Talitha Shipman’s Bio

Where do you live?

I live just north of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Where have you lived?

I’ve lived in Savannah, GA, and Klaipeda, Lithuania.

What medium do you use?

I use some Mixed Media and Watercolor, but lately I’ve crossed over to working almost completely in Photoshop.

How do you stay inspired?

I troll around the internet frequently, but I’m inspired most by nature and people watching.

Do you work traditionally or digitally?

I work digitally for the most part, but I like to incorporate textures and patterns I find and scan into the computer. My goal is for people to not realize that my illustrations are created digitally.

What color combination are you most excited about right now?

Brown and Robin’s Egg Blue, Magenta and Orange, Brown and Gray. I love earthy tones.

What blog(s) do you read?

I usually check out Illustration Friday and Drawn on a regular basis.

Why do you like being an illustrator in 10 words or less?

Oh, tough question. I like to draw pretty pictures!

If you weren’t an illustrator, what would you be?

I almost became a geologist in college, but I think now, if I weren’t an illustrator, I might want to become a cook.

What illustration job would you love to get (your dream job)?

I would love to work on children’s books!

What recent book do you recommend for a good read?

“Life of Pi” was a great read.

What movie have you seen several times?

I love the new version of Pride and Prejudice, but the BBC mini-series also rocks, and I’m a big fan of Ratatouille.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

I love Edna Mode from The Incredibles. She’s such a great character. “Go, fight, WIN!”

Who are you in “The Office”?

I would say that I’m most like Pam. People say I look like her, but I’m not quite sure on that one. My personality is closer to Liz Lemon on “30 Rock”.

What is your favorite cheese?

I love Havarti with dill! Yum!

If you could eat only one food, what would it be?

I think I could eat Chicago style pizza everyday for a long, long time.

How do you stay in shape?

I do Pilates and I love to go bike riding in the summer.

How don’t you stay in shape?

I have this unfortunate addiction to chocolate.

What is your current favorite font?

Helvetica. I saw the movie “Helvetica”, and now I’m kind of obsessed by it.

How do you take your coffee?

With Agave nectar.

What recent illustration job have you enjoyed doing?

I enjoyed working on a spread for Deep Magazine on a new Southern Encyclopedia. I illustrated grits (with butter), fried chicken, a banjo playing lady wearing flip flops, and a southern Belle.

What was your favorite illustration assignment?

I got to work on a children’s book for a family with two young daughters. The book was written from a mother’s perspective and was titled “I Love it When”. I had a lot of fun and learned a great deal as well.