Meet the Illustrator: Anna Bond
by the Brightly Editors
Anna Bond is the co-owner and creative director of Rifle Paper Co. She has designed each and every one of Rifle’s 400+ stationary and gift products, all of which feature her vivid and highly sought-after signature style. The multi-talented Anna also illustrated the strikingly beautiful 150th anniversary edition of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. In this installment of Meet the Illustrator, we ask Anna about her first memories of drawing, her favorite materials, and how she plans to get her young son excited about art.
What first made you excited about art?
I have always loved drawing for as long as I can remember. One of my first memories is drawing for hours at our dining room table.
What illustrated book from childhood has stayed with you over the years?
My favorite book when I was little was Corduroy. I loved the story as well as the style of Don Freeman’s illustrations.
What did your parents teach you about books and reading?
My mom was very big on reading. We would go to the public library and pick out books for the week and read a story every night. It was a huge part of my childhood. I definitely plan on doing that with my children.
Where do you find inspiration for your illustrations?
I’m inspired by so many things from fashion to vintage books to folk art from different cultures. I try to take everything in around me and am constantly researching new things.
What does your workspace look like?
I have an office at our studio and at home and both are consistently a mess! It’s always papers, paints, and books everywhere. I try to clean it but it just always ends up the same way.
What materials do you most like to use?
I typically use gouache on paper.
What design resources would you recommend to young artists?
I have no idea what it would have been like if I had access to the Internet when I was young. Everything is at your fingertips as far as researching styles and imagery and techniques. I think that’s an incredible tool to help expose young artists to inspiration early on.
How do you plan to get your son excited about art?
My son is only 3 months old, but I hope he gets excited about art. I have been collecting children’s books with illustrations that I love for years and it’ll be fun to see which ones he responds to.
What’s the best name for a color that you’ve ever heard?
I love the color and name “Vermillion.”
Anna Bond (@RiflePaperCo) is the co-owner and creative director of Rifle Paper Co. , the worldwide stationery and gift brand based in Winter Park, Florida. An artist known for her whimsical designs, which often include hand-painted illustrations and lettering, her work has been featured in a number of publications including O, The Oprah Magazine, Vogue, US Weekly, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, Martha Stewart Living, and Southern Living to name a few. She is the artist behind the new edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, as well as the popular Puffin in Bloom line of children’s classics. Anna lives with her family in Winter Park, FL.
Images of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland courtesy of Rifle Paper Co.
