100 Days of Creative Women

Illustration

The Background

The term 'Matilda Effect' refers to women's work and achievements being “ignored, denied credit or otherwise dropped from sight” (Rossiter, 1993). Although the term originally referred to women in science, the effect was seen in a range of other disciplines such as art.

In relation to design, Scotford (1994) highlighted that a “neat history” is portrayed - with men's conventional, mainstream work usually the focus. Scotford (1994) goes on to suggest that we should be seeking out a “messy history” that explores and includes the approaches and work of women.

A side-profile portrait of Jess Phoenix illustrated in a whimsical and playful illustration style. Jess is depicted front-and-centre in a square image, set against a pink backdrop adorned with floral and fauna designs. A hand-drawn caption accompanies the portrait, stating 'Jess Phoenix: Illustrator and Pattern Designer.' The illustration boasts a lively colour scheme, predominantly composed of shades of pink, orange, and purple.
Day 23: Jess Phoenix
A side-profile portrait of Desiree Burch illustrated in a whimsical and playful illustration style. Desiree is depicted front-and-centre in a square image, against a wavy background of green, lilac, and red. A hand-drawn caption accompanies the portrait, stating 'Desiree Burch: Comedian and Actor'.
Day 24: Desiree Burch
A side-profile portrait of Sarah Millican illustrated in a whimsical and playful illustration style. Sarah is depicted at the left of the square image, against a wavy background of red, pink, and mustard colours. A hand-drawn caption accompanies the portrait, stating 'Sarah Millican: Comedian and Actor'.
Day 25: Sarah Millican
A side-profile portrait of Shoplifter illustrated in a whimsical and playful illustration style. Shoplifter is depicted at the left of the square image, surrounded by wavy patterns and shapes. A hand-drawn caption accompanies the portrait, stating 'Shoplifter: Artist'. The illustration features a bold and striking color palette, incorporating vibrant shades of purple, pink, and yellow.
Day 26: Shoplifter
A side-profile portrait of Helen Oyeyemi illustrated in a whimsical and playful illustration style. Helen is depicted at the right of the square image, surrounded by zig-zag patterns and shapes. A hand-drawn caption accompanies the portrait, stating 'Helen Oyeyemi: Writer'. The illustration features a bold colour palette, blending shades of blue, purple, and burgundy.
Day 27: Helen Oyeyemi

The Response

Linking in with the creative online #100DayProject, I created daily visual responses to highlight the work of a female or non-binary creative. Creatives are from a range of disciplines, including design, visual arts, performing arts, writing, journalism, and beyond.

My approach was to create digital illustrations with hand-drawn lettering to provide the name and discipline of the creative. Patterns surround the portraits, with bright, vibrant colours used to add energy.

A side-profile portrait of Emma Mitchell illustrated in a whimsical and playful illustration style. Emma is depicted front-and-centre in a square image, set against a pale green background adorned with leaves. A hand-drawn caption accompanies the portrait, stating 'Emma Mitchell: Author and Maker'. The illustration features a harmonious colour palette inspired by nature.
Day 29: Emma Mitchell
A side-profile portrait of Vivienne Westwood illustrated in a whimsical and playful illustration style. Vivienne is depicted front-and-centre in a square image, set against a purple and pink zig-zag pattern background. A hand-drawn caption accompanies the portrait, stating 'Vivienne Westwood: Fashion Designer'.
Day 33: Vivienne Westwood