BETH BERST

Beth Berst always has a tune playing in her head. Sometimes as she emails people at her tangerine iMac or mixes up a new bread recipe in her tangerine Kitchenaid stand mixer, she often starts humming a random made-up tune out loud without even realizing it. When Beth picks up a pencil or a radiograph, her creativity pours out almost as automatically as does her soundtrack.

Beth does not work with just one medium, but a variety; it changes about every month. Recently, she became very excited when she found a burnt sepia fine tip pen that she has been looking for; she always does favor an earth tone palette. No matter what tool she picks up, her illustrations always
have a nice inviting innocence to them. When most people look at her artwork (just read the viewer comments on her blog), they feel inspired, charmed, nostalgic, or happy. It will usually provoke a smile or a tear, or both.

- Chad Gregory

Visit Beth's online creative home at www.sunberst.com


When did you first decide to become a graphic designer/ illustrator? Was there a pivotal moment?

Shortly after learning to tie my shoes, I'd crawl the ladder to the loft space of my Grandparent's barn and arrange bales of hay into makeshift sofas and tables, sketching onto scraps of paper. Using scotch tape, I'd hang all of my fine drawings of dogs, birds, girls & trees onto the dusty barn walls and pretend that it was my gallery. The cats and the barn swallows would all come to look at my art and purr and nod their approval. This made me happy, and I knew that I wanted to stay that happy for the rest of my life.


Who or what inspires you?

Inspiration comes to me from a multitude of people & places. I really appreciate nature, and can easily pick up creative vibes while on travels, hikes & adventures. It is that feeling of being free, which allows me tap into myself that is inspiring. I also like the urban environment- the textures of stone buildings, the narrow feeling of alleyways, store windows, the faces of strangers. A good balance of both the untouched country and the worn out city. I'm also drawn to textiles- curtains, pillows & wallpaper. Flavors and textures of new foods inspire me a great deal, too. Or maybe I just use that as an excuse to eat.

One particular artist who has been a huge inspiration to me is Margaret Kilgallen. She appreciated the same core things that I believe in. Making things with the hand, knowing that the hand is not perfect, that it creates lines that waver (as she would say). And that is beautiful. In this modern world, where many things are done on the computer or are mass-produced, it is refreshing to see something done by hand. Something that the artists put themselves into, taking the time to touch each piece and to become part of the process.

Another artist that inspires me is Souther Salazar. What really gets me excited about his work is that it is what I call friendly art. It is the type of art that speaks to you and says "Hey, come on over. Sit down and have a cup of tea and take a look around". It is all in the details. There really is a lot going on in his pieces. That is something that I always want to do, but I find myself stopping when it is safe. He just keeps going, and I admire that. It is one thing that I am trying to work on lately, to push past that safe zone and give something more for people to look at. Because there is a lot going on in my head, even a bit chaotic at times. And I want to dump all of that out onto paper, even if it is a bit messy.


Where does your training come from? Self-taught? College/Art School?

I attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago and met some wonderfully creative people there. My training was somewhat structured and traditional. Outside of the classroom I spent a lot of time sketching on the trains and in parks. There is plenty to learn in the classroom, but there is even more to learn inside of you.


How do you keep "fresh" within your industry?

To keep fresh in the industry, I try to keep things fresh & interesting in my personal life. I also love to go to the galleries to learn about new artists and see what kinds of messages they are sending through their work. I like to see what others have taken the time to create. To feel their passions, and to know that everyone has a story.


What are some of your current projects?

This month, I am starting a year-long project with several other artists. It is a project called "Journeys", and I will be creating a new piece of art every month for 12 months. All of the art is going to end up in a book that is to be published early in 2007. I'm really excited about this project, and expect to learn a lot about myself and the other artists along the way.


Which of your projects are you the most proud of? And why?

I'm always most proud of whatever I am working on at the moment, so this changes weekly. I always get a satisfaction when I complete something, and completion is something to be proud of. To know that you can overcome obstacles and get something done that is honest & pure.


Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?

There are so many techniques that I'd love to try! Where to begin? Last year I dabbled in beeswax and would really like to try encaustic painting. Silk screening is another process that I have played with, but would like to take it a step further and become more comfortable with the process. I love playing with new tools and materials.


Any advice to the novice designer/ illustrator?

The best advice I can give to those new to the industry is "Be open". Remain open to criticism, open to praise, open to change. Take up an internship or study under someone you admire. Network with other artists. Become involved in your community. Learn to be confident, yet remain humble. Learn how to soak up things and use that to build upon who you are. Take a sketchbook with you on your daily adventures. Sketch in it often. Don't think too hard about what you draw, just let it come free & natural. And of course, stay true to yourself.


What makes a designed piece or illustration successful?

A successful illustration is one that communicates a message or idea and creates feeling. I want people to feel. I want people to feel sad, happy, warm, indifferent... it does not matter what the feeling is. As long as they take something away from it and it creates emotion.


What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?

I keep myself motivated by reminding myself that others are counting on me to perform. I hate letting others down, so this is usually enough motivation. To avoid burnout, I learn balance. One of the hardest things to do is learning when to say "no". Sometimes you have to turn down a project when you have too much on your plate. You can't feel bad for that.


And finally, what is the best thing on prime time TV right now?

The weather channel, because I'm always looking to play outside and need to know how to dress. That and the thought of warm fronts can get me excited.


Related Link:

www.sunberst.com

Recent Work:

posted by Jeff @ 12:20 AM 2 comments links to this post

WENDY LEE OLDFIELD

Graphic design is my life. I live and breathe it, and there's nothing more exciting to me than design, creativity, and idea generation. I am currently coauthoring a book called "W!RED: Caffeine for the Creative Mind" for HOW Books. This book is a collection of exercises that can be used to stretch your creative mind and aid in daily creative maintenance. The book also includes interviews with designers such as Margo Chase, Jeff Fisher, Steve Morris, John Foster, John and Sheree Clark of Sayles Graphic Design, Ingo J. Ramin, Kevin Carroll, and many others. In addition to the book, my coauthor (Stefan Mumaw) and I will be speaking at the HOW Design Conference next year in Las Vegas.


When did you first decide to become a graphic designer/illustrator? Was there a pivotal moment?

From the time I was born I was into “artsy” stuff. My first masterpiece was created at age 2 with Vaseline and my parents’ brand new sofa. At 16 I attended an international school in Amsterdam where I started an intense 2-year International Baccalaureate program. My best subject (and the one that I got the highest grade in) was art, and my worst was science (chemistry, to be specific). Funnily enough, I wanted to study food science and nutrition. My first year in the United States at Chapman University was filled with food science, chemistry, nutrition, and mathematics. Food was my obsession. Literally. I had been struggling with anorexia, and it was my disease that chose this field of study – not me. After a year of intense in-patient treatment, I started to really get into web design. I loved this band called silverchair, and I wanted so desperately to design a website for fans that was legible, easy to navigate, and that just plain looked cool. But I had no idea how to do it. It was at that moment when I decided that I wanted to return to Chapman University as a graphic design major. I wanted to enjoy life sitting at a computer, eating a bag of potato chips, and marveling at the beauty of design instead of sitting at a computer and analyzing the nutritional content of the bag of potato chips.

Who or what inspires you?

Am I allowed to say everything? That’s such a lame answer, I know, but it’s true! I love learning. I think that’s an important attribute of a designer. With new clients that could range from The National Aardvark Society to NASA, designers have to be able to learn everything they can about who their client is so that they can convey the client’s message effectively. You have to live and breathe your client.

From a purely inspirational standpoint, I love books. There’s nothing more appealing to me than spending an entire Saturday in a Borders bookstore in the design section marveling at all of the books and sipping an iced coffee. My favorite “reads” would be books containing patterns and textiles (many of these books can be found in Borders and Barnes and Nobles), and design magazines such as HOW and Lurzer’s International Archive.

I love paper samples. I love meeting other designers and finding out what makes them tick. I love traveling and exploring different cultures. Music and music video watching are a recent hobby of mine (music videos have become so much more “creative”), as well as intros to movies. I love seeing the title sequences of movies – it shows how design is now being more integrated in other mediums such as film, PDA graphics, iPods, etc.


Where does your training come from? Self-taught? College/Art School?

Most of my design training came from Chapman University. They taught a lot of classes on design, form, color, typography, etc, and I definitely learnt how to use the basic programs there, but I really think that you sort of have to have a certain amount of natural talent. Sometimes during critiques I would look at a piece and know that it was “wrong”, but I didn’t yet know how to verbalize what exactly about it that was wrong. School taught me how to identify what it was that was “wrong” and to communicate that effectively so that others would be able to understand as well. When push comes to shove, I think your portfolio is all that matters. I don’t care if you have an MFA or an 8^th grade-level education; if you have the talent, the drive, and an awesome portfolio, you’re good to go.


How do you keep “fresh” within your industry?

I’m always reading – the news, design magazines, designers’ posts in design forums on the Internet. I love finding random things online, or a new wacky store, and just exploring it. Sometimes these unusual places or things may later inspire an idea or a thought that will solve a design problem for a project. Sometimes it won’t. Regardless of what happens, you will always be learning and accumulating knowledge, and in my opinion that’s the most important and powerful tool that anyone can have.


What are some of your current projects?

A new identity project for The Heart Gallery of Orange County which included a re-design of their logo and website.

A new website for Trader Joes.

A book that I’m coauthoring and designing for HOW Books called
“W!RED: Caffeine for the Creative Mind”.


Which of your projects are you the most proud of? And why?

I’m really proud of a Swissair campaign that I did in my senior year of design school. I wanted to communicate the idea that travel today is so common and enables more mobility and allows the average joe schmoe the opportunity to experience other cultures. I wanted to reflect that increased mobility with the merging of different cultures’ foods. California is a great example of a place where you can get pretty much any type of food that you want – Japanese, Thai, Indian, African, etc. I wanted to over exaggerate this adoption of other cultures’ foods by visually merging them with classic stereotypes. For example, all of us are familiar with spaghetti/pasta and Italy. Many of us also eat sushi and are familiar with hand rolls/sea weed. Combine the two and you have a great example of a melting-pot society – made possible by Swissair of course!

(See attached .jpg of artwork)


Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?

I haven’t experienced very many packaging projects, and that’s something that I would love to take a stab at. It would be lovely to work on something three dimensional and tangible, and that people can interact with on a tactile level.


Any advice to the novice designer/illustrator?

Do what you love. If you truly love design, just do it. Don’t worry about money or let it rule your decisions. I occasionally do projects pro-bono just because I know that it would be a great design piece and that it will make me feel good. The paying work will eventually find you. Most of my big clients now came from small pro-bono projects that I did. You never know what might happen. I would also focus on self-promotion. It’s one of the most important things a designer can do to get their name out there and familiarize others about you. The more they see or hear your name, the more they will subconsciously have that name engraved in their mind for a future design project. Jeff Fisher of Jeff Fisher LogoMotives is one of the few designers who actually understands this important aspect of design. My last piece of advice would be to always be friendly, kind and courteous to people no matter who they are. You never know when you might meet that person again and what opportunities might arise from your relationship.


What makes a designed piece or illustration successful?

Success is a relative term. Success to me (a designer) means that the piece effectively communicates the client’s message, is balanced well, looks good, and the client is happy with it. But very rarely does the finished piece actually turn out the way you want it to. Clients often change things, and although you don’t agree with them there comes a point where you just have to do what they say. They are, after all, the ones that are paying you. As a designer, my job is to bring my expertise into the piece (as far as composition, suggestions, ideas, etc), but in the end if the client wants the ad to be neon green, I have to make it neon green (or at least fight like hell against it, and then settle for something in between).


What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?

I pick up my book, W!RED, get away from the computer, and do some of the exercises. I get away from the computer - I won’t even check my email. I usually go hiking, or head to Borders (with my iced coffee), or watch a movie. I pretty much just participate in life and absorb everything I can. I spend so much time in front of the computer that it is actually refreshing to do something else – even if that something else is washing my car. To me I think the weekend is very important for a designer. It’s a time for your conscious mind to switch off and for your subconscious mind to turn on. I believe that this is of utmost importance for the following week or for a project that you need that “big idea” for.


What is the best thing on prime time TV right now?

Medium, Celebrity Poker, and Survivor!


Related Links:

W!RED: Caffeine for the Creative Mind

Vekay Creative

Recent Work:

posted by Jeff @ 11:49 PM 1 comments links to this post

MONICA LEE

Hi! My name is Monica Lee. I am a professional illustrator. I have worked in the children's market and have recently started licensing my art. I also do the traditional design projects, websites, logos, brochures, etc. I owned my own greeting card company Monica Lee Studios and realized I liked the illustrating more than managing sales reps! During all this, I have been a mom and wife (girlfriend, sister, daughter) and an international flight attendant. (A girl needs to get out once and awhile!)


When did you first decide to become a graphic designer/ illustrator? Was there a pivotal moment?

Which time?! HA! I have recommitted myself to my art career several times as it has evolved. I owned my own greeting card company for several years and then I divorced and decided to close it. After I emerged from that sorrowful time I attended an SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) conference and really committed (again) to an art career. So far, so good!


Who or what inspires you?

Tough question! So much! Even though I am in a visual field, books are a huge sense of inspiration for me. It must be the story teller in me. Other artists also inspire me, I love to hear their success stories. I have a whole section on my website dedicated to being inspired and staying focused! I think artists should stay connected because it can be hard to work in a vacuum if you are working alone.


Where does your training come from? Self-taught? College/Art School?

I studied art in college and learned all the design and traditional art basics but it was so long ago, (another ouch! I am old!) I didn't learn any computer graphic skills so I recently returned to school just for computer graphics. It is tricky to keep both skills in check. I am going to take a life drawing class at RSDI this winter because I haven't drawn from life in awhile.


How do you keep "fresh" within your industry?

Well, I guess the answer above would fit this but I also attend SCBWI conferences and spend time looking at what art is out there.


What are some of your current projects?

I am doing a great project now! It is the cover art for a Young Adult novel book series based on a popular movie...love the word "series"!


Which of your projects are you the most proud of? And why?

I am always the most proud of the work I just completed (does that make me shallow)? I can't link to my book covers, they aren't out yet but I have been working on illustrations geared towards fashion. I have been involved in licensing projects and that seems to be getting a lot of response for me now. I am actually proud of my website www.monicaleestudios.com my blog and some articles I have written have turned out to be a great forum for connecting people and motivating them to stay inspired.


Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?

I just gesso'd a piece of watercolor paper-yikes and I am going to try using some Finity Windsor Newton acrylics. I traditionally work in watercolor and digitally but I have painted several murals with acrylics so I thought I should stretch myself a bit.


Any advice to the novice designer/ illustrator?

Read this! The Care and Feeding of a Dream.


What makes a designed piece or illustration successful?

If it does what it is supposed to do..or if you do what you were hired to do. Are you telling a story, evoking an emotion? Selling something, branding a product? Does it complete the task? I know that doesn't sound too profound, but I am a *commercial* artist.


What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?

I attend an illustrators group that meets once a month, it is nice to be around like minded people. If you can't do that, I have really enjoyed blogging with other artists.


And finally, what is the best thing on prime-time TV right now?

Well, as a girl who was raised primarily in the South, the show My Name is Earl cracks me up!



Recent Work:

posted by Jeff @ 10:30 PM 0 comments links to this post