Meet the Illustrator – Victoria McMinn
1. How do you sign your artwork? With your full name or initials?
Victoria McMinnville in cursive and print with the date.
2. Where can we view your latest portfolio of work?
My portfolio isn’t on public display but can be viewed by request.
3. What inspires your creativity?
Everyday life, experiences, and feelings/emotions.
4. Who inspires you?
My professors and peers have played a big part in inspiring my work. There isn’t a particular artist or era that inspires me I think I’m inspired more by my friends and family and those I spend time with.
5. What style of illustration do you prefer?
I prefer paper to pencil style illustration. However, I’ve been really enjoying practicing and learning more about digital illustration.
6. Who are the top three illustration accounts you learn from on Instagram?
I don’t follow any instructional illustration accounts. If there’s something I’m not sure how to do I usually look it up and/or ask a friend.
7. On YouTube?
I’m a huge fan of all of the resources on YouTube, but I usually only use it when I can’t figure out how to do something or need a refresher on an app/tool for digital illustration. I don’t follow any particular channels or accounts.
8. What apps do you use in order of most used to least used? For Creating:
Procreate Adobe Illustrator Adobe Fresco
For Inspiration:
Photos film/digital • Pinterest • Twitter/Instagram
9. What is your favorite color?
Purple
10. What object or character did you use to draw when you were younger?
I used to love the Rainbow Magic Book Series. So lots of fairies and whimsical creatures.
11. Do you prefer digital or drawing on canvas/paper?
I prefer drawing on canvas/paper.
12. Describe your process from concept to creation?
The process varies depending on the project, but I usually come up with an idea. Make some thumbnail sketches. From there my top 2 thumbnails i’ll work out further digitally. Narrow down my selection to one. Add more details figure out the color scheme and then come back to traditional pen and paper and get started.
13. Describe your style?
I’m still figuring out my style. I personally think it’s something that is always changing and growing with you as an artist. My art usually has darker elements, so perhaps a dark/alternative style.
14. What is your favorite animated movie? Or series?
Coraline, I adore stop-motion films.
15. Have you animated your artwork? What program/app do you use?
I have not animated my artwork, it’s not an area I’m interested in developing at the moment.
16. What is the most challenging part of illustrating for others?
For me the most challenging part of illustrating is being decisive and consistent with the theme/concept. I have a hard time scaling back my ideas, but it has gotten easier with practice.
17. Do you envision a career as an illustrator, graphic designer, animator?
As much as I love art I always saw myself going more of the teaching route. However, I have considered it as a career path.
18. Have you designed logos?
I have designed a few logos for classes and a few commissioned pieces.
19. What technique do you use to illustrate people?
When it comes to illustrating people. It’s necessary to have scale and proportions of the face/body down. I wouldn’t say I have a particular technique, just lots of practice and ensuring everything is proportionate and not awkwardly positioned.
20. What is your favorite feature in procreate?
My favorite thing about procreate is creating your own brushes.
21. Have your illustrations been shown in any books, artwork?
Yes, my illustrations can be seen in The Arangatanga Museum: Nevada.
22. Have you storyboarded any scripts?
No, I have not.
23. How do you feel when you create? draw? Animate?
When I create it makes me feel proud and inspires me to do more.
24. Do you prefer to create new worlds or draw existing worlds?
I think a mix of the two is best!
25. Do you prefer to draw people or design new characters?
I usually prefer to draw new characters, but drawing people is great practice!
26. What is the most challenging aspect of your designs?
Drawing people/portraiture
27. What is the environment in which you draw? Outside, inside, in a chair? Desk? With music? Quiet?
Inside at a desk/table, depending on what I’m drawing I’ll listen to music or instrumentals.
28. How do you continue to improve?
Drawing every day and always practicing and sketching!
29. What advice can you share about not giving up or getting discouraged when creativity is at a standstill?
Not all art needs to look a certain way or be super detailed. Creating can be as simple as a doodle or a silly sketch. It’s really easy to get caught up in perfectionism, but just getting something on the paper is the best place to start.
30. How can we follow your work and see your latest projects?
I’m in the process of building a website! Until then you can find me on Instagram: @Vic.acm/@vicczen
