The 2023 AOI Mentorship scheme is fully underway, and we are proud to introduce and champion this year’s mentees in a new series of interviews. A free program first introduced in 2020, this initiative champions a select group of 22 underrepresented illustrators, empowering them with dedicated support and guidance in the course of six months.
Mickt Flior is an Illustrator originally from Brazil currently based in the US, paired with mentor and Illustrator Claudine O’Sullivan. Continue reading to learn how her mentorship is going so far, her key takeaways from the experience, and much more.
What does being part of the AOI Mentorship mean to you?
Being a part of the AOI Mentorship means so much to me, and I’m really happy to participate. It allows me to connect with other young professional mentees around the globe to exchange experiences, fears, questions, and ideas.
It also gives me access to a creative professional who’s not only experienced and knowledgeable but also supportive and kind. It’s been amazing to explore different topics related to the industry and exercise my confidence with their guidance.
“It’s been wonderful to work with Mickt this year. Aside from her work itself, we focused on her confidence and communication as well as some ins and out of industry practices. I’ve gotten so much out of our calls and it’s so great to be able to support this next generation of illustrators.”
– Claudine O’Sullivan, AOI Mentor.
How has the mentorship helped you tackle your goals? In what way(s) has your mentor supported you?
I was pleasantly surprised by my mentor, Claudine. She has been extremely helpful in answering my questions and suggesting new areas to work on to achieve my professional goals. We’ve also been focusing on all the “unseen” work that comes with being a full-time freelance illustrator: Getting in touch with potential clients, negotiating new projects, taking ownership of our work, and valuing ourselves as professionals. We usually set tasks and goals for our next meetings. Having ongoing accountability definitely makes a difference in productivity.
Not only is this an amazing professional development opportunity for new creatives, but the program itself seems to have a much-needed human approach, with mentors who are kind and compassionate, making the whole experience less intimidating and more enjoyable for all. I’m grateful to Claudine and the whole team at AOI for supporting this mentorship.
What has been a key moment or takeaway from the mentorship so far?
The ongoing theme throughout my mentorship is to work strategically and tactically in ways I have not considered before: How to choose your subjects, consider your audience and tone of voice; this can all be achieved with your choice of colours, as they carry so much meaning behind them. The main takeaway is: If you want to see your work somewhere it does not exist, create that work using speculative briefs and do something unexpected. Do not wait for people to give you permission to create work you really want to do: Create them as part of your portfolio.
Another takeaway is to create things that are outside your comfort zone. You would be surprised what you can learn from it – If you succeed then this is great, but it has proven to be a big learning curve and helps you gain a different perspective about yourself as an illustrator.
“Not only is this an amazing professional development opportunity for new creatives, but the program itself seems to have a much-needed human approach, with mentors who are kind and compassionate, making the whole experience less intimidating and more enjoyable for all.”
– Mickt Flior
Thank you Mickt for taking the time to give us this interview. See more of her work on her Behance and Instagram.
Keep checking our Mentorship section to meet more mentees!
Learn more about the AOI Mentorship and our 2023 Mentors.
The AOI Mentorship scheme is one of many initiatives offered by us. Find out more about membership today.