05 Sep 2016
Next in our interviews series is Cat Rose, designer, entrepreneur, and overall creative. Cat works as freelance on design and online marketing projects, writes at The Creative Introvert blog, and ran the Get Your Art Out Summer Camp online course to teach artists how to successfully promote their work.
Where did the road to become a successful web designer and entrepreneur began for you?
I think it began back at university: I was in my 2nd year of a rather out-dated print-based design degree, and overheard some older students say 'All the jobs are in web design!" So... I decided if my university couldn't teach me, I'd learn it myself!
After landing an internship at a digital agency during my final few months of studying, I've been able to live off those web design skills. That's what enabled me to pay the bills whilst going down this more 'entrepreneurial' route!
You run The Creative Introvert blog. Where does this project come from?
I suppose it was my personal fascination with personality types: learning I am an introvert and what that means for me as a creative entrepreneur. I wanted to share my experiences with others who might be in the same boat, and that's when I started blogging about it.
I also began the League of Creative Introverts: it may seem odd for an introvert to start an online community(!) but I really wanted to create a space where we could connect yet not feel pressured to be pushy or 'loud'.
What do we introverts have to offer to the world?
So much! My favourite introvert quality is our ability to listen. It seems like a lot of the advice online is all about speaking louder to get our message across, which I agree is necessary, but it's through listening that we really learn and connect with others. Introverts are fantastic at that.
You still do a lot of freelance work. What qualities does a client and project need to have for you to feel comfortable and motivated?
Interestingly a lot of projects that sound dull at first become really fun when the client is open to new ideas. That's all I need: for myself and a client to communicate well, and see eye-to-eye makes any job enjoyable!
What good (and bad) things do you feel the Internet and the new technologies have brought to the creative sectors?
I think, particularly as an introvert, we're given the impression that everything (from setting up our business to getting clients or customers) can be done from behind our laptop screen.
I'm all for the 'lifestyle' creative, who can work from anywhere in the world, but I've found that meeting people in person is the key to finding fulfilling work, and having more of an impact.
And last, but not least: What would you say to aspiring illustrators and creatives about the importance of finding clients and paying attention to the marketing side of their careers?
Be patient. I can't say I'm the most patient person, but it's something I'm learning. It can be tempting to give up on a project or career choice when things aren't moving as quickly as you like, but it's amazing what happens when you relax and let it be.
I like to look back at the end of each month and see everything I've accomplished - it keeps me motivated to keep on truckin'!
Thanks a lot, Cat!
31 Aug 2016
Time to get back to work! To make things easier for you, we worked on one of the most asked features: Custom Menus!
From now on, you can set up your menu items as you wish in "Menu and Navigation". You can choose from our "system" items (Home, Contact, About..) and any page or gallery on your site. Cliking on "Sort item menus", you can also order them in the same way you already do with pictures, gallery and pages.
For any doubt, question, suggestion or problem, please contact us at uservoice or write us at [email protected].
18 Jul 2016
As you know, we also work to get you opportunities and discounts on interesting stuff around art and illustration (as we already did with our friends from Thrive).
This time, we talked with Cat Rose (who runs The Creative Introvert blog), who is launching a super-interesting online course for creatives: Get Your Art Out Summer Camp. And we got you a 25% off discount!
Get Your Art Out Summer Camp is a 4-week online course created to give you a step-by-step system for getting your art seen, shared (and ultimately, get you paid!)
If you’re a creative who struggles with the icky-feeling that comes with promoting your work - then you might be interested in GYAO (Get Your Art Out) Summer Camp. Over 4-weeks, you’ll learn how to:
- Overcome any mental blocks around showing your work
- Learn how to craft the perfect pitch and talk about what you do
- Find out exactly who wants your work - and how to find them
- How to connect with peers and influencers (and get seen)
Learn more details and get a 25% discount with our promo code DRAW25.
08 Jul 2016
We are pleasured to bring you an interview with a talented artist from our very home town, Valencia: Coté Escrivá. Coté is designer and illustrator, has a unique style influenced by animation, street art, or tattoos, and he puts it in action on both comissions and personal projects. He has also has showed his solo exhibition Stolen Icon in UK and Spain.
Tell us a bit about yourself: How did the road began for you to get into art and illustration?
Well, for those who don't know me, I'm a designer and illustrator. I really started as a graphic designer, but I gradually became disillusioned with the profession and my interest in illustration grew. I began practicing, trying new ideas and posting them in social networks. People liked them and I got the chance to show my work on exhibitions, magazines and blogs. And that brought my first customers!
You work simultaniously in several fields: graphic design, illustration, street art, or even sculpture. Do you think is important to do diverse work, or would you like to focus more on some field?
I don't do it because I think it's important to diversify, I do it because I enjoy it a lot! I get bored if I have to do the same thing again and again. I love all these disciplines, so I try to devote time to all of them.
In "Stolen Icon", your solo exhibition, you explore popular culture through unexpected "remixes" of mass-public visual icons that everyone knows. Could you tell us more about the birth of this project, and how did it became a reality?
I think it's important to have a starting point when producing pieces for an exhibition. I had already seen artists like D*Face or Banksy using this approach in their creations. Actually, it's kind of "fashionable" to do this kind of remixes, specially abroad, and I really wanted to do my own version of it. I always try to create powerful, strong illustrations, and using very known visual icons helps with that and is lots of fun.
Where do you find inspiration for your work, and how do you melt your sources of inspiration to create a unique style like yours?
I do get inspiration from other artists I find interesting. I actually spend a lot of time looking for images on instagram, facebook, or blogs. I also buy a lot of comics and books. I get a lot of inspiration from the street: urban art and graffiti really draw my attention. Any detail can be an inspiration: a pattern, a drawing, or people's clothes.
What good (and bad) things do you feel the Internet and the new technologies have brought to your field?
I think we get more positive things from it, rather than negative. You can reach in a cost-efficient way to loads of people. Barriers seem not to be there anymore, and it's easy to collaborate with people all over the world.
The bad side of it is how fast we consume art now: you feel the pressure to keep demonstrating you are relevant. If you don't post anything, you are good as dead, and I don't like that. Internet has accelerated everything, and sometimes I find it difficult do disconnect and get things quiet.
And last, but not least: any advice for aspiring illustrators and graffiti writers just starting up their careers?
Be perserverant, success doesn't come overnight. It comes from working and insisting again and again. I've done a lot of jobs and learnt something from every single of them. Try to grow as a professional and as a person, learn from people around you, learning to listen, and always enjoy the moment!
Thank you Coté!
30 Jun 2016
We met Mercedes Bellido at Les Arts PRO 2016, and after listening to her views about the illustration profession, we just knew we had to intreview her. Mercedes is from Zaragoza, but lives at Madrid, where she combines illustration work with her own unique style, art direction for fashion firm Kling, and an intense activity on social media (specially Instagram).
Tell us a bit about yourself: How did the road began for you to get into art and illustration?
I decided to study Fine Arts at Cuenca and that was the igniter for me to take risks and devote myself to painting and illustration.
Where do you find inspiration for your work, and how do you melt your sources of inspiration to create a unique style like yours?
I get inspiration from different things and sources. I got clear referents like Henri Rousseau, David Hockney, Aleksandra Waliszewska or Giorgio De Chirico, but I don't get influenced only by painters or artists. I get inspiration from childhood memories, things that draw my attention during the day-to-day, or books I've recently read. The most important thing is to find the way to make these ideas real and make them your own.
Aside from your personal production, you also work as Art Director at the fashion firm Kling. Does it get difficult to alternate both worlds? What are your views on the relation between illustration and fashion?
It gets really difficult to get all the time needed. But with lots of effort, persistence, and good time management, it is possible to get everything done. The most important thing is a good motivation, it is impossible without that.
Illustration always has had an important role on fashion, from mannequins and sketching new clothings, to prints and patterns. I think illustration and fashion go really well together and results are always interesting.
You've got a strong social media presence. How much time do you spend managing your personal brand? Do you think the influencer phenomenom is a temporary fashion or will become a new profession?
I spend much more time that I'd like in social media. Social media is a powerful tool to spread your job and portfolio, but they consume an insane amount on time. It's not only posting stuff, but replying to comments and also keeping an eye on people's reaction to things.
I think bloggers, tweetstars and instagrammers will be fashionable until the next hot thing comes up. But right now, for me it is just like another job.
What good (and bad) things do you feel the Internet and the new technologies have brought to your field?
I think Internet is key to show your work and access content everywhere. A negative aspect can be that your work is more easy to steal, but that's a risk you take before playing the Internet game. The most important thing is to keep working and using Internet in an addecuate fashion.
And last, but not least: any advice for aspiring artists and illustrators just starting up their careers?
I guess my advice would be: lots of effort, set up your own little goals to prevent burn-out, and seek a personal style to be comfortable with.
Thanks a lot, Mercedes!
