Kate and Oli: Focus On... Shira Sela!

Friday, September 10, 2010

Focus On... Shira Sela!

Shira Sela is an illutrator and designer based in Montreal. She uses digital mediums as well as good, old-fashioned inks, pens and markers to create her beautiful pieces. Her work has a natural, organic feel to it, probably due to the fact that many of the originals are on coffee-stained cotton paper. Her colors are rich and saturated and look like you could dip your hand into them.

Tell me some basic info about yourself.

My name is Shira, and I am an artist and an illustrator. I live with my musician husband in the beautiful city of Montreal, QC. I like to draw and try to visually express certain moods or tell a little story through my drawings.

{bliss - my favorite number #1, also available in blue}

What kind of mediums do you use and why?

I create my work using mediums such as ink, graphite, colored pencils and pastels. I love the fact that these mediums are portable, so I can draw whenever and wherever I feel like it. After I finish drawing I sometimes scan the image and tweak the colors a little with photoshop.

{complete - my favorite number #2 - also available on velvet fine art paper}

What made you decide to sell on etsy?

I just happened upon Etsy one day and fell in love with all the amazing things that this site has to offer. I then thought it might be a good idea to start selling my work over there.

{coexistence}

Where do you get your inspiration?

I am inspired by my life and childhood memories, by the people around me, old pictures, nature, and anything that makes me think or feel.

{it's going to be alright}

What is your favorite music to craft by?

This is ever changing… but at the moment I like listening to k’naan and Chic Gamine.

{in safe hands - on velvet fine art paper}

What's your favorite piece of your own?

Because every drawing feels like a piece of me I really do love them all… but I am always a bit obsessed with my latest drawings, and right now my piece ‘Complete’ is my favorite.