Being an illustrator, a teacher and at the same time, a devoted mother is one tough job. Even so, here in THJ, we have someone that has made it look easy. For this week, I would like to share about Irina, one of our successful illustrators, who has more than hundred products on Red Ink. Let’s find out more about Irina.
Could you tell us about yourself?
Hi, my name is Irina, a graphic illustrator and designer from Ukraine. I also teach design in Kiev. I love creating fonts and cute graphics in juicy, bright colors & hope to help other creatives to create beautiful things and make the world brighter with my graphics.
My career is something I generally enjoy and feel proud of. I’m happy to spend my time doing what I love most. My art allows me to create a lifestyle that I value outside of the office. In everyday life, I’m a happy mother and a woman who loves delicious food, travel and good movies.
How long have you been in this industry?
I have been in this industry for about 5 years and above.
When did you know you wanted to pursue designing and start selling it?
I’ve always loved to draw. But I consider 2014 – 2015 to be the beginning of my professional activity. In 2015, I started working full time and selling my work not only on microstock, but also in various marketplaces.
What inspires you the most? Where do you get your inspiration?
Sometimes, inspiration comes just like that, when I write down ideas in a notebook. There are also times when good thoughts and inspirations come from reading a good book, a cool song on the radio, and watching a movie.
At times, it happens that the idea does not let me fall asleep at night, until I draw a sketch.
Inspiration needs a long search and this is also part of the job. I can spend hours and even days, pinning pins from other authors, looking for color combinations, enjoying photos and drawings. So, bit by bit, I gather my ideas together; I’m inspired by the work from fellow artists, photographers and artisans.
But my biggest inspiration is my daughter, Maria. I never stop admiring the way she explores the world and looks at things with wide-eyes and smiles. I can’t tell you how happy and inspired that made me – as a mom, an illustrator, and a human being. In addition, I always have a great critic nearby, for my children’s illustrations.
Are you a traditional or digital artist? What are your preferred mediums to create your designs and graphics?
I’m working in both traditional and digital formats. Sometimes I use traditional means and draw on paper, and then carefully digitize my art. Recently, I like to use the Ipad Pro and Procreate app.
Could you describe your design style?
I create illustrations that I like. They are modern, detailed in vibrant colors. These designs are made for kids and young women who love cute things. So I draw my drawings in a cute, modern cartoon style.
What is your favorite part of the designing process?
It’s hard for me to single out everything. In some projects, I’m very interested in the process of finding a theme, choosing references and color palettes. Usually the drawing process itself is the most enjoyable, especially when the references have already been selected and I understand what I would like to get as a result. It’s the time for me to just draw on paper or on a tablet. It’s like a meditation to me; I don’t realize how time flies and just enjoy the process.
Have you ever experienced creative blocks before? How did you handle it?
Experiencing something like this is normal for me and it happens quite often. Sometimes I spend hours on Pinterest looking for inspirations and color palettes.
It’s very difficult to present a project when I cannot fully convey what I want in my work. Taking a break, walking with the dog, or preparing a meal will help.
But every single product has its own story. Sometimes you just need to postpone the project for a few days in order to return to it after a short break and look at it in a new way.
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Do you have any advice or tips for future graphic designers out there?
The most important advice I could ever give is the one I would have told myself many years ago when I first started. Never give up. If something doesn’t work out, if it’s very hard and seems like success is unattainable, just do the best you can today and be sure to learn. Do not be discouraged when your work does not look the way you wanted. Try, and learn again and again and keep going your way.
If there is something you wish The Hungry JPEG could do for you, tell us.
I’m happy to be a part of TheHungryJPEG designer family. I still remember my first sales and first bundles on THJ.
The first thing I want to say is, thank you for giving the artists the opportunity to show their work to the world. Thank you for the cozy atmosphere and the support team who can instantly resolve any issues. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.
I wish you more power, courage and passion to overcome obstacles that may come your way. I wish that your work and your amazing artists are always recognized and appreciated because you are doing an amazing job.
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That sums up our interview session for this week. Getting inspired by her daughter, Irina managed to create hundreds of graphics and fonts throughout her career journey and that’s what makes it beautiful. Check out Red Ink now for cute, modern designs and fonts. Till then!
