minirice [ graphic design & illustration ]

minirice [ graphic design & illustration ]

What's happening?

My website is having a makeover, 2 years overdue.

Please be patient, I will be adding photos of my old uni work and current illustrations !

Follow me on twitter (@minirice_uk) or check out my Facebook 'Like' page, which currently houses some of my illustration work or check out my twitpic account for up-to-date images.


I have also decided that I will only be posting my work, artist spotlights and work that I find inspirational, rather than exhibitions, things that I have been to and other art related news.


March 2012

Artist SpotlightPosted by Lainey Fri, March 30, 2012 23:40:06
My third 2012 Artist Spotlight goes to:

Ms. Priya Mistry


What was it that made you become interested in illustration?

I've always been passionate about drawing since I was very young. Constantly drawing on any bit of paper I could find around the house. Drawing cartoon characters from TV, drawing people from the streets, portraits from photos, and events that I'd just been to. I loved drawing. However, I never had a personal 'illustration' style -everything had been more or less 'realistic', recorded as close to the original as my abilities allowed me to draw. It was only when i started freelancing 3 years ago that I felt the need to start developing a personal illustration style after researching the work of various illustrators at the time.

What inspires your pieces? Is there a certain place, song, person etc?

I love people and animals. There's such lovely variations in their personalities and characteristics. As a result, most of my illustration pieces and sketchbook drawings to date are of characters.

Is there a certain illustrator etc that you would like to work with? and would you say your work has been influenced by them?

This is probably the equivalent of asking a parent to pick their favourite child! There are so many. But i'd probably have to say Oliver Jeffers has had a huge influence on my work. I've always loved a mixed media approach to animation / illustration and Oliver Jeffers' work is a prime example of the rich visual imagery resulting from mixing media. His characters employ brilliant quirky sensibilities and characteristics too.

What is your favourite tool to work with/in?

Pencil probably. Most of my illustrations start off as sketches / hand drawings on paper. I won't touch Photoshop until i'm happy with my pencil drawing.

What has been the highlight of your 'career' so far?

Erm.. a tricky one. It'd probably be working for a great collection of clients (BBC one, Channel 4, TG4, RTE, Northern Ireland Tourist Board to name a few). That's probably equalled with a recent even. I was working on the second series of 'James May's Things You Need to Know' for the BBC. It was great news to find out that a simple illustration I'd drawn of Einstein had James May in stitches at the shoot. It takes some doing to throw a professional presenter off their guard so that was cool.

Pen or pencil? and why !

I love both. Whilst the pencil is so comfortable to work with, I prefer the strong and contrasted look of images in my sketchbooks created by my various black pens.

A question from our previous Artist Spotlight, Matt Ellero asked: 'Everyone has one- what would be your dream commission?'

Working as a concept character designer / illustrator for a Pixar or Dreamworks animated film.

Last but not least, I would like you to leave a question to ask the next artist - related to design or not (Obviously nothing outrageous!) What is that question?

If you weren't a creative (artist / illustrator/ animator / photographer etc), what line of profession would you have chosen to work in.

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