mundyewalsh The Creative Women interview series chats to women in creative fields, and explores what is at the root of their artistic drive. Creative thinking is fundamental for a fulfilled life, and so understanding and cultivating it through shared experiences, challenges and achievements helps us all thrive.
Lily Corcoran is a West Cork based creative that has illustrated and designed a range of fine art prints, paper goods and textiles and collaborated with many creatives and companies. Lily is inspired by patterns in nature and especially those found in flowers. Her aim is to create beautiful objects and pieces of art that people would love to have in their homes.
You are an illustrator and a writer. Which came first and which are you most passionate about right now?
This is a very relevant question at this stage of my life as it is something I have recently been reflecting on and questioning myself. After a decade of designing and selling paper goods and homewares directly and to shops nationwide, I am currently on sabbatical so that I can focus on raising my young children. At first it felt like a big decision that I was making, it was as though I was ‘putting my career on pause’. But it has made me realise that creativity is more of a way of life than a thing that you can just stop and start. I feel as though it is something that presents itself in different ways.
With writing, one thing very much led to another and it has been something that has unfolded organically. Aside from a lifetime of letter writing to family and friends, I have always run my social media myself and have enjoyed writing things from my own perspective. Aside from the fact that I just really enjoy the process of writing, one thing I love about it is that I can write anywhere and at any time provided that there is quiet. I don’t need a desk or materials like I do with illustration, I just need a pen and paper or my laptop and I find that to be quite a freeing process. I don’t know if I could technically call myself a writer, I have only been writing for pleasure and for the past year and I don’t have any kind of training. There is so much that I need to learn, but at the moment I am just enjoying dipping my toes in the water and am excited to see what it could lead to in the future.
Who or what inspires you?
So many things inspire me. West Cork where I live is an endlessly beautiful place. I love being immersed in nature and it makes me feel very present and alive. The sea, rolling fields, the dappled light on forest floors, the ever-changing flora of different seasons. Lately I am particularly fascinated and enchanted with clouds and I have been looking up a lot more- possibly as my work is becoming more introspective.
I also find people that are passionate about what they do so inspiring. As I have begun to write more and develop different characters in my stories, I have enjoyed conversation with people more. You could say that I am inspired by all the small details that things are made up of- be it a collection of vibrant indigo mussels anchored to a rock against the tide or the long rambling conversation that turns a stranger into a new friend.
What is your process from ideation to creation?
I like to have a theme in mind and gather up elements of that theme (sometimes quite literally pressing and drying flowers and leaves so that I can preserve and study them), start sketching and jotting down ideas. I do all this all on paper and the majority of most of my work is pen on paper.
If the work is for paper goods or homeware, I scan the original work and add or adjust the colours in photoshop before sending it to print. Working with the printers and choosing the correct paper stock for that particular print or series is an important aspect with fine detailed illustration as well. A series of work can start with a single idea that evolves over time. I try not to rush things and can sit with them for a while until they feel ready.
When I write, the first thing that I do is create the character in depth. That character then informs the story and it just flows from there.
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