Tell us a bit about yourself and how you found your way to a creative career.
I am an illustrator based in New Jersey, and I love making work with inked lines, bright colors, and vintage inspired textures. Also, with a sparkle, (both metaphorically and literally…). I have this vivid memory of a trip to Peru when I was about 9 years old. I had visited my mother’s family there prior, but I was just a baby at the time, so this trip was going to be memorable. Around this time, I had already had an interest in art, painting, drawing whenever I could and so, when I learned that my uncle was also a art hobbyist, I was floored. No one else in my family had an interest in art, and here was my uncle a continent away, sharing the same feelings as me. He showed me his sketchbook filled with beautiful illustrations all done in pencil and color, and then gave me the sketchbook to finish filling the last bit of its empty pages after he also taught me some drawing techniques. I pinpoint this memory to be the “fuel to my fire” in the pursuit of a creative life and eventually, an illustration career propelled by the encouragement of my loved ones.
How did you find your medium and style, and who and what influenced you?
I was, for some reason, always “afraid” of color when making art when I was younger. I didn't feel like I was any good at understanding color theory or really using color in the best way, so for a while I pondered the idea of being a strictly Black and white artist. I always loved artist’s who had strong linework and could make such evocative art without color. My early illustration influencers were James Jean (specifically his sketchbook colorless work) and also old Andy Warhol drawings when he used to make commercial illustrations. They inspired me to make work with just a pen and “have at it”. I am most comfortable when I am simply “inking”. But, somewhere along the journey I was told if I wanted to be an illustrator I definitely needed to use color, haha, and eventually we became friends! I am definitely inspired by the bright and vintage feel of the advertisement eras of the 1950s-70s.
What subjects are you most fascinated with?
I am absolutely fascinated by the “oddities” in life! Whether it's strange creatures of the ocean, scientific depictions of weird viruses, or the crazy patterns and fashion moments of the 1970s, I love being inspired by the “quirky” facets of things. My favorite kinds of illustration to make are the ones where I get to overload details and “little moments” of things all over the place, and I enjoy including these subjects as unexpected things whenever I can.
What illustration trend are you either loving or hating at the moment?
I feel like there's been a recent trend of “messy” and ~loose illustrations, all inspired by analog forms of illustrating that I’ve always loved doing in my work and am so excited to see resurgence of in others! There is something exciting about seeing illustrations that you can definitely see and know that a human took part in making it, especially in our current climate of AI being a common new force in the creative industry.
How do you create characters, what inspires them, how do you use color?
Any sort of characters that appear in my work always come from my real life. They are inspired by my family or friends, the clothes they wear, and quite literally sometimes even their likeness from the reference photos I take of them. I love using bright and “unexpected” colors for my characters, especially the clothing they wear. I always imagine a more fun-filled world in my illustrations featuring the kinds of colors I don’t always see day to day in a sea of people.
If you had to pick a favorite project, which one are you most proud of and why?
Picking a favorite project is like picking a favorite child! But I’ll pick a favorite from my most recently completed work, which would have to be the work I did for Pasa’s Sustainable Agriculture Conference! I was invited to submit a brand design proposal for this year's conference and eventually, was thankfully picked to be this year's artist. It was amazing to have my work be the “face” of their conference, and also, just simply working with such an amazing organization like Pasa. It is rare to have “full reign” on the art direction of my illustrations, so this project almost felt like a personal one and not for someone else! I got to draw my favorite things like plants, tiny groups of people and moments, and even a silly pig and sheep and even pick to use my own color palettes. I was so proud of how everything came together for the main brochure, and especially in awe of how their graphic design used assets of my illustrations to then “brand” the rest of the conference’s materials. Also having the opportunity to attend the conference in person and see all my work “live” was just truly unforgettable!
Describe your dream project.
My dream project would have to be a big advertising gig. I think most people, when they are little, dream of being on a billboard somewhere, where they make “blown up” huge for everyone to see. It feels, I assume, as an “I made it” moment. And, especially in illustration where I feel a lot of work may exist digitally exclusively, it is so exciting to have my work exist out in the “real world”. The dream would be to have my illustrations on big screens and signs all throughout the country!
What’s next for you?
Just to keep going! I often remind myself whenever I am feeling down creatively, that I am just beginning my career. I just recently completed my first full year as a working Illustrator and I am so incredibly grateful for the amount of work I have been given and for the amazing people I have worked with. It feels like a slow build to something even more amazing next and I am just hopeful for things ahead. My next true goal though is to take this ~thing full time!
Rapid Fire Round!
Morning person or night owl?
Night Owl! Though, I truly love daylight, oops
Favorite word
“Crisp”, I have always just loved the way it sounded like what it also meant -satisfying..
Lunch or dinner?
Lunch
A celebrity you’d like to have a drink with
Lady Gaga
If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?
Past, too afraid to have knowledge of the future!
Sweet or savory?
Savory
Are you a thinker or doer?
Thinker for sure!
Go-to karaoke song
This always changes for me! Right now it's “Careless Whisper”
City break or beach holiday?
City break
What superpower would you like to have?
Flying hands down
Thank you Kaitlin!
