“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” – Roald Dahl
Name: Sha’an d’Anthes (Furry Little Peach)
Occupation: Illustrator & More
Hometown: Manly
Currently residing: Sydney
21 years old, Sha’an d’Anthes aka Furry Little Peach is an illustrator, artist and story teller. The sweet, conscientious and determined young lady has always has a feeling she would end up an artist. Even during her uni studies, she was freelancing and riding on the success of her Tumblr account which has over 20,00 followers and set up a shop on Etsy, selling her prints internationally. Instagram took her career to another level and magazines such as Yen commissioned her and Element flew her to LA for a show. Sha’an feels very lucky to be a part of the internet era, it does make things easier to market yourself but she believes if you have drive and motivation you will succeed at anything you want to do. “Art is an idea and illustration is more about story telling for me. I like people to feel and remember their childhood imagination.” AR spent time with this sunny lady in her Glebe studio…enjoy…
When I was a child I wanted to be… When I was super young I told my mum I wanted to “write and draw my own books”; I don’t think I ever finished writing any books. I would constantly start stories and get carried away illustrating the covers and first couple of pages before I moved onto the next. The only book I remember finishing was about a delightful sheep called Mrs Lambchip, and her other aptly named animal-friends – don’t bother reading it, it was a flop.
The studies I took to get where I am… I have a Bachelor of Visual Art and Design, but I attribute very little of what I do to my university experience. I was selling my work internationally in high school, and have been freelancing and working with brands for almost as long. The most important thing I learned during my time at university is how essential being motivated and driven outside of an institutional setting is, especially if you’re looking to freelance.
I’m inspired by… Colours and passionate people. And kids, because kids rule.
My influences are… The two big mothers in my life. Mother nature is a constant inspiration for me and often the main subject in my work, and of course my own mother who was so hardworking during my childhood that being anything less has never crossed my mind.
People I admire… People with dogs – I often wish I could skip to the part of my life where I have one of my very own. For now I will settle for petting other people’s begrudgingly at parties and trying to coax strangers’ dogs into following me home.
I’m currently listening too… The Turtles
The tools I can’t live without are… My hands! I’ll find a way to make a mark as long as I have ’em! To be comfortable though, I need a steady supply of graphite, Arches’ 640gsm Hot-Pressed Watercolour Paper, a handful of sketchbooks, my inks and watercolours, a set of brushes and a window.
The obstacles that have come my way… I tend not to think of things as obstacles and more of opportunities to become mother-flippin’ awesome. In the same way that having to climb a mountain gives you experience (and super-hot thigh muscles), overcoming issues and obstacles make you better at your craft. It awards you with problem solving skills and gives you new knowledge that you can harness to your creative tool-belt.
My favourite place place to travel is… To my fridge. But France and Japan are pretty fantastic too.
I would like to travel… Canada has been on my hit-list for a while now..
The highlights over the past 12 months have been… This year has been crazy for me! Probably my trip to Japan, being sent to California by Element to show, being featured and interviewed by a bunch of publications I love including Yen Magazine and Elle (Thailand), showing with and meeting all the wonderful and incredibly talented people I have this year, moving into my very own studio thanks to the boys at The Tate, and of course, the incredible and ongoing response my work and I have received online.
Advice I have to share for those who want to get into this profession… Dream big and work hard.
The latest project I’m working on…The most recent is a candle with Pigeon & Weasel which I’m super excited to unveil!
How did you come up with the name ‘Furry Little Peach’?
When I was in high school I needed a place to store scans of my film photography, I turned to Tumblr and needed to think of a url. I liked the word ‘peach’ and the rest seemed to appear out of no where. How awful would it have been if I had used “bitchtits97” or something – I’m glad that it’s something that really suited both my work and I, and that it was something people grew attached to and would come to know me by.
Photography: Rocket K
Interview: Michelle Owen