We interviewed Alison Oliver, New York-based illustrator, painter and graphic designer, founder of the studio Sugar and PLOM artist with Superpowers.
Alison Oliver is the renowned illustrator of the Classic Lit collection from the publisher BabyLit. BabyLit, specializing in versions of literary classics for young children.
From Don Quixote to Romeo and Juliet, through The Jungle Book, Moby Dick, Peter Pan, Wuthering Heights, Anna Karenina, Dracula, Alice in Wonderland, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Les Miserables, Frankenstein and other essential books.
Some of them are translated into Spanish and Catalan in the collection Literatura Mini of the publishing house Coco Books.
In 2018, Alison published Moon (Clarion Books), her first book as a writer and illustrator.
SHOP
The little girl who drew everything, everything
PLOM: Did you draw as a child?
ALISON: Yes, I think I’ve always drawn. Since I was very, very little. I still have some of the hilarious drawings I did back then.
PLOM: Who introduced you to the art world?
ALISON: My mother. She was a very artistic person and encouraged me to do creative things of all kinds.
PLOM: Tell us something about your childhood in relation to the art world.
ALISON: I had a teacher, when I was about 8 years old, who was very creative and very unorthodox in her teaching style. She would have us transform areas of our classroom into special spaces: a jungle, a circus tent, etc… We would make paper mache objects and then paint them. After we built them, we would use those spaces in the rooms as a place to read books on our own. She was a fantastic woman!
PLOM: Do you believe in the Superpowers of Art?
ALISON: Of course. I think art connects you to the universe in a way that changes you profoundly and generates empathy for others.
SHOP
Alison and the super powerful colors
PLOM: What is your Superpower?
ALISON: My Art Superpower? Mmm… I would say it’s color.
PLOM: When and how do you like to work? In the morning, afternoon, evening, night?
ALISON: I love working at any time of the day in my studio. It’s a messy, colorful place that makes me very happy and inspires me. I work best alone and without noise.
PLOM: What are you working on now?
ALISON: I am currently working on 2 new children’s books and an animation project.
SHOP
PLOM: Do you think some of your work might appeal to children more than adults?
ALISON. I think so. My sensibility is a little silly and that’s more appealing to children.
PLOM: What interests you more: the opinion of an influential critic or that of an 8-year-old child?
ALISON: Oh, certainly the 8-year-old’s. Children are harsh critics!
PLOM: What do you think of PLOM Gallery?
ALISON: I love PLOM. It’s such a special place! I visited the gallery last summer and loved everything from the artwork to the amazing door. Martha Zimmermann Is doing something very important for the community. When I heard about PLOM, I thought, “Why aren’t there more galleries like this?” So many great works of art are created with children in mind… For some reason we don’t often take this seriously. Thank you, Marta!
