image via mikisatoillustration.com

Tell us about what you do.

I’m an illustrator in Toronto, Canada that works with things such as [...]]]> Miki Sato is a brilliant illustrator. I find everything she does so inspirational! I especially enjoyed watching this video of how she makes her works of art. Thanks, Miki, for sharing with us!

image via mikisatoillustration.com

Tell us about what you do.

I’m an illustrator in Toronto, Canada that works with things such as textiles and found surfaces. I also like to integrate sewing, drawing and painting, depending on what I’m working on. The pieces I make are usually small, but I like to try and put as much details as I can. I am also strangely drawn towards the colours green, yellow, orange, and teal.

image via mikisatoillustration.com

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

When I was little I used to be very influenced by Japanese comics and animated movies (like the work of Miyazaki Hayao/Studio Ghibli) so I think it’s influence still carries over to this day, though probably not as strongly. I also find that ideas come to me when I’m mindlessly doing something unrelated like showering, browsing the internet, or walking around outside. I enjoy nature and animals, so I’m sure that has some play in my work as well.

image via mikisatoillustration.com

What motivates you to keep at it?

I always liked to draw and make things with my hand ever since I was small, so it’s become sort of a natural thing for me to do. I think even if I were to be doing something completely different than being an illustrator, I would still be drawing on the side. Being able to do something that I enjoy as a living and a career is definitely a great motivator for me.

image via mikisatoillustration.com

What is one thing you are looking forward to?

I’m looking forward to be able to fully support myself financially with just the work I do. Not only for myself, but it would also make a few people around me be less worried about me and my future.

image via mikisatoillustration.com

Are there other talents/skills/hobbies you hope to add to your repertoire?

I’ve been hoping to play around with things like polymer clay sometime soon. I think making small three-dimensional sculptures and trinkets would be fun, including things like magnets, brooches and the likes. I’m up for trying anything!

You can find more of Miki here:
website: mikisatoillustration.com
blog: mikisatoillustration.blogspot.com
store: mikisato.etsy.com

My husband and I had our portraits taken at Justin’s studio last summer and the thing that I loved most was for the first 20 minutes of the session, Justin sat with us [...]]]> Justin Hackworth is a photographer based out of Provo, Utah. Have you seen his documentary project with NieNie? Or his 30 Strangers project?

My husband and I had our portraits taken at Justin’s studio last summer and the thing that I loved most was for the first 20 minutes of the session, Justin sat with us and just chatted. Not only that, he took notes! I really felt like he wanted to get to know us. So now, the tables turn and we get to know a little about Justin.

Tell us about what you do.
I am a wedding and portrait photographer and I work in the the tradition of a documentary photographer. I don’t photograph landscapes or puppies in a fruit basket. I photograph people.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
When I started, there were a number of photographers that really resonated with me. Gary Winnogrand, Elliott Erwitt, Lee Friedlander, Robert Frank, Richard Avedon, Diane Arbus. I still love their work and go back to it again and again. It never gets old. I’m also inspired by music and really, anyone that is performing at the top of their game. I love to see work of any kind that is fresh and original and unlike anything else.

What motivates you to keep at it?
I honestly don’t know what it is inside me that compels me to make photographs. I’ve tried to analyze it, and come up with a reason why I do this rather than playing the guitar or write poems, because I’d like to do those things, too. But I don’t. I make pictures, and I love doing it. It never gets old for me and while I’ve thought about this a lot, I’ve never been able to come up with a reason why I do it. I moved by it. That’s all I know.

What is one thing you are looking forward to?
One thing that I always love, is to go into somebody’s house, and see my work hanging on the walls. It’s nice, because I feel like they are getting enjoyment and pleasure from something I created. So I’m looking forward to more of that as the years go by.

Are there other talents/skills/hobbies you hope to add to your repertoire?
One of these days, I will learn to play the piano. Mark my words.

You can find more of Justin Hackworth here:
website: justinhackworth.com
blog: justinhackworth.com/blog

First up: Mara Zepeda of Neither Snow.

Tell us about what you do.

I am a calligrapher [...]]]> Introducing The Lightbulb Lab‘s first ever artist spotlight. I am inspired by so many people and I want to share more of them with you. So every week or so I will shine the spotlight on an artist who has influenced me.

First up: Mara Zepeda of Neither Snow.

Tell us about what you do.

I am a calligrapher and my business is called Neither Snow. The types of projects I do really vary. In the last few months I’ve calligraphed words for a greeting card company, wedding invitations, a doctor’s office holiday card, logos, a website, editorial work, envelopes for a fashion house and tattoos (!!!). I also specialize in tracking down vintage stamps and postal stationery for customers (and myself– see tutorial!)

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

In the broadest sense I draw inspiration from the physical, literary and epistolary worlds, which means just about anything. I am consistently enthralled by Joseph Cornell’s artwork, Wislawa Szymborska’s poetry, StoryCorps’ audio documentaries and old letters from other countries.

What motivates you to keep at it?

The feeling of getting something in the mail is inimitable, and it makes me feel good knowing that I can help to inspire that.

What is one thing you are looking forward to?

Valentine’s day! Check out my website on Monday (www.neithersnow.com) for an exciting announcement.

Are there other talents/skills/hobbies you hope to add to your repertoire?

The list is long, and includes crewel embroidery, keeping plants alive, canning preserves, basic plumbing and auto repair skills, doing a careful study of apple varieties next fall and learning the Latin names of every plant in our garden.

[all images via neithersnow.com]