Image from Bitten courtesy of Tigz Rice
Tigz Rice is an inspirational and dynamic illustrator, using Photography, costume, drawing and photo-manipulation to create deliciously textured gothic burlesque worlds. Her new picturebook Bitten re-tells the story of Snow White while looking more deeply at the implications of our quest for Beauty and the lengths we may go to achieve or maintain it.
As ever she gets amazing character work out of her beautifully dressed models and produces stunning scenes and backgrounds, leave this book on your coffee table and expect some serious conversation.
I “caught up with her” in the run up to the launch to talk inspirations, processes and paradoxes;
illustration by Jenny Robins
morning!
morning!
I have a fridge freezer arriving sometime between now and 5pm, just a warning if I suddenly disappear lol.
That’s exciting! Can I put that in the interview?
Haha of course! don’t ask me what make it is though, I have no idea 
Congratulations on the book, it looks wonderful.
Aw thanks! It’s been a long journey but it’s so great to see it in its final form!
I think it’s taken about 6 months from idea to completion
that’s epic!
Your obviously very inspired by Fairytales, what was your favourite Fairytale when you were little – and now?
It’s not exactly a fairytale, but Alice in Wonderland has always been my favourite – there’s just so much in the story and you find something different every time you read it. I also had a favourite book called Winifred’s New Bed, which I read every week for years. I’ve been trying to find a copy of it for a while now but it’s out of print
Maybe when you are famous(er) you can use your influence to bring it back
That would be ace – I wonder which artist did the artwork?!
Are there other fairytales would you like to adapt?
Loads! I have a book of the original stories by the Grimm Brothers’ which I think I might end up slowly working through! I’ve got a couple of book ideas and commissions on the cards at the moment too, in particular one about tooth fairies
Would it be fair to say Bitten explores our often destructive relationships with Beauty, both as artists and women? Do you think it’s possible to escape this attitude in our society, and would you really ever want to?
I think it’s true yes, the world is obsessed with beauty and this never ends in a positive fashion. The Mirrorman plays the part of peer pressure, and shows the extent of its power over us. It also shows how some people, who are naturally beautiful, are shunned by society for having these characteristics we are willing to go through life-threatening surgery for. Having worked with the burlesque industry over the last few years, it has been wonderfully refreshing to find a society of people who accept curves, flaws and ‘real beauty’ as the Dove adverts used to say! I think it is possible to escape the current media trends for perfection, but I doubt it would ever happen in mass society.
I also think that as an artist, it is very hard to go against the ideas and conventions of the mass culture, which is why many readers find the content of my books challenging. Wonderland, for example, was based on the true story of a cocaine user. The book received very mixed reviews
do you think that’s the paradox of art? being expected to allways be knew and interesting, yet always conform to established conventions of aesthetics and subject matter?
Lol yes, very much so! All artists are expected to conform to current chosen styles, trends and subject matter, then get knocked down for being ‘too similar to artist X, Y and Z’. Having chosen to go the opposite way with my artwork and find something unique and unknown, it is a constant battle but the rewards are much greater!
So much of your work features amazing fashions and costumes, do you dress flamboyantly in real life?
Depends on the occasion! I attend a lot of burlesque shows and events through my photography work so I like to get dressed up and be part of the crowd, although days like today in the studio you can find me in a denim skirt and tee.
Does most of your work start with a photoshoot? Do you have a clear idea of how the work will look beforehand, or does a lot of it come with the way the photos work out, and things that come to you and the model during the shoot?
Working with photo manipulation, its easier to create a background round a pose than to reshoot a model, so yes I suppose the primary focus is alway the models. Each shoot normally starts with a good amount of storyboarding, especially book work. The costumes, storyline and poses are all pre-arranged, although I always make sure to get a few slightly different poses just in case I change my mind halfway through and find something better (which can happen quite a lot!) About 75% of a book will end up as oringinally planned, but there’s always room for new input, especially from the models who can come up with some fantastic ideas and poses.
There’s a real organicness to your work, contrasting with the super tight elements, do you consciously keep the physical origins of the imagery in mind when working on the computer?
I’m put in mind of Dave McKean’s early work where he was just using a photocopier to create photo-manipulated effects. Very physical and surreal.
Dave Mckean is possibly my favourite artist and was a great inspiration in my earlier works, yes! The majority of the artwork is all done with photography including all the backgrounds and textures and I’m very conscious of keeping everything as realistic as possible, which often creates a more surreal effect. Its also strange seeing work in print for the first time!
Image from Bitten courtesy of Tigz Rice
You make books and pictures for adults, but work with children so presumably don’t dislike them, do you want to do any children’s book projects in the future?
I actually have a children’s book idea I’m working on at the moment, yes! Its a collaborative project with digital artist David Cousens of Cool Surface and at the moment we’re just finalising the story line. I’ve always wanted to work on a children’s book but my style would involve photographing children, which brings about a whole new string of legal issues of working with minors. Working with David, I’m going to creating the backgrounds and scenery while the lovely David creates the characters digitally. I’m really excited about it!
That sounds awesome!
It should be fantastic, David is a fantastic artist and its an honour to be working with him.
Do you enjoy collaborating?
I love collaborating, I think it stretches you outside your comfort zone and helps you to grow as an artist. At the moment I’m just finishing off a collaborative book I’ve put together called Fragments, which features 20 artists who create dark and visually stunning artwork. its been a challenge, but I can’t wait to see it all come together. The book should be out later this year.
You seem to have so many projects on the go. Do you have to be very organised in your business planning mode? do you think this is the secret of your success? What organisational tips do you have for flighty freelancers?
I’m far too organised for my own good! Every 6 months I sit down and set myself hard but achievable goals, to give myself some direction so I don’t procrastinate between projects and have a set career aim for the near future. Things like learning a new software programme, creating a new book or challenging myself to be featured in three magazines. The goals also include silly things, like book a spur of the moment holiday, try to go to bed before midnight or (currently) give up ice cream. You might not get everything done, but its a very good way to monitor your productivity too
Image from Bitten courtesy of Tigz Rice
Fantastic. let’s do a few quick questions to finish off, I’m sure are readers are dying to know..
Are you a cat or dog person?
Cat! I’ve always wanted a tiger…
If you had to lose an arm or a leg, which would it be?
A leg, no competition!
What would be your superpower?
I’d love the ability to read other people’s minds
What am i thinking now then?
Whats for Lunch?
See, you can do it already!
haha
win!
Bitten launches on 7th of August at a Party in Bath, it retails at £18 but if you act fast before the end of July you can pre-order a copy for £15!
Also do not fail to check out Tigz’ Website, Etsy, Blog, Facebook, all the good things.
Tags:
Alice in Wonderland, art, book, Burlesque, Dave McKean, exhibition, Fairy tales, fairytales, gothic, illustration, interview, Jenny Robins, photo manipulation, photography, review, snow white, Tigz, Tigz Rice, wonderland
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