We have a more in depth profile today, delving into the creative mind of Lea Wade, also know as ‘Leamonade’. I asked Lea to write a few words about herself, how she got to where she is and where she gets her inspiration from! Here is what she had to say!

My name is Lea Wade, but I sometimes go under the guise of the imaginitively titled “Leamonade” and like most artists I’ve been drawing since I could hold a pen. I mainly focus on figurative illustration and character designs. I spent 2 years at Teesside Uni, doing a Computer Games Art degree, however I never leave things unfinished and I completed an illustration degree at the far friendlier, Portsmouth uni last year. Since then i’ve been working as a freelancer, producing artwork for friends, film directors and a particular little production company called ‘Jelly’.

Inbetween commissions though I love to work on my personal projects. I’ve got 1 on the go, and 2 others soon to be launched. The first one “Dreamscapedia” is a hand crafted tome written and illustrated by me and my fictional author friend T.M Soenso, which attempts document in detail the bizzare and fantastical creatures which have existed in the dreams of people I interview. I came up with the idea because my dreams are usually filled with awesome adventures where I have to defeat 6ft, rainbow-laser shooting ducks, or a troop of crack hoe zombies, dancing to thriller, advancing towards me like Space Invaders, led by Zombie LL Cool J. They sound like nightmares, but to me they’re more like playing a game. There’s only one thing thats ever defeated me in my dreams and that’s the bog standard, knife crime loving Chav, They always get me…. Anyways, at the moment I’m finalising the details on the authors background, how we met and trying to make his theories on all things dream related as plausible as possible. When it’s ready I’ll be starting a blog inviting people to submit their dream creatures and the chosen ones will be drawn and added to the book and possibly a website too. I’ve also laid down the plans for a potential graphic novel based on the collected creatures.

Dreamscapedia

The 2nd project will be a community based one called “Dream Job”, In a few weeks I’ll be inviting artists to remember back to their younger years, when all they wanted to be when they grew up was a fire engine, astronaut or a unicorn. I’d like them to invoke their inner child and illustrate themselves performing their ultimate dream job. Just like when you were a kid there’s no limits to what you want to be, for example here’s the first one which I drew for a guy called Barney Richard, he dreams of being a “God of the Sea & Professional Porpoise Racer“

God of the Sea & Professional Porpoise Racer

My dream is to be a “Flying suit enthusiast and Raccoon Dog walker” (although I’ve yet to illustrate mine!)

The 3rd project has a working title of “E-mote~I-con”, it’s going to be a webcomic about 2 lil robot housemates, E-mote & Sadface (seen here) and their day to day lives, living in a little cul-de-sac with their annoying neighbours. It’s a bit like Coronation Street, but with robots n stuff. Here’s the latest pic featuring the two title characters E-mote and I-con.

E-mote and I-con

Lea has a fantastic selection of work available to view on her portfolio, but why not get up close and personal? Lea has been selected to take part in the One Year On section of New Designers. You can visit the exhibition between 8th – 11th July in London, at the business Design Center (5 mins from Angel Tube Station). Lea will be there daily to pimp out her work, so go and say hi! If you can’t make it, you can always follow Lea on Twitter.

Here is some more of Lea’s outstanding illustration work:

Jellyblogs Birthday

She’s at it again

A Portrait of Barney

Dreamscapedia – ‘Cass’ Concept