Diane Bigda’s Bio

Where do you live?

brookline, MA

Where have you lived?

western massachusetts, boston and brookline, MA

What medium do you use?

gouache and mixed media

How do you stay inspired?

artists I love: david hockney, paul klee, the luboks, sonia delauney, edward bawden, the fauves, matisse, german expressionists, ben shawn, the bloomsbury group, eric ravilious, epinal art, persian miniatures, folk art/european and american, rufino tamayo, miuccia prada, and on and on. I go to museums and galleries often, keep an eye on the street beat, travel, have dinner with friends, look at foreign magazines, keep a sketchbook, stay in nature as much as possible. i love to teach and am inspired by my students

Where do you buy your art supplies?

johnson’s art, black horse art supplies and blick

Do you work traditionally or digitally?

both

What color combination are you most excited about right now?

chartreuse, pinks, neutrals

What blog(s) do you read?

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

line and color, concept, passion to draw and work with my hands

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

involved in environmental studies or landscape design

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

work about food, plants, music and travel

Name something you do in your spare time.

gardening, monotype printing

Where would you like to travel to next?

hotel la badia in orvieto, anywhere in italy, krakow, barcelona, county cork, australia

What’s your favorite TV show?

masterpiece theatre, charlie rose and diary of a foodie

What’s your favorite NPR show?

fresh air with terry gross, sound and spirit with ellen kushner

What movie have you seen several times?

jean de florette by claude berri, with gerard depardieu

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

casper the friendly ghost

What is your favorite cheese?

gourmandise (with pears)

If you could name a nail polish, what would you name it?

jude the obscure

Do you wear shoes when you do art?

my yellow moroccan slippers

What do you listen to while you work?

radiohead, loreena mckennitt, thom yorke, french music, opera

What artist are you reincarnated from?

paul klee

What’s your middle name?

maryja

What do you wish your middle name was?

flora

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

pierogi

How do you stay in shape?

long walks

How don’t you stay in shape?

chocolate, chocolate and too many artesianal bakeries in my neighborhood

What is your current favorite typeface?

mrs.eaves and bell (monotype)

How do you take your coffee?

ask me about tea

Whom would you like to meet?

pina bausch

What recent illustration job have you enjoyed doing?

book with fleurs for peter pauper press

What was your favorite illustration assignment?

chronicle books, a book on french herbs and food