A World Well-Illustrated

By Lexi Green
September 30, 2011

Kris Atomic

Here at the The Inside Source, we have a bit of a starry-eyed crush on illustrators. We love them for their ability to take any real-life object, person or thing and turn it into a two-dimensional piece of covetable art. We’re especially fans of the recent rise in fashion and design illustrators we’ve been seeing around the web over the past few years. Their work for fashion companies, blogs and e-magazines makes whatever webpage you’re looking at seem like a grown-up storybook.

We first noticed the work of one such artist, Kris Atomic, on the cover of Anthology magazine’s inaugural issue. Her depiction of a red-lipped, rosy-cheeked girl riding a bike down a pink-building-lined street had us hooked.

above: The inaugural issue of Anthology magazine

But, Anthology wasn’t this illustrator’s first ride around the block, so to speak. Since she graduated from art school in 2009, the UK-based Atomic has had work featured inside the pages of Vogue Girl Korea and Marie Claire UK, and she’s even sold collections of illustrations at kooky retailer Fred Flare.

merchandise for Fred Flare

One of our favorite Kris Atomic illustrations is her hilarious depiction of the pitfalls of “Living with Chronic Bitchface” otherwise known by Atomic as “This is Just How My Face Looks," an illustration that depicts the social difficulties faces with what she sees as her less-than-constantly-cheery looking visage. Atomic found kindred spirits across the web in others who suffer from the same facial proclivity when her illustration made rounds across the blogosphere

On a daily basis you can find Atomic working on commissions for companies, editorial work for magazines and the occasional private commission, like personal portraits (pets included!). In addition to her work as an illustrator, Atomic also describes herself as a freelance photographer, blogger, cat lover, avid reader, only child and tea drinker.

We’ve been so intrigued by Atomic and her touching and funny illustrations that we decided tracked her down for an Inside Source chat. She told us about her intense love for Iceland and Emma Cook boots, and how she finds inspiration on eBay.

Kris Atomic

art for Vogue Girl Korea

The Inside Source: How did you decide to pursue illustration as a career?

Kris Atomic: I've been drawing since I was tiny, but for a long time, I actually wanted to be a fashion designer. At a pre-university course, I found that I liked drawing fashion much more than physically making it. After that I went on to study illustration at Camberwell College of Arts in London. I worked as an assistant to a fashion stylist until January, 2010, when I finally went freelance as an illustrator.

The Inside Source: How would you describe your aesthetic?

Kris Atomic: I always say that I draw sassy ‘fashiony’ girls who have a sense of humor and don't take themselves too seriously. I like color and puns and a bit of jollity.

The Inside Source: What have been some of your recent favorite projects?

Kris Atomic: I've recently worked on some illustrations for packaging for a big U.S. skincare company (I don't think I'm allowed to reveal who yet!) that should be in stores this winter. It's always really cool to have a tangible item at the end of working on something for so long. I can't wait to show my parents!

left: Fashion Illustration

The Inside Source: When it comes to illustrating, where do you begin the design process? Where do you gather your inspiration?

Kris Atomic: I am constantly gathering inspiration. I subscribe to a lot of blogs, read fashion magazines, flip through design books... I've been trying to go paperless recently, so now I scan everything and organize it on my computer by theme (which makes me sound like a crazy person, but it's much easier to access when things are neatly filed away rather than in teetering piles on a book shelf!). When I get a new brief, I tend to spend a few hours doing research and putting together ideas before getting down rough sketches.

Kris Atomic

In her room illustration

The Inside Source: If I were to give you a blank canvas, what would you draw on it?

Kris Atomic: I recently went to Iceland and it was the most inspiring place. There is a lot of cool street art there. So, I think that I would make a huge painting on the side of a building inspired by Iceland’s amazing knitwear and all of the beautiful colors I saw in the countryside. Although, this time around, I would go to Iceland during the summer, because in April it was unbelievably cold!

The Inside Source: When you're not illustrating, what can we find you doing?

Kris Atomic: I'm not great at having time off. But, when I'm not working, I'm usually doing some kind of personal work, like updating my blog or answering emails. I also try to do yoga a couple of times a week; it's great for my back after all those hours hunched over a graphics tablet! Otherwise, I'm just hanging out with my friends in London, or with my boyfriend and my cat at home.

The Inside Source: And do you use eBay to help you with your work and inspiration?

Kris Atomic: I've got a few keyword searches saved. There's a pair of Emma Cook boots that I missed out on when they were on sale years ago that I'm still obsessed with. Most recently, I've been obsessively searching for the Miu Miu cat-print heels, too! I browse for vintage a lot—50s dresses and things with lots of sequins, usually. I'm a pretty strategic eBay buyer. I quietly watch items until the very end and then I strike in the last few seconds!