#ArtThursdays: Artist Spötlight - Mimi Roe White 🎨⚡👀
1. Hey! Who are you and tell us what you do?
I'm Miranda Roe White, also known as Mimi and I'm an Illustrator.
2. Tell us about your work?
I could be categorised as a product and fashion illustrator but i also like to delve into expressive illustration with my fashion product illustration, I guess it's a means of me elucidating a concept from a designer or a person, a group or people and turning it into my own representation basically. With my expressive work, I see as a visceral feeling sort of being compelled to draw something that has moved me. The feeling I say that it’s like a message sent to my brain down an energy wave into my hands and I express it onto the paper.
Mimi illustrates the Metrology Ring, UltrOnyx Ring, Taurus Ring, Shift Ring and Element Ring
3. What are you main sources of inspiration?
Without being too cliché or vague, I’m definitely a people person, that's what a lot of people say to me. I love faces and different forms and I would say that I recognise faces before I recognise names which is a bit weird but designers, people who are very innovative with their designs like Stööki and working with people that inspire me, who are paving the way for the future of fashion.
4. How did Covid-19 affect your creative process? Now things are reopening has it been entering a new normal?
So it's given me a lot of time to focus and the first lockdown is when I first opened up my Instagram page and I decided that I was going to promote myself as an illustrator and show my art. Then the second lockdown, I had a loss in the family and all my family we came together and I took a bit of time off. I wasn't really focusing on art for a while. My family, especially my sisters, really encouraged and inspired me to carry on with my art and drove me to create more pieces, to carry on with my heart and it would help me express my emotions and it really did. Then I really sort of delved back in and that was a huge part of my journey for me. So it's been a movement, it's given me a lot of time to focus on the illustrations and focus on myself as well.
5. We love the way you represented our jewellery in your pieces. What do you like about the #StookiMovement
Mimi wears the Gradient Ring, UltraOnyx Ring and Interconnection Necklace
6. What advice would you give aspiring artists and illustrators?
Being persistent is key, also experimenting. I believe that artwork for every artist is ever-expanding so experimenting with your art and focusing on it, doing a piece every day even if you spend 10 minutes on it at least you're working towards it. It’s really important, and enjoying the journey really and working hard really getting on that grind.
7. Who are some of your favourite artists and why?
At the moment, I really like working with people who have a sustainable approach to their work, so for example this is Garbage Core who uses up-cycled materials. Then I have some other pieces with Olubiyi Thomas who is a designer who works with recycled cotton which is very good for the environment. I also really like people who have paved the way for illustration such as Tamara de Lempicka and René Gruau who are also seen as illustrators and as artists. I also admire Kelly Bailey and Joana Laylawho I got to meet recently, she was amazing and gave me some great advice. They are really the people that inspire me.
8. What’s your ideal day off?
So when I’m not illustrating, spending time with my friends, going to events, ‘making happenings’, as me and my friends call it. We are all a very creative group so we like to come together and explore art, meet other artists. I love going to exhibitions, meeting new people and really just spending time with the people I love and inspire me.
Mimi illustrates the Shift Ring, UltraOnyx and Metrology Rings
9. What song can’t you get out of your head?
I love this song by Joan Armatrading - Love And Affection. She's a bit of a lone wolf, although I’m an extroverted / introvert at the same time. I really admire that about her because she's an incredible artist.
10. What have you done recently to perfect and improve your craft?
I took a short online course at Central Saint Martins, an illustration course which was very good. It really helps with development and gaining an insight within the industry. Then I also do classes every Tuesday and Thursday with Drawing Cabaret Couture and a different course with drop dead Gorgeous drawing. They work with life models, fashion models and different designers that are becoming more established or ones that are not so known but should be. They are really great and really good for working on your skill and perfecting your strokes.
10. We hear you are into acting! How did that journey start?
So without being too cliché again I've been acting ever since I was young so I performed at an amateur company when I was 4 and my grandmother she is also the founder and director of an amateur Shakespearean company so I would go around UK travelling with her being on different live shows which was a very incredible experience that I'm really grateful for and it just stemmed from there. From September, I will be joining IDSA which is a really great drama school and just perfecting my craft so I'm really looking forward to it.
11. Where can people find more of your work?
You can find more of my work on my Instagram and I'm currently in the process of producing a portfolio so that will be out soon either with Wix or Squarespace. Keep your eye out!
https://www.instagram.com/mirandaroewhite/
Check out watch happened Behind The Scenes...
Mimi wears...
