Week 5: Contemporary Illustrator

Which Contemporary Illustrator To Choose?

Last class we were assigned to choose a contemporary illustrator. It can be anyone, and I need to interview them. Eventually, we will give a presentation to the class, and what we learned about the illustrator we choose.   

Sheila Hicks

Instagram: @ateliersheilahicks

Olimpia Zagnoli

Email: olimpia.zagnoli@gmail.com

Instagram: @olimpiazagnoli

Anita Kunz

Email: akunz@anitakunz.com

Phone: 212-229-2805

Malika Favre

Instagram: @malikafavre

Sara Andreasson

Email: s.a.andreasson@gmail.com

Instagram: @saraandreasson

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/sara.wienermelange

Possible Interview Questions

1. Tell me about getting your first client after graduation?
2. Where do you find your sources for inspiration/concepts?
3. What's your process?
4. How did you get started illustrating?
5. What're your favorite tools to work with?
6. How do you promote yourself? Were there any ways that didn't work?
7. What inspired you to become an illustrator?
8. How do you price (or negotiate) your illustrations?
9. How do you make sure no one steals your work?
10. How do you protect your work?
11. What's your favorite illustration you did?
12. Who inspires you?

Interview Questions I Asked

1. Have there been times when you were falling behind on a project? If so, tell me what you do in that situation? Did you ask for a time extension, submit an OK piece of work, or stayed up all night trying to finish it/refine it? 
2. When you work with other illustrators or Art Directors, how do you deal with different opinions. and then come to a conclusion on how to illustrate a concept?
3. Tell me about your favorite piece of work in your portfolio? Why did you make it?
4. What resources and techniques did you use for that piece?
5. How do you get inspired?
6. How do you overcome a creative block?
7. What qualities do you think makes a good illustrator/designer?
8. What kind of illustration projects are you most interested in?
9. In your opinion, what are the most difficult things about being an illustrator/designer? 
10. Tell me about  some ways you get your name and artwork out there? What methods were successful and which ones were unsuccessful, why do you think they worked or did not work?

Response From Olimpia Zagnoli (Email)

1. Have there been times when you were falling behind on a project? If so, tell me what you do in that situation? Did you ask for a time extension, submit an OK piece of work, or stayed up all night trying to finish it/refine it? I usually ask for a time extension. There’s almost nothing that can’t be postponed for a couple of days. 

2. When you work with other illustrators or Art Directors, how do you deal with different opinions. and then come to a conclusion on how to illustrate a concept? I hardly work with other illustrators.

3. Tell me about your favorite piece of work in your portfolio? Why did you make it? I don’t have a favorite, everything is always OK to me, not fabulous or incredible. It’s just a step in the longer journey of my creativity. 

4. What resources and techniques did you use for that piece? I mostly use Adobe Illustrator, sometimes pencil and collage. 

5. How do you get inspired? I read books and go to museums. 

6. How do you overcome a creative block? I keep working until something comes out or i go to the bar with a sketchbook and usually it helps.

7. What qualities do you think makes a good illustrator/designer? Being as smart as you can be, finding a way to express your point of view not others’. 

8. What kind of illustration projects are you most interested in? Social works of any kind, where people can be involved in my work without knowing much about art or illustration. 

9. In your opinion, what are the most difficult things about being an illustrator/designer?  Being able to combine creative moments with very boring but necessary ones like paying the bills, fill invoices, paying taxes, talk to the accountant etc...

10. Tell me about  some ways you get your name and artwork out there? What methods were successful and which ones were unsuccessful, why do you think they worked or did not work? When I started social media didn’t exist. Nowadays i have a feeling the best way to get your work out there is to make good work. If you make good work and put it on social media or other platforms people is going to recognize that is good work. 

Response From Anita Kunz (Phone)

1. Have there been times when you were falling behind on a project? If so, tell me what you do in that situation? Did you ask for a time extension, submit an OK piece of work, or stayed up all night trying to finish it/refine it? I've never fell behind on a project. That is something you will learn the hard way if you do. It looks very unprofessional, future employers and clients may not hire you, and it shows that you have poor time management, which is valuable to have as an illustrator. 

• How many projects do you work on at the same time? It honestly just depends. If you're well-known you may have 5 to 10 projects to work on. I'm always busy with work so, I've never really kept count.   

2. When you work with other illustrators or Art Directors, how do you deal with different opinions, and then come to a conclusion on how to illustrate a concept? I don't really work with other illustrators, however I do work with art directors. For me, they are my communicator to the client, and we discuss about the business aspects (i.e. quotes, deadlines) of the project.   

• Do you also talk face-to-face with the client? No, I rarely talk with the client. A lot of the wants and needs of the client are previously discussed with the Art Director.

3. Tell me about your favorite piece of work in your portfolio? Why did you make it? Oh gosh, I honestly don't know. I've made hundreds, and can't remember all of them. I guess I don't have a favorite because I cherish all of my work. They're like my babies, you know? 

4. How do you get inspired? I get inspired by many things -- movies I watch, artwork at museums, and the interactions I encounter with people. There is never a time when I haven't been inspired by something or someone. Inspiration is all around us.

5. What kind of illustration projects are you most interested in? There aren't many magazine illustrations anymore. I used to work on covers for TIME magazine. Anyway, I would say I like creating book covers. Right now I'm working on a cover for a book relating to past female artists.  

6. Tell me about  some ways you get your name and artwork out there? What methods were successful and which ones were unsuccessful, why do you think they worked or did not work Definitely through social media such as Facebook. Any social media has drastically changed the way artists can make their work noticeable.