Interview: Margarita Louka

Why did you choose to enter this work?
I chose to enter ‘Oblivion’ as it was the first time I used digital collage techniques. This project helped me discover a way of working that I love and I thought I should take a chance and enter it!

What’s your favourite thing about your shortlisted project?
My favourite thing is how free and experimental I was with this project, which made my final outcome much more exciting and surprising than what I was initially visualising.

What excites you most about being shortlisted?
The chance to reach new audiences and be part of a community of other shortlisted illustrators, since it is a challenge as a freelance illustrator starting out to find and build a community.

Where do you usually work?
My iPad and my laptop are essential to my working process. I usually work from a desk in my home, with a fellow illustrator in their home studio, and occasionally in cafes or public study spaces.

How long did it take to complete your project?
This project was completed during a trimester in my Masters course. The whole project- the research, development and creation of the final outcome- took around 4 months.

What is your dream commission?
I love illustrating stories and putting my own personal, and usually abstract, interpretation to them so an opportunity to do that with a publisher or in a museum context would be my dream commission!

What’s your favourite thing to draw?
I like drawing textures when I am out and about, especially capturing the textures in interesting buildings. I scan the textures that I draw, so they often make it into my final illustrations!

What is your best tip for other illustrators?
Something which helped me is to research and experiment with different techniques throughout a project, not just in the beginning as it kept the project fun and prevented me from feeling ‘stuck’.

What are your plans for the future?
I have recently started working as a freelance illustrator so I am hoping to keep navigating this new space and potentially seek work as an in-house designer.


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