CHANCES ARE YOU’RE already familiar with Fuchsia MacAree’s work. Not only have you more than likely seen it with your eyes, but you’ve probably brought her exuberant illustrations around with you whilst going about your day without evening realising it.
The Clare-based artist has worked with a number of globally recognised brands such as Patagonia, Google, Guinness, Greenpeace, and An Post, amongst others. She has also brought articles published in The Irish Times, The New York Times and The Washington Post to life with her vibrant designs which are often populated with brightly dressed figures and intricately detailed backdrops.
Once acquainted with MacAree’s distinct style, you’ll soon realise just how ubiquitous her work is in both commercial and casual settings. You’re just as likely to come across her colourful characters on labels for bottles of ale as well as on the side of buildings around the country.
One of the most striking aspects to MacAree’s work is how every element jumps off the page, so to speak. Not only does she have a great eye for attractive colour palettes, but there’s a great sense of fun and humour across her illustrations which are endlessly endearing. These elements are inherent to MacAree’s style, and in a time where social media provides an instant and accessible platform to showcase one’s work, it’s important to stand out.
MacAree tells The Journal how she cultivated her idiosyncratic creative expression,, noting that it’s not something that happens overnight. “When developing a style, I think it’s about really looking at something and trying to tease out what you think is visually interesting about it.”
“Sadly, there’s no shortcut to getting there; you just have to do an awful lot of drawing, and gradually patterns and themes will emerge. I’d also say taking inspiration from conversations with people, and the physical world around you, is a million times better than trying too much to recreate something you’ve seen on a screen. I was reading an article about the artist Alex Katz recently, and he said that his father told him to ‘paint your own backyard’. I’ve found that really helpful; just draw what’s around you!”
Certainly, you can see how MacAree takes those everyday moments, whether it’s a scenic picnic by a mountainside, a leisurely sea swim or simply strolling through a brightly-hued city. Throughout her portfolio, MacAree always manages to infuse these quotidian scenarios with great warmth. On her website, she describes her work as being inspired by “nature and human connections.”
She expands upon the importance of these grounding influences: “I’ve recently moved to the west coast of Co. Clare, so I’ve been cycling down to Lahinch beach and drawing walkers, swimmers and surfers. I’m trying to capture little moments while they’re still fresh. That might be a glint of the water or a couple holding hands, and then make those moments into something more permanent.”
In more recent months, that something more permanent has informed a personal project which MacAree is currently producing that commemorates this exciting new chapter in Co. Clare. “I’ve been working on a new series of prints about my new area. It feels like a useful visual exercise in noticing and documenting my surroundings while they’re still new to me. I want to try to capture some moments whether it’s the changing of the seasons, light changing, or flowers blossoming, before the novelty of living here wears off!”
Documenting Ireland’s beautiful sites and scenery has been a huge aspect to MacAcree’s career. In 2018, MacAcree and her pen were given the opportunity to explore beyond the surface when she illustrated the award-winning, The Great Irish Weather Book, written by meteorologist Joanna Donnelly. With commissions like these, where the texts are informative, MacAree describes the enjoyment she gets from making something educational appealing to all.
“I love working on books because you get to delve really deeply into one topic. You have to try to visually understand it, and then explain it to others. The clear communication of ideas is a huge part of illustration. Illustrating a nonfiction book to make a topic more approachable and digestible feels great. It sort of feels like unlocking a new puzzle on each page. Joanna was lovely to work with as well, and she wrote the book in such an approachable way that the tone of the book was already set as something that was bright and informative.”
The Great Irish Weather Book was immensely popular upon its release, even becoming a number 1 bestseller. A few months after it was published, it was included in The Late Late Toy Show’s book corner, undoubtedly finding its way into a number of homes across the country on Christmas morning. Continuing to take on projects in this vein, in 2020 MacAree illustrated the High Tides app, an online calendar with information on Ireland’s tide patterns for people to plan their sea-swimming ventures across the country.
This was another successful collaboration, one that saw MacAree’s work become omnipresent in people’s daily routines. How did she feel knowing that her designs were reaching so many people with this project?
“To be a tiny part of the cultural and visual landscape of Ireland feels very special. I also really enjoy seeing the stats for High Tides. The visitor count shoots up on sunny days which means everyone’s going for their lovely dips in the nice weather.”
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