For our “X Questions With” series, we’re speaking with talented individuals from around the world who have inspired us with their creativity and passion. If you have a story to tell or someone you’d like to see profiled, let us know in the comments or on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter!
Today, we’re chatting with Marlene, a prolific young illustrator and graphic design student. To see more of Marlene’s work, check out Marley.L.Illustrations on Instagram, Facebook or Tumblr!
1) Please tell us a little about yourself
Name: Marlene Langhein (marley.l.illustrations)
Age: 23
City: Currently Halle (Saale), Germany
Places: I have always lived in Germany and have travelled to several European countries. But more travelling is planned 🙂
Passions: I have a big passion for cats and movies (my favorite movie of all time is Memoirs of a Geisha – the book was great, too). I also love everything beauty-related (makeup) and graphic novels (current favorite is Through the Woods by Emily Carroll)
Training: Graphic design student
Favourite Quote: “Es ist nutzlos den Karren seitwärts zu schieben” (“It’s useless to push your cart sideways”) from Memoirs of a Geisha
2) We recently saw one your Crystal Cluster illustrations on Instagram and were greatly intrigued! What inspired this latest art drawing series?
The Crystal Clusters are something I always wanted to try. They are geometrical and colorful (almost every color is possible) and you can use a lot of different techniques or supplies and that’s what I like 🙂
3) Looking back through your Instagram posts, it seems like you work in themes (from the Crystal Clusters to The Girl Chronicles, etc). How do you choose the next theme to get into?
It’s a bit like little obsessions. I work on something until I get distracted by something else 🙂
And it’s also a lot of practising for a bigger project I am planning. Where I combine almost every theme I did in the last year.
To choose the next theme, I combine something I did before with newer elements. The next one might go deeper into astrology (based on my Galaxy illustrations) or into gemology (based on the Crystal Cluster illustrations).
4) Is there any subject matter that you find yourself returning to again and again?
Typography/calligraphy, animals and female characters are themes I like to turn back to every once in a while, because they are very versatile and have different levels of difficulty.
5) Have you received any formal training in the arts?
I had a lot of different art classes (such as various techniques of drawing and painting) at school and in my training as a Graphic Designer. I also visited a few workshops. Everything else I figured out by myself.
6) How did you get into illustration?
I have no idea 😀
I remember that I was always drawing on something as a child… As a teenager I stopped for a while but I’ve always come back to it. My family is quite artistic (music, dancing, crafting, drawing) and has always supported me.
7) Do you have a particular style or medium you prefer to work with?
I’m still on my way to evolving my own style but I love to draw with alcohol markers and watercolours. And I love ink.
8) Has anyone, or anything, in particular inspired your creativity and artistic passion?
It’s a combination of music, movies, books (stories), art pieces, feelings and a lot other things that inspire me. I would say it’s a bit of everything around me.
9) Do you have any advice you would like to share with aspiring artists?
It’s not overly important what other people think. If it’s fun and a part of you, it’s good. And there are always people who are better than you or don’t understand what you do but that should not keep you from what you love and there might be people who love your work as well 😉
About Paperblanks®: At Paperblanks®, we believe that art should have a place in all aspects of life. That’s why we follow the artist’s way in everything we do – creating, crafting and releasing designs we believe have the power to touch people. For more about Paperblanks®, go to our website at paperblanks.com.
