IRISZ AGOCS
My name is Irisz Agocs I'm an illustrator and I live in Hungary in Central Europe.
I've always drawn, but I started to working as an illustrator four years ago. Before that I studied cultural anthropology and ethnography at University. When I was about 18 my family told me that I should go to art school, but I didn't think I was good enough. A few years later I realized that there is nothing else that I like to do more than draw, so I started to work very hard to make it a career.
I'm currently doing vector illustrations for e-learning courses, that's my official job. My husband and I have a small graphic studio where we make online and offline graphic design. You can visit our website at
http://www.artistamuvek.hu . Next to these I started to make watercolour illustrations a half year ago, and for now I think I like to paint more than anything else. I would love to illustrate children's books.
I love to read, listening to slow music and eating chocolate. I think these things help me a lot to do my job right.
When did you first decide to become a graphic designer/ illustrator? Was there a pivotal moment?I was born into an artistic family, my grandmother and her mum and brother were painters, my mum teaches art, and my father was a decorator. The strange thing was that moment when I decided not to do art, I walked away from art, but finally I'm back. So I don't think there was a pivotal moment, there were a few moments when I thought I should, other times I thought I shouldn't, but for now I'm very sure that I have to paint.
Who or what inspires you?I'm a fanatical gallery visitor, I also spend hours surfing the internet, visiting and bookmarking illustration sites. My second favorite place after galleries are the bookshops, I collect picture books. So I like to see different creations in various styles, that inspires me.
Where does your training come from? Self-taught? College/Art School?I'm mainly self-taught, but I did go to an art school for young children on top of elementary school, and that gave me a very good start. Later I took a few lessons in different studios, drawing and painting live models. But I didn't learn the techniques, and other secrets about art there. I originally studied something different at university, but I learned a lot about how to find information. Step by step, how to do things your own way, where to find the things that you need, and I learned a special way of thinking that helps me with make illustrations, trying different ways of painting.
How do you keep "fresh" within your industry?I read a lot and I observe a lot. I love to read, I like poems, and novels or short stories. I always imagine everything and sometimes I draw pictures about what I've read.
What are some of your current projects?My most important current project is my big change from working mainly on computer to working mainly by hand. That means that now I'm working very hard to compile a portfolio of high quality, professional illustrations and to find publishers. I've just started to illustrate my very first picture-book as a reference. Maybe at this time it seems like I'm painting just for fun, but I feel I really need to change, this is what I'm really good at, so it's a good investment and will help me to get really good comissions to illustrate children books. I'm putting all of my energy into this project, as well as trying to do all my other jobs correctly beside this one.
Which of your projects are you the most proud of? And why? Funny, because I like to paint better than working on the computer, but my favorite project is a vector illustration series for an e-learning legal course. The text was so difficult, so I made very light, simple and funny illustrations for it.
Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?I'm planning to try other mediums, now I use watercolour, but I would like to paint with gouache and than acrylic or oil. I'll also try to paint larger pictures and maybe not just for children. I need a bit bigger studio to try these things but I hope that we can move soon into a new flat, and I'll get more space.
Any advice to the novice designer/ illustrator?Read a lot, observe a lot, draw a lot!!!
I think that as much experiences comes in as much art can come out. You always have to discover new experiences, and get new ideas from them. And the other important thing that I believe is that you have to enjoy yourself, and always make decisions thinking of this.
What makes a designed piece or illustration successful?There is something more in a piece of art than perfect technique, and good materials. Something you could call spirit. Something that you can't formulate with words, that you feel it very deeply if you look at it.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?Oh, I can't imagine that I could ever burn-out, drawing is as natural for me as being hungry. There is always something that I need to draw. If I get a pencil into my hand I can't stop myself from drawing... creatures are always coming out. No way I'll burn out. But maybe that's because I'm very curious to see a lot, get adventurous and experience new things.
And finally, what is the best thing on prime-time TV right now?I don't watch TV, I've never been good at TV-watching, I haven't even got one. I feel for me watching TV is wasting my time, I'd rather read or visit an art gallery.
Related Links:My online portfolio is:
http://www.artistamuvek.huand my blog is:
http://artistamuvek.blogspot.comRecent Work:
MEG HUNT
One of the first thing Meg Hunt hears in response to her age is 'You're so young!' It's really not true, but she's twenty three, grown up near the beaches of Connecticut and transplanted into the Arizona desert where she lives with her dutiful assistant and her small dog. Meg is an illustrator, freelancing for the past year and a half; her clients have so far included Rockpile, Bust, Utne, the Phoenix New Times, the Stranger, Fantagraphics Comics, K Records, and a few more. She spends her time watching cartoons and British comedies and drawing, veering between silkscreening, illustration, comics and the like. Her personal motto is QUIRKY ART FOR QUIRKY TIMES, 365/24/7, and Meg is always up for a challenge. Besides art, Meg likes good company, noodles, exploration, thrift shops and yard sales, and tricycles.
When did you first decide to become a graphic designer/ illustrator? Was there a pivotal moment?I've always been interested in art since I was a kid, but I didn't have much of a plan. When it came to figuring out what to do with my zeal for art, illustration seemed to be pretty logical, but it hit a rocky period when I hit high school and college. I fell in love with the idea of being an illustrator my senior year of high school, but the college courses I took left me disillusioned; for two semesters at the University of Connecticut my illustration professor, the ever amazing Cora Lynn Deibler, was on sabbatical and I didn't really get a good feel for the kind of work illustration could provide with the adjunct faculty hired to fill her shoes. But then, I won an award for illustration, spent two more semesters learning all the exciting and scary things that illustration can offer, and I've been hooked ever since.
Who or what inspires you?Everything; I really dig the work of friends (their productivity makes me feel inspired to make more), but of course I like looking outside of the art world for influence. I find myself inspired by old posters, toys, garbage, patterns in fabric, fashion, pop culture and manufacturing, printmaking, educational programs on the Discovery Channel or TLC, books, cartoons, videogames, and music. Lots of music inspiration.
As for people that really inspire me, I gotta name people like Ghostshrimp, the Little Friends of Printmaking, Jillian Tamaki, Sam Weber, and Josh Cochran totally floor me and surprise me all the time.
Where does your training come from? Self-taught? College/Art School?I attended four years of college at the University of Connecticut. We're not really that well known for our art, but I got a BFA majoring both in illustration and printmaking. The printmaking aspect really swung my style into perspective, I found my niche in silkscreening and as a result all my artwork tends to reflect that. Lots of flat uses of color and graphic lines now. The printmaking side also helped out because my professors always tried to get me to explore with technique, not to get so stiff. So the way I work is a lot more fluid and painterly than a lot of other silkscreeners I've met. Though I'm not terribly proud of the work I did in school now looking back upon them, it definitely set the building blocks up for what's coming out now.
How do you keep "fresh" within your industry?Well, I guess I haven't been at it long enough to be truly stale yet, but I don't like to do the same thing twice. Though sometimes I have recurring elements, I keep trying to push myself, whether by color, line, perspective, or character, so it keeps being odd and interesting. I'm also trying to sharpen my brain with word exercises and such so I can get my concepts better sharpened.
What are some of your current projects?I've just wrapped up a design for a letterpress print that'll be released as a limited edition set to coincide with Fantagraphics' upcoming book BEASTS!, and right now I'm working on a series of drawings for The Believer and some collaborative wallet designs for Poketo. Besides that, I'm also working on a zombie comic with my sister
A. Hunt. Other than that I'm just trying to get work published, maybe get some t-shirts printed, get my silkscreen press financed and put together so I can print again, and perhaps a limited edition art print?
And of course, I'm just scrabbling towards getting more freelance work, sending postcards, the usual hustle!
Which of your projects are you the most proud of? And why?Ha, typically I'm most proud of whatever I've just finished. I'm pretty proud of
the work I've done for Fantagraphics, but I guess it's just being tied into a fantastic project with so many of my favorite artists. I dunno, it's too hard to really pick out something I'm more proud of at this point.
Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?There's always things to try! But I know there is a lot to silkscreening that I am raring to explore again, particularly split fountains, varnished layers, diecuts, etc. I've pretty much sworn off painting, so that's right out. I haven't tried competing in illustration yet, so I guess that's something else to attempt!? I'd love to do some work for book covers, advertising, album art, product design, etc... So you name it, I want to try it!
Any advice to the novice designer/ illustrator?Be persistent, don't let yourself get run down by problems or failings. It takes time to get your name built up enough that people will know who you are. Some people get style obsessed, and some just flounder all over the place-- but I think it's best to just find what appeals to you and that you will have fun drawing down the line. Trends seem to go in and out, but you need to stick to what it is you do best and can work best in. Be natural, enjoy yourself and have fun-- and try and learn all you can about the business side of illustration. There's a lot to it, and it can be scary, but better to be informed than ignorant!
What makes a designed piece or illustration successful?I think if you can look at it and get lost in the details, it turns out great. Great concepts are important too of course; and I find myself more drawn to things that aren't just drawing what you might see in real life. I can see an illustration and it might look great but if it doesn't make me think a little bit or really strike me with its humor or emotion I'll just walk away or close the magazine or whatever. If I come back to it more than once, it's hooked me.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?I try to find more work. It's harder for me to just work on personal work, because I feel so tied to having a reason to make it-- an end product or a project or a work assignment. If I can figure out a project or get more work then I can shut off the part of my brain that worries too much. Sometimes it's tough but I always pull through so I just try and not let it get to me.
And finally, what is the best thing on prime-time TV right now?I don't have cable since I moved, so I've been largely subsiding off of DVDs, but I know if I did have my way I'd be watching the oddity programs on TLC, the Venture Bros., Project Runway, Reno 911! and Celebrity Poker Showdown probably.? That's okay, more time for me to work in the long run! But typically I work alongside music or DVDS- I have a great tolerance for listening to certain things without getting sick of them!
Related Link:http://www.meghunt.comRecent Work:
HERIBERTO SANCHEZ
I was born in the mountains and was raised by wolves; okay I’ll be serious for a moment.
Hola! My name is Heriberto Sanchez (Heri). I’m a 25 years young freelance graphic designer from LA. I dream in illustrations and breathe design and composition. I have an obsession with cheese and the color green. I like drawing and I carry my sketchbook everywhere I go, and I just recently developed a taste for human blood, lol just kidding, I just wrote that to see if you were paying attention! :p I like to invent words, write short stories, take pictures and make up slogans like, “when worst come to worst, my sketchbook comes first”. I spend a lot of time drawing on my desk while listening to loud and repetitive electronic music.
When did you first decide to become a graphic designer/ illustrator? Was there a pivotal moment?
As an infant watching cartoons on television, going to kindergarden and building small houses out of clay, getting into trouble for drawing on the margins of my school books. At school, I was always consider the “artist” in the class. I was painting the backgrounds for the school’s plays. There was no pivotal moment when I decided to be an illustrator; the journey was spread out like butter on an English muffin. I always had an interest in art, especially cartoons, I grew up in the 80’s watching the Muppet Babies, The Thunder Cats, Cantinflas, Mazinger-Z, The Ninja Turtles, The Flintstones, Richie Rich and the Smurfs to name a few. I was influenced by the art of animation, then I decided to pursue and study animation in Los Angeles.
Who or what inspires you?
Artists and seeing their work inspires me. Friends and people I come in contact, situations in my life give me ideas for illustration. Being surrounded by art and artists inspires me. Comedians inspire me. Music, friends and the way people act and interact inspires me. Sometimes I sit and listen to my ipod while I look at people interact with each other, it’s interesting how much you learn about motion, gesture and behavior when you watch people.
Where does your training come from? Self-taught? College/Art School?
I just graduated from Westwood College with a Bachelor Degree in 3D Animation. I focused my time away from the computer into my sketch book; I took some painting classes on the side along with a lot of figure drawing. Most of what I learned was outside of class, it was independent research, online tutorials, books and magazines, and constantly staying up late at night drawing away for hours, which I still do today.
How do you keep "fresh" within your industry?
By being aware of the current trends, like clothing, music and news. Looking at magazines, books and newspapers. I also check out numerous websites with fantastic artists, if I see an illustration I like I save it and ask myself “why makes this so appealing?”. Sometimes I print out the artwork and pin it on my wall just to remind myself what other artists are doing, and I just enjoy surrounding my self with great art, it keeps me motivated and thinking creatively.
What are some of your current projects?
Currently working on building and polishing up my portfolio, my last portfolio was stolen not so long ago. Doing humorous illustrations, character design and layout design, I want to start working in the field of animation, and I need a full time job, I’m creating versatile designs to show that I can adapt to any style; however as an illustrator I have a specific style. I’m also working on an 8x10, 40 page book of mine that will be completed early next year. Also, I was just asked to do some drawings for a movie.
Which of your projects are you the most proud of? And why?
I’m proud of each piece in my portfolio, because I take pride and time on each piece.
Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?
I haven’t tried oil paints; I also want to get into the video game industry. I’ll give any medium a try.
Any advice to the novice designer/ illustrator?
I am not new to design, however I’m fairly new to the industry, and I will share some advice that was given to me by several instructors, have an open mind and be prepared for criticism and rejection. As far as my own advice, love what you do and your work will show it. Have a sketchbook with you at all times and draw what you see. Just like anything it takes about 4 years to get “good” at something, whether you practice martial arts, painting or bow hunting, it takes 4 years just to get “good”, so as a beginner designer it will be stressful and it will be tempting to skip a few steps with out first learning the fundamentals of design. I see this with artists that are just starting out.
Art is an iterative process so be patient, it takes a lot of practice. Learn beyond the classroom, draw every were you go and your drawings will improve, work hard at it on a daily basis. I will end using Bert Dodson words, "Anyone who can hold a pencil can learn to draw with some degree of proficiency."
What makes a designed piece or illustration successful?
Taking advantage of all the design elements, whether it’s a character design or a corporate identity package it must have emphasis, unity and balance.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?
Well, what keeps me motivated are the vast online communities of artist that display their work on forums, like Concept Art, CG talk and the Drawing Board. I also keep an artblog that I update daily, the positive feedback, and comments of other artist encourage me and motivate me to keep updating every day. Check it out at http://heri26.blogspot.com/ and to avoid burn-out, go out sometimes and have fun, go dance, go play, go laugh!
And finally, what is the best thing on prime-time TV right now?
Nothing, but on Monday, August 21 the new Season of Prison Break will begin! So everyone grab your popcorn and sit down to watch it, don’t miss it! I sure won’t! It’s the best show on earth! And I have a front roll seat!
Related Links:
www.image26.com
http://heri26.blogspot.com/
Recent Work:
