Artist Interview

I recently had the opportunity to ask artist/illustrator Marta Maszkiewicz (MM) a few questions about her love and passion for art. Marta is the illustrator of several R.W. Starr Publishing (RWSP) books to include a Journey Down Under - Some of Australia's Amazing Creatures. Marta is based in Poland and can be found on Fiverr.com.

RWSP: When did you start drawing/painting and what got you interested in art?

MM: I started drawing before I started talking and I always wanted to be “ a painter.”

RWSP: Do you keep a notebook of ideas? 

MM: I keep notebook for my personal projects and I always want to keep it beautiful, but it ends up messy and full of unfinished sketches.

RWSP: Do you have an artist that you admire or that inspires you? 

MM: Many of them, lately I am interested in Polish painter from 1920s and 1930s, named Sofia Stryjeńska. She painted a lot of paintings connected to Polish folklore and old Slavic mythology. Very interesting.

RWSP: What is your favorite medium and why (acrylic, oil, watercolor, etc.)? 

MM: I am obsessed with coloured pencils and I have around 800 of them. I also love watercolour.

RWSP: What subject(s) do you like to draw/paint the most?

MM: Plants probably. Also- fantastic creatures and cute characters for children books.

RWSP: How do you develop the characters/subjects?

MM: I don’t, I somehow know what to draw. When I had covid and a fever I for once in my life sat before an empty paper sheet and had no idea what to draw, it was terrifying. I know I probably seem weird or annoying now, because most people struggle with creative blocks, but I struggle with technique. For the person that draws a lot I’m really bad at the technical aspects of it.

RWSP: Do you name the characters you create and if so does it help you create the image you have in your head? 

MM: I don’t name them and I don’t think in words when drawing at all. Actually I love to watch tv series or listen to audiobooks on the side. 

RWSP: What does art (drawing/painting) mean to you?

MM: I’d go mad without it. 

RWSP: How did you find out about Fiverr and how else do you market your work?

MM: My friend recommended People per Hour- another freelance platform, and it was research for similar places that led me to Fiverr.

RWSP: How long have you been working as a professional artist?

MM: It’s been 10 years! 

RWSP: What is your favorite social media platform?

MM: Pinterest! I probably know what to draw because I watch A LOT of pictures on Pinterest, in nature, in books etc., and then I probably mince it in my mind subconsciously into some kind of inspiration, I don’t know.

RWSP: How many pieces of art do you typically paint in one session or is it usually a multi-session process?

MM: My ADHD makes it hard to have planned out consistent sessions. I can spend anything from 5 minutes to 10 hours painting.

RWSP: How often do you draw/paint and do you have any rituals?

MM: Daily, everywhere, however.

RWSP: Have you made any public appearances to promote your art?

MM: God no.

RWSP: Who would you most want to see your art?

MM: Any person that would feel better because of it, for whatever reason.

RWSP: Is there an artist who you love to follow on social media or read about in interviews?

MM: Oh plenty,I love the works of Victor Ngai, Gemma Capdevilla and many others. I love watching people who are better at my job than me.

RWSP: Is there a book that somebody gave to you that helped you pave the way to becoming an artist, or is there a book on drawing/painting that you recommend all artists read?

MM: I recommend going to museums and watching old art, it is always so awe inspiring for me. I can’t think of any books except for art albums.

RWSP: Is there a piece of artistic advice that you learned in school, in a class, or a fellow artist that stuck?

MM: Don’t overuse black I guess. I use it very sparingly.

RWSP: Have you done much with digital art and if so what is your favorite program/software?

MM: I’m totally in love with Escape Motion’s Rebelle. I also use Procreate ( working on iPad is so comfortable) and Photoshop.

RWSP: What is your ideal artistic/workspace? 

MM: Probably a cottage or a cabin in the woods. Cats should be included.

RWSP: Have you ever gone away to work on a piece of art? If not, where would you go if you could?

MM: No, but when I travel I take my sketchbook or iPad with me.

RWSP: What is an annoying thing that a non-artist has assumed about artists or the act of drawing/painting? 

MM: If I give you 3 days time as the estimated time needed to complete the order I won’t have a wip for you on the second day, because I will most likely work on it on the third day. I wrote 3 days because there is a two day queue of orders.

RWSP: How do you measure the success of your work?

MM: My mortgage is being paid and my cats have their bowls full of tuna.