Art school is one of the most interesting places to be-you have unique styles, projecting installations for walls, sometimes innovative ideas and interestingly approachable people. I love the surprises I find every day, like that art students are not jerks. (You mean to tell me I do not have to undercut all the people I see as a threat to my success because they are great at something?) Another such surprise was, as a B.F.A. Illustration student, finding out that there is such a thing as an illustration gallery. What??!! And yes, it’s cute, affordable, and has sweet frames and cards and all the things I would want to find. (Ahem, Paper Ghost Studio.) My friend Colleen Finn is like a marriage of these two sweet surprises-she is not only amazingly talented and super approachable, but she is also featuring her thesis show at my favorite illustration gallery, Paper Ghost Studio, this week. Go check it out and be amazed-right in time for Halloween!
Photo courtesy of Colleen Finn.
Christine Burney: What is your full name? Where are you from?
Colleen Finn. Living in Atlanta, New Jersey born.
Illustration courtesy of Colleen Finn.
CB: You have a show coming up for your thesis body of work. Where will it be and when?
CF: This Thursday, September 29th at Paper Ghost Studio in Atlanta. 6-9pm 1393 McLendon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
Invitation courtesy of Colleen Finn.
CB: What do you study and why?
CF: I study Illustration at SCAD Atlanta. Initially, my plan was to get my MFA so I would have the ability to teach at other higher education facilities. However, as I moved through the program, I became enamored with Illustration and now hope to also work as a freelance illustrator/designer.
Illustration courtesy of Colleen Finn.
CB: You are also an instructor-tell me a little bit about that. What do you teach and what do you love most about it?
CF: I am a registered architect in Georgia, but was always drawn to art & graphic design. In 2006, I went to The Creative Circus in Atlanta for Graphic Design. Upon graduating, I was hired to begin teaching at the school. I started out teaching Typography. Currently, I serve as the Sr. Advisor to the Design Program and teach a variety of classes: Strategy, Design Concepts, Packaging Design, Branded Environments, Board Game Design and Brand Extensions.
Illustration courtesy of Colleen Finn.
CB: What is the biggest factor of your inspiration in life and for doing illustration?
CF: I grew up with a pretty Norman Rockwell childhood and my amazing parents really got into the holidays. They would spend the entire year making my Halloween costume, send me on scavenger hunts at Easter, etc. and every aspect of my life included music, art and hand crafted projects. I never take my upbringing for granted. There is so much turmoil and uncertainty in the world—for as long as I’m here—My goal is to use my art and humor to give people a little break or a smile to help them feel like, at least for a moment, everything will be okay.
Illustration courtesy of Colleen Finn.
CB: What made you want to illustrate a game for your thesis collection instead of a series of more traditional illustrations?
CF: I teach Board Game design and have always been fascinated by games of all kinds. I see, as we all do, the disconnect between families when it comes to the invasion of technology in every aspect of our lives. There is a special connection when people sit around a dinner table or a game together and interact face to face. As I went through the Illustration program at SCAD I realized I had unlimited ideas popping up for products, as well as illustrations. I now have so many ideas filling up my head that I’m trying to schedule them all out for 2017.
Photo courtesy of Colleen Finn.
Illustration courtesy of Colleen Finn.
CB: What are some pieces of advice you would give to those who want to showcase their unique self in their work?
CF: The first year of the program consisted of me focusing on technique and learning about the opportunities that illustration could provide. I am so glad I chose to do my MFA, as the second year is where I found my style. It turns out, that my illustration style is the same one I’ve had my entire life – but is just now more refined. I never thought that my simple style of drawing would be something that could be marketable. I thought my work had to be on the fine art side to get respect or paying jobs. Rick Lovell kept saying to me that “if the illustration style you have is not easy for you and you do not wake up every day wanting to do it, it will not work.” During what I considered my “breakthrough,” I did some pieces that I absolutely loved and felt like they were “real” illustration. (See Baba Yaga & Prince of Cups) However, I stressed out so much over each one, wondering if I could possibly pull it off. I realized I could always do projects like that on the side, but if that was the style I committed to, with how much time I agonized over each piece, I’d end up making the equivalent of 2 dollars an hour. My goal has always been to make people laugh without relying on offending or shocking people. I feel like there is a sweet spot around 8 years old, where kids are smart and aware of the world around them, but are still innocent. That’s where my illustration sensibilities lie. My advice would be to push the style that you love and comes easy to you. (A lot of times, it is the look you’ve been working with forever.) Put your focus into experimenting with different media and work on getting strong with layout, hierarchy, movement, color and concept. If you have a strong sense of all those things, your illustrations will be successful regardless of your style.
Check out Colleen’s show this Thursday and for more of her amazing work, follow her on social media at See Finn Draw, @ColleenFinndesign and check out her website.