The story of Abigail Halpin: Illustrator and Surface Designer
Hi Everyone! I’m happy to share another installment of the Pine Tree Pop-up Makers Series. Through this series Elena Sarni introduces us to amazing makers across the country.Today Elena shares with us an interview with Abigail Halpin:
"I met Abigail Halpin through Instagram, although I live a mere 15 minutes from her studio. Abigail has been in two of my shows so far. She is as interesting and compelling a person as the characters she illustrates. She has achieved an incredible amount in her career and has a huge Instagram following, yet she is so modest. She is definitely a "kindred spirit" and we have many common interests such as ephemera, folk art, vintage textiles, etc.I am so excited for people to get to know Abigail through this interview. We will be publishing part II next week."
Enjoy the interview! And join us next time when we’ll continue our conversation with Abigail, talking about life as a freelancer and her creative process.
Hi Abigail! Please tell us a little bit about yourself...
I'm a lifelong New Englander. I was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and grew up in Wells, Maine in a close-knit, creative family. My grandfather was a draftsman and my Mom paints icons. I feel lucky to have artistic influences like theirs in my life.
What has your artistic journey been like?
I've always loved art and my parents have been wonderfully encouraging. I always knew I wanted to do something creative in life, but was unsure what that would look like. I waffled for awhile in high school, unsure whether I should pursue music or art in college. However, I realized that while I enjoyed music, I didn't necessarily have the drive or the aptitude to pursue it professionally. I ended up getting an associate's degree in Graphic Design and a BA in Communication Arts.
Who are some of your artistic idols/role models?
Tasha Tudor, Eric Ravilious and Carl Larsson are my three biggest influences. I love Tasha Tudor's picture book work, as well as the lifestyle she led. Eric Ravilious, had an amazing style. He worked across many different markets and in varying media, which inspires me. And Carl Larsson's detailed paintings of family life have drawn me in since childhood.
I look at your body of work and it is so diverse...there is illustration, mixed media embroidery, surface design....which came first?
Definitely illustration. It's always been my first love and everything has flowed out of that. I love a good story, and I think that's ultimately what I'm trying to do in any work I make: tell a tale, which is at the heart of illustration.
Illustration by Abigail Halpin
Although you work in a number of different mediums, your subject matter seems focused on nature, portraiture, historic periods, sewing, etc. What else do you draw inspiration from?
I'm inspired by landscapes, particularly the flora and fauna of New England. The books I read (especially mystery novels) definitely shape my work, as well as music. I've also been increasingly interested in heritage. It's something I've been exploring after a trip to Ireland last year.
How did you break into the field of book illustration?
I illustrated my first middle grade novel before my twenty-ninth birthday. It was Maybe Yes, Maybe No, Maybe Maybe by Susan Patron and featured my work on both the cover and the interiors.Beginning in college, I started sending out postcards to art directors. Eventually I was approached by an art director about a book project after they saw an illustration I'd had published in the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators magazine. From there things began to develop organically with other projects coming along. This spring I finished creating artwork for my 16th book and I've illustrated a total of 35 covers. I was a huge reader growing up, so that, combined with my interest in art made illustration the perfect combination of two loves.
How do you decide which book projects to illustrate?
When I sign on for a book I receive either early drafts or a plot synopsis of the project. I feel strongest about illustrating books that have characters I love and a message that resonates with me. These factors largely shape the manuscripts I choose to illustrate.
Anne of Green Gables illustration
You have been illustrating a new early-readers series of Anne of Green Gables adaptations written by Kallie George. Please tell us a little bit about that experience.
Illustrating the Anne of Green Gables adaptations that Tundra's been publishing has been a dream come true. And for me, it's been a wonderful confluence of events, all these seemingly unrelated incidents coming full circle. To start, for my eighth birthday, I got a copy of Anne of Green Gables and was hooked immediately. And then I saw the 1980s adaptation with Megan Follows on public television and was even more obsessed (so much so, I even wanted to dye my hair red!). A few years later, my family had the opportunity to visit Prince Edward Island, where we spent time with my sister's penpal, who'd won an Anne of Green Gables lookalike contest. There's even a photo I still have of all of us kids, seated in front of a giant Anne of Green Gables statue in Cavendish.Fast forward to two years ago when I was first approached about illustrating the series. It was a no brainer to say yes to bringing to life a character who'd been such a huge part of my life. And knowing that the adaptation would be in the very capable hands of author Kallie George, I was sure it would be a very special project. Anne is such a delight and I'm grateful for the experience of illustrating her.
Queens of England print
You seem drawn to strong female characters in your portraiture. How did your Queens of England series come about?
The first season of the popular television series The Crown laid the groundwork for this project. I was really intrigued by how Elizabeth II was portrayed. I liked how she was monarch and statesman, but also wife and mother. That in turn led me to pick up a copy of Queens of England by Norah Lofts, which then inspired me to illustrate the Queens of England.I used historical painted portraits of the queens for inspiration, but the individual biographical details of each woman shaped the illustrations. For example, with Catherine of Aragon (first wife of Henry VIII), I wanted to try and capture the mix of sadness and peace in her personality.
Abigail's fabric designs
How did you get into surface/textile design?
I'd always focused on book illustration and wasn't as familiar with other markets. So seeing the UPPERCASE surface design guide in spring 2014 was a lightbulb moment. I realized I could create art for all of these other avenues. At the time, I was struggling with creative burnout and pivoting to work in another area was a huge help and inspiration.I started out by participating in Spoonflower’s weekly design challenges, which was a great learning experience. I can’t say enough about Spoonflower! A few years after that, I was approached by FIGO fabrics, a new division of Northcott Fabric. My first collection with them, Eloise's Garden, came out last November. They've been an amazing team to work with!
How do you approach designing a fabric line?
For Eloise's Garden the theme was floral inspired, with a hint of quirkiness and a sense of an underlying story. Designing a textile collection is like writing a chapter book. Each design is like a chapter, each one moving along the story's narrative whereas illustrating the Queens of England is more like writing a short story; it’s a stand-alone piece.
Abigail Halpin Artwork
You seem interested in textiles in general and your Notions Shop illustration series focuses on sewing accessories. Tell us about that.
I learned to embroider in fifth grade, for a school project about 18th century living. But I didn't pick it up again until my late twenties. My mom taught me to sew in high school and it's a hobby I absolutely love. I sew a lot of my own clothes, partially for style reasons and also to be more environmentally sustainable.It's been interesting over the past few years to see how sewing has intersected with my illustration work, especially in fabric design. My mixed media embroidery pieces also play into this, as I try to find a way to combine the different things I love.
Want to see more of Abigail's work? You can visit her website
or find her on:
About the author: Elena M. Sarni
Elena M. Sarni has a BA in English and an MA in History and Museum Studies from the University of New Hampshire. She worked as a curator at art museums and held fellowships to study folk art collections early in her career. Upon moving to Maine she worked as a freelance art reviewer for several years, managed a local arts association, and took positions at a few small museums.
She organized her first fine art and craft pop-up shop in 2015 and is currently planning her sixth show, which will open this November. She branded the business as Pine Tree Pop-Up in 2016, naming it for Maine's state tree.
She takes pride in supporting local artists and promoting the creative economy.
Want to know more about Elena? Read this post she wrote