Inspire Me: 4.2.14

I am so excited for this Inspire Me post today. You know I've shared artists with you before that are very talented + extremely inspiring, hence the title of the column. However, today I am happy to share with you a mini interview I had with today's artist! Alyssa Nassner is a huge inspiration to me--she is beyond talented, + I honestly cannot get enough of her work. Take a look and you'll understand what I'm talking about. Her work is fun + playful, full of so many elements + depth. It communicates a message, but does so in a way that is interesting + so, so pleasing to the eye. Not to mention, she is one of the sweetest people I've had the pleasure of talking to! I hope you enjoy learning a bit about her as much as I did.

1. Thank you so much for doing a mini-interview! Tell everyone a little bit about yourself.

Hi Julie! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my work! Here a few quick facts about my background: I'm from Maryland but am currently living in Minneapolis - I always have to start with that fact, because I'm most definitely an East-coaster. I went to school in Baltimore and got my illustration degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2010. Since graduation I have worked as a freelance illustrator focusing specifically on the stationery / gift markets and children's illustration. In addition to my freelance I'm currently an apparel designer at Target corp. A majority of my time is consumed working on artwork, but in my spare time I enjoy drinking lots of coffee, and hanging out with my boyfriend Llew and our pets.

2. How did you get started in illustration? Where did that passion come from?

I actually got into illustration sort of by accident. I had always actually wanted to be a computer programmer... not quite sure why, it seemed like a good thing to do at the time. I found out very quickly that I am so not cut out for that, and decided to pursue design (after being encouraged to by my art teachers and parents). Design was good, but I didn't find my passion until I transferred to MICA. I didn't even know illustration was a thing until I pursued art school, and as soon as I found it, I was hooked. I love that it combines everything that's great about the varied disciplines in art - you can be a printmaker, designer, sculptor, painter, whatever and still be a totally viable illustrator. There's also aspect of business and problem solving component to it as well, I love knowing (I almost NEED to know) that what I'm making is for a purpose, and that there is an end use. I've always been commercially minded when it comes to art, and illustration was the "fun" thing I was missing in design - visual problem solving - but I get to draw flowers as my "solution".

3. What is one of your favorite designs you've created?

I've been pretty excited about drawing silly food recently. It started as a half joke for my submission for Lilla Roger's "Global Talent Search". It was not a successful submission, but it definitely sparked a new interest for me. I get paid to draw pretty flowers and things - which is awesome and fun, but because that's fulfilled by my freelance I had to find something new and exciting to draw for my personal work. Although it's something completely different for me to show, I feel like the work has been really well-recieved and I'm getting to do that for freelance a bit now too. My favorite of those pieces is still the one I made for my Christmas promo this year - who doesn't love ice skating donuts?!  I'm actually happy to share that it will be a Christmas card boxed set for a company who remain unnamed for the time being! I also really love working for my fave clients, shout out to Abrams, Papyrus and Galison. They have treated me very well over the past few years!

4. Favorite quote to live by?

'Good things come to those who hustle' - I'm not sure what the source is on that one, but it's totally my life motto. I'm most certainly not the most original, creative, or talented artist out there but I've been pretty successful in a very short amount of time. Most / if not all of that success can be attributed to networking, putting myself and artwork out there, and well... hustlin'. I'm always scheming on new projects, new promos, collaborating with artists and trying to get my name and work in front of the people who I want to see it! My advice to any illustrator trying to get started is to be shameless, don't be afraid to reach out to people you want to work with. When you weigh the outcomes - the potential good always immensely outweighs the bad.

5. And most importantly: what is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Ben and Jerry's 'Phish Food' - I am absolutely addicted. It's a problem.

Thank you so much Alyssa for sharing these insights into your work! Read up on Alyssa a little bit more here, + check out her blog too. If you would like to check out more of her work, take a look at her portfolio + if you're in the buying mood (which I'm sure you will be after seeing all of these!), check out her two shops here + here (her etsy shop is currently on vacation). I definitely follow her on instagram to get my fill of her awesome work, and I think you should too! Have a great Wednesday everyone. :)

All photos property of Alyssa Nassner.

Inspire Me: 3.19.14

Today I am introducing you to a very talented artist, Alex Louisa, who is based in Brisbane, Australia. She likes to experiment with mixed media, mostly for the backgrounds of her work, and the rest is created using mostly drawing materials and oils. Her work focuses on the natural world, pulling inspiration from flora and fauna, and little treasures she finds while wandering. She keeps a box of these items to pull from and to use for her elaborate works.

She often likes to create pieces that are larger than life, doing so to really exaggerate the details of a small item that you wouldn't normally see upon first glance. Creating pieces using oils to gold leaf, bringing to life everything from the tiniest feather to the mightiest lion, Alex Louisa's work is extremely realistic. Every viewer will find something within her work to marvel at, for her work is highly captivating and doesn't need to beg the viewer to look, for they will have already been drawn to it.

Personally, I am drawn to her work especially for the content. I am a lover of nature through and through, and I think she really portrays each item and animal with such exactness. My favorite pieces are those with skulls (if you know me, you know I love to collect/marvel at skulls and bones), but really I'm interested in them all. I am also drawn to it for her sheer talent. When I first saw her work, I was instantly hooked. She seems to have it figured out, yet she continues to experiment and improve, and to me that is what a true artist does. You never stop learning, so you keep creating, both for pleasure and for improvement. Alex Louisa is a remarkable artist, and I am so glad I found her work.

If you'd like to check out more of Alex Louisa's incredible work, you can head over to her portfolio. It is full of so many other interesting and amazing pieces. She has an instagram as well, posting photos of her in-progress and completed works. I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into the works of Alex Louisa as much as I have. I am a huge fan, feeling a strong connection to her work, so I'll definitely be a fan for a lifetime. I hope you find something in her work that speaks to you too.

All photos are property of Alex Louisa.

Inspire Me: 1.29.14

Hey there! What's this? I'm posting in the middle of the week for the first time in forever? No way! Yes way. Remember months and months ago when I introduced a new column where I share different artists' work? Yeah, well I'm finally posting another.

Today I want to introduce you to Shauna Lynn Panczyszyn. She is a very talented letterer/illustrator, and I just swoon over all of her in-progress and finished works. I follow her over on Instagram and Facebook, and definitely think you should too!

I love how Shauna's work is totally fun and intriguing. You can really tell that she takes the time with each piece to make sure it's great, and it always is! The above piece was a feature on another blog called Daily Dishonesty, which I'm a huge fan of, so it was fun to see her work there too.

If you know me, you know I love me some Orange Is The New Black... like a ton. The second season can't come soon enough (that means hurry up, Netflix!). I absolutely love this fun lettering quoting the show. Hilarious.

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As you can obviously see, Shauna is crazy talented and always comes up with something different and lovely each time she puts her pencil/pen to paper! I totally think you check out the rest of her work on her website and give her a follow on social media! You won't be disappointed. And if you really like what you see (which I'm sure you will!), check out her society6 shop!

Inspire Me: 9.8.13

Hello everyone! Happy Monday. I want to start a new column featuring artists and their work that I've come across that truly inspires me. The kind of work that makes me look twice. That makes me want to draw or paint or letter or be creative in any way. It won't be a weekly column... it will be the kind of column that I post when I find art worth sharing with you. I want to share what inspires me, and I want to be able to help you along in getting inspired as well.

Today I am featuring the work of a very talented artist, Emma Leonard. She is an illustrator based in Melbourne who creates very beautiful and ethereal drawings. Most of her work features girls whom she states have "melancholy expressions and sad eyes." I love the softness that is present in her work. Very subtle colors, realistic drawing, and whimsical illustrations make up her work. It's all truly inspiring and interesting to look at.

 

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These are just a few of her pieces that really caught my attention. If you would like to purchase any of her work, you can visit Emma's etsy shop here! I hope you enjoy looking at her amazing art as much as I do. Have a fantastic day.