Giselle Clarkson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Giselle Clarkson |
|
|---|---|
Clarkson in 2019
|
|
| Born | New Zealand |
| Area(s) |
|
|
Notable works
|
Biscuits and Slices of New Zealand |
| Awards | Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Award (2023) |
| http://giselledraws.com | |
Giselle Clarkson is a talented artist from New Zealand. She is well-known for her amazing cartoons and illustrations. Giselle is especially famous for her non-fiction comics. These comics often teach people about important topics like protecting nature and the environment.
Contents
About Giselle Clarkson
Early Life and Education
Giselle Clarkson went to the University of Canterbury to study art. She planned to become a painter. However, she ended up focusing on photography during her studies. After finishing university, Giselle worked in a shop that sold outdoor gear. She also spent time volunteering for projects that helped protect nature. She loved both art and conservation. It was hard for her to decide between being an artist or working for the Department of Conservation.
Becoming an Illustrator
Giselle's journey into illustration began in 2013. She created a poster that showed different types of New Zealand fish. Later, she drew pictures of New Zealand's native birds. These bird illustrations were shared on RNZ's Morning Report and became very popular on Twitter. This led to many new opportunities for her. She started getting jobs from places like Forest and Bird's children's magazine, the New Zealand School Journal, and various newspapers and websites. This is how she began her career as a professional illustrator.
Today, Giselle works as a freelance artist. This means she draws pictures and comics for different clients. She lives in South Wairarapa, New Zealand.
Giselle's Creative Work
Famous Comics and Illustrations
Giselle's first comic was called "The Flood." It was published in 2016 in a collection of comics by women artists from Aotearoa (New Zealand) called Three Words.
One of her most famous works is "Biscuits and Slices of New Zealand." This is a fun collection of drawings of New Zealand baked goods. Each treat is given a funny, made-up Latin name. For example, an Anzac biscuit is called "Lestwee forgetum". This comic was shared widely online. It was published in a book called Annual 2 in 2017. It even became a poster and a tea towel! Giselle was interviewed about its success on TV show The Project. She also created a follow-up illustration that appeared in Annual 3 in 2022.
Giselle also creates a comic every two months for a New Zealand children's literature website called The Sapling. In these comics, she writes about children's books and how they have inspired her as an illustrator.
Exploring for Art
To create her amazing art, Giselle often goes on special trips. These are called "field expeditions." She has traveled to places like the Kermadec Islands and Milford Sound, where she drew penguins. She even went on a 19-day sea voyage to the Subantarctic Islands! This trip inspired an 8-page comic for the School Journal.
Giselle regularly creates illustrations and T-shirts for the Radio New Zealand show Critter of the Week. In 2018, she made a comic that explained a scientific paper about the migration of the Fiordland penguin, also known as tawaki. This comic was very popular online. She has also illustrated several children's books published by Gecko Press.
Since 2022, Giselle has been illustrating a regular science column. This column, written by Kate Evans, appears in New Zealand Geographic magazine. Her work for the magazine led to her being nominated for Best Artist in the 2023 Voyager Media Awards.
Awards and Recognition
In 2023, Giselle Clarkson received a special award called the Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Award. The people who chose her for the award said her work is "always technically impressive and incredibly imaginative." They also noted that her art shows "huge sensitivity whilst retaining her trademark energy and vibrance." This award celebrates her amazing talent and contributions to art.
