RUBY x Shelley Botticelli 02.12.24

Can you walk us through your creative journey for the RUBY x Shelley Botticelli illustrations – where did you begin, and how did it evolve?

It felt like Deanna and I were on the same page to begin with, we had a great conversation on the phone, she had a very excitable energy which encouraged and energised me. Her direction was great, and from the get go RUBY had a very clear vision which was perfectly suited to the style of art that I do. I think when you are illustrating for a great team who have a cute vision the ideas flow easily!

How did you merge your energy with RUBY’s essence within the illustrations?

The way I usually work is I do a series of flash sheets, and we go back and forth and merge or tweak ideas, and eventually, we landed on some illustrations that were a perfect blend of RUBY and my own essence, with Deanna and Emma and the team helping me to distill and crystallise these concepts. Also having shopped at RUBY since I was old enough to buy my own clothes, I definitely felt like had a sense of RUBY through a customer lens, so I tried to channel that as well.

What initially sparked your interest in collaborating with RUBY? Are there elements in our pieces that connect with your artwork?

Over the 2020 lockdown, I did a small job for RUBY’s social media channels. I love how RUBY has always supported local artists over the years. It is so important to put that love back into your community, and that has definitely been a common theme I have noticed throughout the years which I really admire, as well as the ethos and messaging behind the brand. I also love RUBY’s playful energy, and how they aren’t afraid of colour, it really felt like I had a playground in my mind when I was thinking up illustrations for them.

The RUBY Resort 2024 collection is all about seeing the lightness and romance in the every day this summer – what inspiration did you draw on to help bring this dreamy vision to life?

Art is like a Visual language for me so once I figured out what I was trying to communicate it was easy to get the ball rolling from there. It’s like a combination of integrating memories, experience, observations, and imagination.

I have a lot of toys, figurines and magazines I sit on my desk while I draw too. It’s easy to pull inspiration from your environment when you surround yourself with things that give you a dopamine boost! I also have a habit of looking in children’s sections/ceramic/craft sections in Op Shops for kitschy inspiration, old cross-stitch patterns are surprisingly whimsical and romantic!

Which of the RUBY x Shelley Botticelli illustrations are your favourites and why?

I did a whole flash sheet of teddy bears for RUBY to choose from for the Rubear T-Shirt which was a lot of fun. I made my own teddy bear my model and muse and felt like a very serious grown-up illustrator!

As we step into summer, what are you most excited for?

Stone fruit, watermelon, swimming, wilting away in the sunshine, exploring rock pools at the beach, salty beach curls, the hum of energy in the air, sun showers on hot concrete smell, family, friends, patting everyone’s dogs on the street, Al fresco dining, running on hot sand to the water, the smell of coconut sunblock, falling asleep with a book in my hand!