You’ve Got This With Lizzie King
Lizzie King is an artist based in Hackney, East London. Her bright, colourful style caught our eye pretty quickly. Influenced by (the many hours of) cartoons she watched as a child, – we knew instantly we had to get her involved in our You Got This collection for International Women's Day!
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
A day to celebrate all that women do and contribute to our world! Also to spotlight the inequality women still face.
Why did you choose this particular affirmation? What inspired you to create it?
'BO$$ING IT’ makes me feel powerful and confident. In control. Calm. I imagined a woman checking her lipstick in the rear-view mirror of her car before striding into an important meeting, or feeling powerful entering the club for a dance with her friends.
Since becoming a mum, how do you feel this has changed you as an artist?
Since becoming a mum, and also being a single mum, I’ve had to really find strength that I didn’t know I had. You just have to keep going even when you’re exhausted - I definitely feel like I’m BO$$ING IT some days & then winging it other days!
How did you get into illustrating?
I’ve always drawn a lot, when we were young my sister and I would make our own magazines and draw the adverts. I studied Sculpture at university but always drew my ideas and loved keeping a sketch book. When I graduated, I assisted lots of set designers and makers. I then started picking up jobs here and there dressing windows and started drawing directly onto the glass. It took off from there really, it was a slow process to become and artist full time and I still can’t believe something I spent so long doing as a child is now my job.
Do you feel like your surroundings in Hackney are particularly inspiring?
I’ve lived in Hackney for 11 years now and am still constantly inspired by my surroundings. I love walking down Ridley Road Market, it always lifts my mood. Hearing some Soca blasting out of the speakers on the CD stall transports me to Trinidad and Tobago Carnival in the sun, even on a cold rainy day! When I’m stuck for an idea or can’t work out how to move forward with something I’m making, a swim in London Fields Lido always helps.
What three words would you use to describe your illustrations?
Bright, tropical, nostalgic.
If you could have dinner with any female-identified icon, alive or dead, who would you pick?
Grace Jones, although we would probably go dancing instead of having dinner!