- View Tracey's Creativepool profile here
Website: traceylong.co.uk
"Hi, I’m Tracey, a soon to be enormously wealthy and world famous illustrator. "
How long have you been a Freelancer for?
Just over two years, give or take a lifetime.
Describe your work in one sentence.
Some pencil lines on a page, coloured in.
Who are some of the clients you have worked for?
Channel 4 Talent magazine . A sweet little publication called Spoonful Magazine, Transmission Magazine, Stop/Sharpening/Your/Knives .
What's the most important thing you've learned in your line of work?
Drink lots of tea. Take regular walks, or run up and down the stairs a few times or your bottom will spread.
What attracted you to your chosen field?
The promise of enormous wealth and world fame.....what do you mean by ‘sadly deluded’?
Tell us about your best project to date.
I guess I prefer self initiated projects. I am working on a little illustrated story at the moment about two ‘creatures’ who live on an armchair (stay with me) and who, over the course of a day, make some amazing discoveries. My approach is comic book layout, which is a new direction for me.
What sets you apart from your competitors?
I own my own toasted sandwich maker.
If you could work on any project for any company/organisation, what would it be and who would it be for?
Well when I was little I constantly drew Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters so I would love to illustrate a Virginia Woolf novel for The Folio Society.
What frustrates you the most about your job?
That the Folio Society hasn’t asked me to illustrate a Virginia Woolf novel.
What pearl of wisdom can you offer to someone thinking about starting out as a freelancer?
If you love illustration, if you can deal with rejection, if you don’t mind long irregular hours, if your motivation isn’t money, if you can’t find someone filthy rich who will agree to marry you, if you don’t win the lottery, if you are otherwise pretty much unemployable...go for it!
If you could have ONE super power, what would it be?
The ability to click my fingers and be instantly transported to anywhere in the world.
What's your favourite bit of kit?
The humble pencil.
Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I’ve never even tried to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
What's your favourite song of all time?
Cannonball by The Breeders.
What is your favourite app?
Is there one that does the housework?..that would get my vote
Facebook or Twitter?
I’m only on Twitter, so neither
Eat In or eat out?
Eat in...I’ve worked in restaurant kitchens!
If you would like to step into the Creativepool Spotlight, email through some examples of your work
