13. Joelle Avelino
JOELLE AVELINO MAKES ART MOVE.
Joelle is the first feature for this blog to whom I reached out via e-mail. I was looking for artists on Instagram and came across Joelle’s work, and I just immediately loved it. There's a vibrancy and relatability to her style that to me, is a quick source of joy. When you scroll through her insta, you get a quick sense of what moves her, part of which is drawings that do just that - they move! She’s an illustrator and animator, and getting to know her through her answers here left me with a similar instant connection to the one I felt when coming across her art. I feel grateful for the internet for introducing me to Joelle’s beautiful work, and to quote her mantra, ‘something amazing is about to happen’ if you scroll down to read her interview. Enjoy meeting Joelle and learning what moves her below!
Illustration by Dani Alvarez
This interview has been edited and condensed.
What is your name?
Joelle Lotika Avelino
What do you do?
I am an all round visual artist :)
How long have you done it for?
Since I was about 12 – only started making money from this approximately 3 years ago.
Why do you do it?
I just love drawing, making my drawings move.
Where did you grow up and how does that influence your work?
I grew up in London, England, but I am Angolan and Congolese. It plays a big part in my work because I am influenced by everything around my everyday life. Inspiration is everywhere.
How did we meet?
e-meet via email :)
What is one hope and dream you have for the next year?
I have quite a few but one will be that I get a studio/team animation project.
For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
My beautiful 4-year-old Daughter.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Happiness comes from within and is somewhat a choice, so I would just say it would be waking up every morning and choosing happiness and acting on this. It’s also good to embrace the down days as its just part of life.
Who is living woman do you most admire, and why?
There are so many I’ll give two my Mum and Michelle Obama
What is your greatest fear?
I’m super claustrophobic so this would be being locked in any form of closed space.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
A fly - lol. I’ve always wished I could be a fly on the wall to hear people’s conversations and see what they get up to – I’m a bit of a nosey parker, I know
What is your most treasured possession?
The hat my daughter wore when she was just born.
What is the last thing you searched for on Google?
London weather lol
What's the first CD you bought?
Either Nas’ Illmatic with my brothers money, or B2K Uh Huh single with my lunch money. Ah I miss those days how we experienced music was just so different
What is it that you most dislike?
People who look down on others and treat them differently because they think they are better than them.
If you could fix one thing in the world, what would you fix?
Child hunger
What is your mantra these days?
Something amazing is about to happen.
Joelle Avelino London based Illustrator. Her work always brings light to all themes with a touch of humour. She is greatly inspired by phenomenal women, everyday life and her African heritage. Having grown up in the UK she aims to bring these two worlds together through her work.