At Home With: Pippa Toole
Pippa Toole
Hello Pippa! How are you right now?
PT: I just had a coffee, so feeling alright and slightly less tempted to take a daytime nap.
RIA: Can you share with everyone a bit about who you are and what you do?
PT: Hello, I’m Pippa Toole and I’m a northern illustrator who has lived in Brighton for 10 years. I use the term illustrator lightly as I love to do all sorts of stuff! My work almost always features either a vampire, a music reference or the colour red.
RIA: show us your WFH area:
PT: I just set up a workspace in my bedroom, I need some more storage for all my junk. I’m messy when I work.
RIA: Top snack
PT: Coffee!
RIA: WFH / Quarantine tips
PT: Try to leave the house the house at least once a day, even if it’s just for a walk down the street and back. I feel really groggy and weird if I stay indoors all day.
I do all my work from home however I used to do it at the table in my front room/kitchen, so I bought a desk and nice chair for my bedroom and set up in there. It’s made a big difference for me but I’m also lucky to have a big enough bedroom to do that. So, I would advise, if you are able to, to set up a relatively distraction-free work area and surround yourself with inspiring and great things! And leave your phone and snacks in another room.
RIA: How has the recent quarantine impacted the way you work, and have you had to change your working behaviour much?
PT: I can’t say it’s affected the way I work too much as I do my illustration work from home anyway. However, there’s a lot of fear and anxiety at the moment and I’ve definitely had to fight the urge to sit in bed all day, it’s challenging to even think about making any work on a bad day. It’s hard to find inspiration when you feel like the world is ending. On the flip side, I have had more time than ever to get stuck into projects and I feel like when I do get going, I’ve been doing more work than ever before! I’m also trying to channel whatever mood I’m feeling in to my work.
RIA: What is keeping you sane at the moment?
PT: Always music! I’ve been enjoying making playlists and finding new stuff to listen to as well rediscovering old bands that I haven’t listened to in a long time. Also trying check in with friends as much as possible and reminding myself that this isn’t forever.
RIA: Podcast recommendations?
PT: Maybe this is controversial but I’m not a huge podcast person! Although saying that, I listened to one today with Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo via Creative Conversation on Spotify, it was really interesting. He’s made SO much work in his lifetime, it’s crazy! He did the music for Rugrats, Crash Bandicoot, The Sims... even Tiger King.
RIA: What can you see from your window?
PT: My window faces a blank wall, now with the addition of scaffolding. I won’t lie, it’s pretty bleak.
RIA: Dream client?
PT: So many... I would love to customise some product for Lewis Leathers. Or do some patterns for a ridiculously famous brand like Yves Saint Laurent or Gucci! That would be nuts. I’d love to work with some bands and musicians too, hopefully Iggy Pop will ask for a custom portrait one day. Basically there’s a lot of stuff I’d LOVE to do, these examples are me aiming very high... (Always aim high!)
RIA: Show us a WIP and tell us a bit about it.
PT: These are some continental ties that I have been customising and will be adding to my shop very soon. I’ve been experimenting with glittery vinyl and embroidery recently, it’s been fun doing something a little different and adding my illustrations to stuff that people can wear.
RIA: Advice for creative right now?
PT: Don’t compare yourself to others, go at your own pace (unless you have a deadline...) and do what you can to make yourself feel good. Try to get stuck into something you really enjoy doing if you’re having a bad day, or if you feel up for it try doing something new to you or that’s out of your comfort zone. Get out all your good picture books, watch some movies, make a mess all over your desk. Remember what you love, seek it out and get inspired.
RIA: Tools of the trade?
PT: Usually mechanical pencil, paint brush and black Indian ink however I recently took the plunge and bought an iPad and what a game changer it’s been! It’s been fun to learn some new techniques; I’ve been making a lot of gifs because it’s just so easy to do on Procreate. I still draw everything out in pencil or ink and I definitely won’t stop doing work by hand so to speak, but I’m really, really enjoying the iPad.
RIA: What are you doing for your mental health?
PT: Leaving the house every day (within reason) and trying to have a routine. Trying to keep phone usage to a minimum, as good as social media can be, I also find it can be unhelpful and can make me feel worse if I’m in a negative headspace. I talk to people every day, although I’m also really lucky to not be living alone. Keeping busy and productive really helps me on some days too but having time off is not a bad thing either, I’m trying not to feel guilty about having days where I don’t do anything. I also just started an online CBT course after contacting my GP a few weeks ago when I felt I needed some extra support. I’d encourage anyone who is worried about their mental health to seek help where possible, there are so many resources online if speaking to your GP isn’t an option at the moment. How you are feeling is important, no matter is happening with the world.
(We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, the NHS website is a great place to start with for advice, and we always recommend Mind. )
RIA: TV/Film recommendations?
PT: Obviously the Simpsons on Disney+. If you have Amazon Prime (I think you can get a free trial?) there are TONS of amazing music documentaries on there. Watch some films by Jim Jarmusch too, Mystery Train and Dead Man are two of my favourite films ever. Also seasons 1 + 2 of Fargo on Netflix, I can’t recommend that series enough.
RIA: Your favourite piece of work / job?
PT: I made some scarves last year and it’s the most excited I’ve been about a personal project for a long time. I loved seeing my work printed on luxurious silk, they turned out so cool! It’s kind of a contrast to a lot of the work I’d made in the past which leans towards being a bit more DIY in aesthetic. The dream would be to have loads of amazing printed garments, not just scarves.
RIA: Who is giving you creative inspiration at the moment?
PT: Always my pal Ruth aka Mean Machine on Instagram - her work rules and is so in tune and honest about everything that is going on at the moment. Music inspires me daily too; I’m always using songs as starting points for drawings. The Cramps and Nick Cave are my go-to sources (please don’t sue me).
RIA: Do you have anything you think our readers should know?
PT: I met Nick Cave on the train last year, I tell everyone that. It’s going to be written on my gravestone. It’s my greatest achievement, he was a gentleman while I was being a nervous goofball.
RIA: Let us know the best place people can view your work
PT: Instagram for now. I’m going to FINALLY sort out my website as it’s been about 100 years since it was online... sorry!
You can also view Pippa’s portfolio online at Roar HERE
