Creative Biz Success with Judy Kaufmann

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Can you take us on the journey of your creative career path so far? Was art always your calling?

I’ve been drawing since childhood, and seriously illustrating since 2003. That was the year I decided to start illustrating professionally and also to move from the city where I was born (Santiago de Chile) to Barcelona, an amazing city for illustrators and designers.

Frida Kahlo Print - click for more

You have worked with a lot of ‘big-brand’ companies. How do you suggest budding illustrators go about contacting these companies for possible work opportunities?

First of all, I need to say that it’s luck to be contacted by big-brand companies.

However, just because they are big companies doesn’t mean that the best jobs I have had were from them.

Generally, I’ve gotten my jobs with these companies through good contacts: for example, I was recently asked to draw two illustrations for Google (UK), who contacted me through my great illustrator agency, Handsome Frank.

Your repetitive prints are quite unique. How did they come about?

I’m so glad you like them! I think that two different things inspired them.

The first is that I started drawing small and repetitive shapes because it was something that kept me focused and really concentrated; perhaps even to reach a meditative state. I really like to get to that state.

Identical Twins Print - click for more

The second is that my series of repetitive prints began with my Identical Twins Print and needless to say, being an identical twin is a nice metaphor for all my repetitive drawings.

What has been the best marketing move you’ve ever made for your own business?

One of the latest and best was having this map published in Frankie Mag.

Map Print - click for more

Do you ever have doubts as to your future creative direction? Are there things you yearn to achieve, but haven’t yet found the time for?

Completely! I will get bored really soon with the style that I’m working with and, as I’m very eclectic, will find a new style that may be very similar or have nothing to do with what I’m doing now.

Woody Allen Print - click for more

 

What is one piece of advice you’d like to give fellow makers about running a successful indie business?

I have three different, short, and easy to remember pieces of advice:

1. Listen to good music.

2. The time you spend drawing is proportional to the quality of your artwork.

3. The time you spend traveling is proportional to the quantity of good inspiration you have.

Visit Judy Online
Website / Etsy

where craftiness comes from: lisa mundorff

Lisa Mundorff is an illustrator and painter from the Pacific Northwest. Recently, I caught up with Lisa to find out where she feels that her craftiness comes from.

dear ida holiday boat card - click the image for more info

Lisa and her husband partnered with their neighbors to turn their family holiday cards into the greeting card business: Dear Ida.

Lisa knew that she was creative from a very young age; she was always interested in both visual art and music. When she reached college Lisa had both a Music and an Art Major, but eventually decided on art as her official career path.

Her family and friends have always been great supporters of Lisa’s art and loved receiving her hand drawn holiday cards each year. It was from this encouragement that the idea of Dear Ida came to life. Working on Dear Ida and on children’s book illustration from home works well for Lisa as she has her young family with her.

“I love that the work I do is so creative – that when I am done, I have something concrete to show for it.”
-Lisa Mundorff

Being able to get real feedback from family and friends on what they do and don’t like is invaluable to Lisa. Their enthusiasm is very much appreciated. Lisa also says that her children think she has the best job in the world because she gets to spend all day drawing and coloring.

Lisa has reminded me that not only does creativity allow you to share your ideas with the world, but that you are also able to build your world and your family around it. Creativity is such a gift, and one that everyone has, and we are fortunate when we are able not only to fit it into our lives but to make it our lives.

Don’t you think so, too?

Thanks, Lisa! Vist her here: websiteportfolio

a good start to your monday: hsinping pan

Sometimes on a Monday, you need a little cute overload to get your day going. And I am going to go out on a limb here, and suggest that today is one of those days. So, I am sharing the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed illustrations of Taiwan artist, Hsinping Pan.

Don’t you feel happier already?