The idea of drawing pictures for a living fills me with total glee, but that would involve me actually being able to draw – boo – so instead, I like to indulge in the creativity of kick-ass, talented g-friends like Gemma Correll. Not only is she beyond clever with a felt-tip pen, she also shares my total love for pug dogs, in fact her tote bag is on my 12 gifts o’ Christmas list – j’adore.

What is it you do exactly, Gemma?
I am an Illustrator- so, I draw pictures for people and they (usually) pay me for them. I also branch out into making things, such as tote bags, T-shirts, cards and stationery, which I sell in my etsy online store and in shops all over the world.

How long have you been illo-ing and what made you set it up a  etsy shop?
I’ve been illustrating professionaly for about 3 years now (since I graduated from Uni), but I’ve been drawing since I was very young. My first comic was called “The Chatterbox” which I illustrated, produced and distributed around my primary school for the bargain price of 20p. It also came with a Penny chew sellotaped to the cover. It was in this spirit of entrepeneurship that I decided to set up my Etsy shop in 2007. I enjoy drawing images that have a “purpose”, e.g. an illustration of a cat that is destined for a T-shirt.

What’s your creative process like – how do your illo’s go from an idea in your head to drawings/items of total prettiliciousness?
My ideas tend to go straight from my head onto the paper without much inbetween. I’m not one for planning or sketching hundreds of rough versions of an image. Most of my work is produced very quickly. From brain to paper in under 2 hours!

What’s your fave prod right now?
I am eagerly awaiting some “Pugs Not Drugs” t-shirts, which have the same design as my super popular “Pugs Not Drugs” tote bag. They’re arriving from the printers next week and I think they’re destined to become my new faves.

Is it hard to be creative and business-y too?
Yes. I think most people are either creative or business minded- if you can do both, you’re a lucky girl (or boy). I am terrible at the business side of things but, since I have no choice, I try to get it all done.

What do you love most about what you do?
I love that I can make my own hours, so I can stay up until 3am drawing, or go on a trip to Italy without having to ask a boss or book time off. I love sitting in my mini-studio, surrounded by pictures of pugs and packets of Jaffa cakes, listening to musical soundtracks and drawing. Sometimes I can’t believe that I actually get to do this for a job!

What’s your motto for life?
All you need is Pug… and coffee.

What 5 songs would be on a Gemma soundtrack?
Bruises- Chairlift
Je Veux Te Voir- Yelle
Me and You- Slow Club
Shitty Day- Soko
I Told You I was Freaky- Flight of the Conchords

What do you love most about being a girl?
Shopping for vintage dresses.

Who are your style icons?
Bettie Page, Audrey Hepburn and Margot Tenenbaum (from The Royal Tenenbaums)

If you could return to a specific era, what would you choose?
The 50s, preferably in America. I love the pastel colours, the lovely clothes, the music (I am completely obsessed with the musical “Hairspray”)… and the fact that everything was made out of plastic.

Gemma’s Sassy List – what’s your favourite…
Book: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Website: Pikaland
Movie: Anything by Wes Anderson.
City: San Francisco, California… or Athens, Greece.
Hang out: The Café down the road from my apartment. They have fantastic coffee and cupcakes with (edible) glitter on them! yum.
Food: Indian curry with rice and naan bread.

What does the term Sassy Minx mean to you?
A girl who is confident and happy being her unique self.

Go check out Gemma’s ill-o-girl goodness at: www.gemmacorrell.com