Michael Mullan

When I was in art school I was commissioned to draw a series of book illustrations for a local author. That was the first time I realized getting paid to draw was an actual thing. I went on to get my MFA in illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design and took off from there.

I'm a big foodie. I'd buy a food truck and park it on a mountain. All you can eat burritos at the top!

Young artists coming out of art school are tech savvy and taking advantage of design software to create art that is fast to develop and adaptable. There are so many outlets for independent artists to get their work out to the public and young illustrators are putting themselves at the front of that movement - using social media sites like Facebook and Pinterest, and customizing their own products to sell on sites like Zazzle, Cafe Press, Society6, and Etsy.

I learned a ton from exploring new techniques and making mistakes. Don't be afraid to try new things and fail. Make that a part of your development. Also, create a ton and learn to edit yourself. Don't let one ugly piece in your portfolio hurt your chance of getting work.

My style developed through a lot of trial and error. I paid close attention to what methods I enjoyed and what came most naturally to me. I'm always aiming to improve and stay current so my style is an ongoing process.

There were a lot of artists and concepts that inspired me along the way that helped direct me to where I'm at right now. I love outsider art, folk art, and mid-century modern art. My tendency to let my natural drawing hand show through comes from that influence. I studied graphic design and illustration in art school, so combining digital and traditional media made a lot of sense to me. I didn't fully merge the two mediums until I was working professionally.

I love the moment of panic and excitement that comes when getting an email/call about a new project. I never know what's going to come my way, so I love the anticipation. Also, I love the feeling of completion, especially when the art turns out better than anticipated. I've gotten a few really nice emails from aspiring illustrators in the past few years. It's great to connect with other artists who are where I was just a few years ago. I received some great advice early on from established illustrators so I'm always happy to help artists who are starting out.

I get a lot of crazy commissions but they don't always pan out. That was a fun one, but would have been way cooler if it made it to prime time. My favorite part was photoshopping Jimmy. I made him look sharp.

I recently worked on branding for a new brewery in Vermont. This was a fun one because I love packaging, I love beer, and it was for a local business. I can't wait to see my work on all sorts of beer swag!

Still making art, I hope! There's so much I still want to do. Hopefully, I'll have the chance to break into new illustration markets that I haven't broken into yet. I would love to start making handmade products, and would love to get more into painting so I can take on gallery work. Eventually, I see myself in art consulting or teaching. I'd love the chance to help young illustrators follow their passion.