Meet one of our beloved illustrators, Katie. We've been collaborating with her for some time now, and her illustrations are some of our favorites ever. So...we decided to do a little interview to showcase her to you!

Where do you take inspiration from while working on projects?

I take inspirations from almost everything that surrounds me, for instance from music, books, films, photography, poetry and nature. I honestly think that the biggest, and actually most important, part of my process is just looking around for things that inspire me, in one way or another. I also spend a lot of time in my own thoughts, trying to put together some ideas.

What do you most enjoy doing during your free time?

Since working as a freelancer requires a lot of alone time, whenever I’m free I try to spend as much quality time with my friends and family as I can. Contrary to the popular belief about the introvert freelancer, I consider myself as rather a social animal. I love going out to concerts and parties, and being around people in general.

Biggest obstacle you’ve overcome so far in life?

I have been moving quite a lot in the past couple of years, and I have been, and still am, leaving abroad. At first it was very challenging, especially when I was a bit younger and not that experienced. I was usually alone as well, and I have to admit that there were times that I did feel very lonely. However, as the time passed by I realized that with every new situation, and new place, I got to learn something different about myself, and other people as well. Today I’m very grateful for all the experiences, even the bad ones, because in the end I know they made me the person I am today.

Best advice you’ve ever received from someone?

My grandfather always used to encourage me to never be afraid of taking the plunge, no matter how scared I am. It might seem very simple and self-evident, however I have come to realize that whether I encounter challenges in my personal life, or have a very demanding project on the way, it usually comes down to asking myself a very simple question: should I do the scary, yet exciting thing, or stay in my comfort zone? And I almost always end up doing the scary thing.

Do you listen to music while you work? If so, what genres?

I always listen to music while working, it helps me stay both awake as well as inspired. There is no particular genre or a decade I like the most, and there are times that I honestly listen to everything. However if I would have to narrow down my currently most favorite genres I think that’s jazz, deep house and electronic music.

Who are your biggest role models?

My biggest role models are definitely my parents. I know how much they have been through during their lifetime, and despite living in a communist country for most of it they still managed to achieve a lot. For that I have a tremendous amount of respect for them. What is more, they always try their best to encourage me to follow my dreams and support me in all my life decisions for which I am extremely grateful and consider myself very lucky.

When in the day do you feel you get the most work done?

As much as I would like to be a morning person who is productive during the day and normal working hours, I’m unfortunately rather a night owl. I do think that I hit my creativity peak well past the bed time, sometimes even in the late night, so this is usually when I get the most (and also the best) work done.

Coffee or tea lover?

I definitely love both a lot, however I find it hard to believe that there might be something me quite comparable to the taste of first cup of coffee in the morning, so my first choice is always going to be coffee.

What do you love most about your work space?

I love minimalism, simplicity, and interiors with a lot of light and space, preferably in bright colors. The less I have in my work space, the better I will be able to focus and carry on with my projects. I absolutely cannot concentrate if my surroundings are even slightly messy or dirty, it even drives me a bit crazy. My current space is exactly like that and I honestly don’t need much more.

Any tips on work ethic for aspiring artists?

In the more creative lines of work I do believe that honesty and straightforward communication are definitely key work ethic characteristics as they determine the relationship and level of trust with the clients as well as your followers/fans. I consider being clear about your vision and goals for a particular project, and later on communicating it in a understandable and concise manner, as far more important than anything else.

Favorite Everyday Minerals product?

I am personally not a big fan of heavy makeup, and I currently don’t wear foundation on a daily basis, so I find the finishing powders from Everyday Minerals to be perfect for achieving a healthy and glowing skin, without necessity of putting a lot of product on my skin.