- What is your name / organization / title?
My name is Liz Mac and I own Liz Mac Illustration and Design!
- What motivated you to become a maker?
I started taking drawing more seriously about 6 years ago. At that time, I started hanging out more with people who also made art! Eventually I decided to go to Weapons of Mass Creation with a close friend of mine. I had never been to a design conference before. I didn’t know anything about anything! But that weekend taught me so much. Four months later I left my job and became a full time artist.
- Looking back on the early stages of your journey, what advice would you give yourself now?
Save more money. Do the long boring work. Slow is fast. Learn patience.
- What is your favorite thing you’ve ever made? Why?
It’s not really my favourite piece, or even my top 5, BUT, I got to illustrate William Shatner for Canadian National Geographic magazine. I’m a massive Star Trek fan and knowing that Shatner was going to see my art was so cool!
- What’s the next evolution for you (or your industry) going to look like?
Good question. I flip back and forth between illustration and graphic design work, but fundamentally I think those futures are similar. While corporate gigs may disappear I think we’ll see a lot more private investors and small businesses hopping on board the visual-arts train.
- Who would you partner with (living or dead) for your dream collaboration? And what would you work on together?
Good GRAVY. This is silly but it would absolutely be David Bowie. I would obviously have loved to do an album cover illustration for him, but, barring that, I just think it would be fun to work on a giant painting together. The man did everything!
- You're on death row and it's time for your final meal. What'll ya have?
There’s a place nearby me that does the best chicken parm on earth. So def that. With an entire loaf of garlic bread (extra extra EXTRA garlic). A Caesar salad. And a bottle of red wine. Heck make it two bottles.
- In a world where you have two hands, all of your pets and loved ones are safe, and your studio is on fire, what do you try to save?
My iPad!
- What is one piece of pop culture (movie, tv, artwork, song, etc.) that no matter how many times you return to it you still draw excitement, movement, or inspiration?
The ballroom scene from The Labyrinth. I saw it when I was very young. It was the first time something beautiful scared me, which was such a complicated emotion that it still moves me to this day.
- I love useless facts. Impress me with a seriously useless fact!
Your foot is the same length as your forearm
- If you could try any profession other than your own, what would you choose to do?
I think I’d be pretty great at interior design
- What is your personal strategy/philosophy when it comes to using social media for your work?
Twitter is who I am. Instagram is what I make.
- Speaking of social media, where can people find you?
All of my social media, including my website, is lizmacdraws!
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