Hasta La Creative!

Prashant Miranda grew up in Bangalore, studied at the national institute of design Ahmedabad and moved to Toronto, Canada. He is an artist, animator and scribe and balances his life between Canada and India. He documents his travels through his watercolour journals,
illustrates children’s books, paints murals and animates short films. His blog can be found here.

Why are you an Illustrator?
I love to draw and paint.

Did you attend school for fine art or design?
I studied at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, and specialised in Animation Film Design.

You have a distinct style of illustration. How long did it take you to develop your style?
I’ve been drawing and painting since I was a kid, and have been keeping a visual journal for 20 years now, so somewhere along the way I developed my style.

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
Plenty of roll models. Anne Frank inspired me to start keeping a diary, Children’s illustrators like Quentin Blake, watercolour artists like David Gentleman, the drawings of Michaelangelo and Da Vinci. I learned a lot about colour from Van Gogh, and other sketchbook keepers like Dan Price and Danny Gregory. There are many more influences.

Who was the most influential personality on your career in Illustrations?
Hmmmm……I suppose I was hugely inspired by David Gentleman’s travel watercolours when I was younger. It’s tough to say who the most influential person was, as there are so many.

What made you decide to become a freelance illustrator? When did you start freelancing? Do you illustrate for advertising?
I didn’t decide to become a ‘freelance illustrator’ exactly. I decided to paint for a living.

I worked in the animation industry in Toronto for 4 years starting in 1999. I designed children’s animation films for TV. But the industry
sucked my soul, so I decided to pursue my passions of painting for a living. That was in 2004. So it’s been 10 years since I’ve been living off my art.

I don’t do much advertising. Mostly commissions, shows, children’s books and some editorial illustrations.

Are many advertising agencies getting illustrations made these days? Do you work more with agencies or publishers?
I work more with publishers. I don’t know much about advertising agencies.

Was there any time when you wanted to quit Illustrations?
There have been frustrating moments for sure, especially with some magazines in India. But it’s not made me want to quit illustrations, just made me not want to work with particular magazines.

Have you considered turning your illustrations into toys?
I’ve already done that.

Any other Indian Illustrators who you admire?
Mario Miranda

Do you have any favorite fellow illustrators or resources relating to your fields?
Danny Gregory is a wonderful friend, who has included me in several of his books of artists and their sketchbooks. He has asked me to be faculty in an online ‘Sketchbook Skool’.

You have such a wide experience as a top working professional. What advice do you have for aspiring creative professionals? Would you advise them to take on Illustration as a career option? Is it paying well enough?
Thank you. My advice is to follow your dream. 3 Ps are important for me……Passion, Practice and Perseverance. Take on illustration if you love doing it. I live as an artist. I take on projects that I connect with on a personal level, or suit my value system, I do not take on projects for the money. You have to work hard to make ends meet. No one said it would be easy.

What is your dream project?
To find a piece of land, and build my own home.

Mac or PC?
Mac.

Who would you like to take out for dinner?
Michael Stipe or Wes Anderson.
What’s on your iPod?
I don’t own an iPod.

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