing and how we have the power to choose how to present ourselves to the world. We can own our femininity whilst not shying away from our masculine sides either, there is no binary in clothing. I wanted the women to be big and bold, occupying spaces that women were previously told were not for us, dominating the very top positions.

Alice Skinner for Adobe Stock

A: Would you say women are more empowered than ever in 2018?

AS: Without a doubt. I think with the current political climate, and the fact that many women are speaking out on the sexist issues they’ve had to deal with, there is a real shift taking place. Things are changing and its us women making it happen, it’s an exciting time to be alive.

A: How would you define gender? Have the boundaries shifted in recent years?

AS: I think my own understanding of gender definition has changed massively over the past few years. The world is constantly evolving and it’s clear that we can’t be divided into two categories anymore, things aren’t that black and white. It’s great that dialogues have opened and that we’re becoming more open to fluidity between gender and whether people want to tie themselves to it at all.

Alice Skinner for Adobe Stock

A: Are you working on anything exciting that you can tell us about?

AS: My book ‘The Revolution Handbook’ has just been published so I’m still buzzing over that… check it out! I’m also going to be exhibiting work at AWOMEN Festival in Peckham at the end of the month and hoping to exhibit more work and create some new books in 2018. There’s a few more things in the pipeline that I have to keep hush for now, so keep your eyes peeled!

A: Explain your creative process. How do you manage your workflow?

AS: My creative process usually starts with an idea born out of inspiration, or my frustration about something that’s happening in Current Affairs. The one good thing about being a political artist in 2018 is that I’m never stuck for ideas… the world right now is the gift that keeps giving! I also create lots of lists which help manage my work flow, although if anyone ever saw the ramblings in my notes they’d be very confused.

A: Do you use Adobe products to edit your work? If so, how?

AS: I usually sketch everything by hand in pencil and then go over it properly in pen. After that, I’ll scan it into Photoshop and play around with the different effects and colours on there until I’m happy with the finalised piece.

Alice Skinner for Adobe Stock

A: What is your favourite Adobe product, and why?

AS: I would have to say Photoshop. It’s such an invaluable tool for my work and if it ever disappeared I would be truly lost. I think Photoshop is one of the most revolutionary tools of our times and it changed the design game forever.

A: What’s the one word you think of when you think of Adobe and/or it’s Creative Cloud? And why?

AS: Endless. There’s so much to be created and produced and thousands of ways to do so. It’s constantly growing and expanding which means you, as a user, evolve too.

Alice Skinner Illustration

A: What would be your advice for any up and coming illustrators?

AS: Draw, draw, draw! A tutor once told me to draw every day as it’s the best way to develop your style and it’s so true. Even if it’s just a quick scribble rather than a finalised piece, it’s something I try to stick to.

Massive thanks to Alice for catching up with us. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter or Behance to see her latest work and find out what she’s up to.