March 2012
Artist SpotlightPosted by Lainey Fri, March 30, 2012 23:40:06My 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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