Q: Originally from [where?] what are some of your favorite things about living and working in [your current locale]?

A: I've lived in a lot of different places—Maryland, Texas, Florida, Ohio, and finally California. I'm proud to have called Oakland my home for the past 6 years. I love it's diversity, creativity, and individuality—there's really no other place like it. I love that I can walk to a bustling farmer's market or catch a concert with friends nearby, but I can just as easily reach some of the most beautiful natural areas I've ever seen in my life. I've never considered myself a city-person, so being able to escape the noise regularly is something I am extremely grateful for. 

Q: Do you keep a sketchbook? What is the balance between art you create on paper [or other analog medium] versus in the computer?

A: I work almost 100% digitally, but I still find a sketchbook to be the best way to organize my thoughts and explore concepts. My favorite part of the creative process is sitting outside with my sketchbook and working on thumbnails and characters for my next illustration or book idea. I also started keeping a separate nature journal where I can record and draw my observations. It's helped me slow down and appreciate the wildlife around me, even in really urban areas (crows are so interesting if you stop and notice!). 

Q: What is the most important item in your studio?

A: Hmm, besides the obvious answer being my cintiq and laptop, I would have to say my bookshelf. It houses all my favorite art books and artwork, including great pieces made by some talented friends of mine.  

Q: How do you know when the art is finished?

A: I generally reach a point where there's a natural ending as long as I'm working in a style I'm comfortable with, but when I'm really challenging myself that sense of completion can be a lot more ambiguous. I think it's important to get feedback from illustrators you respect, so I frequently reach out to my illustrator friends for advice. I'm especially lucky that I can get feedback from my husband, who is also a talented illustrator! I honestly don't know where I'd be without my creative network. 

Q: What was your favorite book as a child?

A: Ah, this is a tough question—there are so many great ones! The first one that comes to mind is Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends. When I was very young, I had an intense desire to color the pages because I loved them so much. My parents forbade me from coloring in my nice books, but in a moment of weakness I did it and attempted to hide the page by tearing it out and hiding it in my drawer. Undoubtedly my mom found the missing page immediately. 

Q: What is the best book you’ve recently read? 

A: Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness by Lyanda Lynn Haupt. I used to think I had to leave the city to observe nature, but this book shines light on the invisible lives of animals and plants that are hardy enough to live in urban areas. It's a beautifully written, often poetic reminder that humans and wildlife are not as divided as we think. 

Q: If you had to choose one medium to work in for an entire year, eliminating all others, what medium would you choose?

A: Digital, for sure! You can pretty much imitate any medium digitally nowadays. Gouache would be the runner-up because it's pretty versatile. 

Q: What elements of daily life exert the most influence on your work practice?

A: I go on daily walks or hikes with my dog and husband and I tend to have the most creative revelations during those times! I literally feel like I'm recharging my brain when I walk in the woods. A few years ago, I was feeling apathetic about my art and realized I needed to merge my love for the outdoors with my illustration. It's given me a newfound passion for my work since it's a topic I won't ever grow tired of.

Q: What was the [Thunderbolt] painting or drawing or film or otherwise that most affected your approach to art? 

A: Charley Harper's stylized nature illustrations proved to me that science illustrations don't have to be hyper realistic in order to be accurate and serve an educational purpose. 

Q: What was the strangest/most interesting assignment you've taken that has an important impact on your practice, and what changed through the process?

A: A few years ago I illustrated an infographic for a bidet company. I didn't have much experience with infographics so it was a good lesson in learning how to communicate a (somewhat delicate) concept clearly and beautifully. It also helped me figure out how to merge my love for clean design with my more organic illustration style. 

Sidenote: Before I began the job, the client gave me the option to be paid in cash like normal or instead receive one of their higher-value bidets. I didn’t know much about bidets at the time, so I requested the money. Only after learning more about bidets and experiencing how amazing they are in Japan did I realize my huge mistake. I’ve regretted that decision ever since!

Q: What would be your last supper?

A: Salmon sashimi! Before living in California, seafood disgusted me. I grew up with a marine biologist dad who came home smelling like fish, so that undoubtedly influenced my opinion of fish as food. I ended up marrying someone who would eat sushi every day if he could, so I slowly came around and now I'm a fanatic. 

Emily Dove is living her dream of working as a freelance illustrator in the San Francisco area, where the redwood forests, dramatic cliffs, and occasional whale tails are a source of constant inspiration. Her first book, 'Wendell the Narwhal' was published by Simply Read Books last year. Clients include Penguin Random House, Usborne, American Greetings, The Seattle Symphony, and others. As a certified California Naturalist, she hopes to use illustration as a tool to educate and inspire others to fall in love with the natural world. 
Website: www.emilydove.com
Represented by Molly O'Neill (www.mollyoneillbooks.com)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilydove/
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Dribbble: https://dribbble.com/emilydove144