www.yellowbirdmachine.com
Art Director and Graphic Designer | NY
Hello Amy! Could you describe yourself in a few words and tell us how you started drawing?
Hi! I am a NY based art director and graphic designer. I worked full time at design agencies in NYC for about 6 years as a graphic designer and art director and then about two years ago I went freelance so that I would have time off. That is when I started just drawing for the sake of creating something. I started to pull my work into a portfolio a couple months ago and since then I have been getting work doing illustration as well as my graphic design freelance so I feel really lucky to be able to do both.


How would you explain your style of illustration?
I try to do whimsical and abstract drawings. I think my style is a mish mash of the ways that effort ends up coming across.
What are your creation processes? What part in the work process is the most difficult?
One of the hardest things to do is stare at a black canvas, paper, screen etc. and come up with something to draw. I avoid that at all costs by coming up with what I want to draw in my head before I touch any tools. I never sketch anything either. I have it in my head and then I just put it down.


Do you have any new projects coming up soon that you can tell us about?
I am designing wallets and t-shirts for Poketo right now so that is fun. I don’t really have anything solid to talk about with that except that I am trying to use the color orange because it is absent from everything in my portfolio right now. Truth be told, I hate the color orange so I am challenging myself to use it in an upcoming project.
Tells us about your most special projects and the reason why it’s so important for you.
I just filled a Scout Book with a bunch of drawings for the “Show Us Your Scout” project with Scout Books. It was fun because I broke out my fun art supplies and spent the weekend cutting paper, drawing with paint pens, and messing around with different materials. Projects like that are special because I get to step away from my computer for a second and get my hands dirty.
Do you think the university is important for who is in the beginning of design? And what the message you could say to the young professionals?
My official answer is that going to college is important and necessary and not a waste of time. That said, I went to Boston University and got a degree in Sociology before I started sneaking my way into the graphic design world.


In which point do you think technology can help an artist?
Technology won’t do anything for you without your participation. As long as you are doing something you are moving forward. I think anything that helps an artist move forward is helpful and legitimate.
What would you tell for those who are starting in this area?
Draw all the time, get a website up and show people what you are doing, and send emails to people you don’t know every day asking them to let you collaborate with them for no reason.
What programs do you use to create your illustrations?
Pencils, pens, brain, mac, Bamboo tablet and acid.


Your favorite artists?
I have a lot of people that I stalk. Here are a couple: Scott Barry, Noah Butkus, Matt Furie, Douglas Bicicleta, Linn Olofsdotter and Sarah Versprille’s Ducks.
Your computer?
Macbook Pro.
How much time are you sitting in front of a computer during a day?
When I am freelancing at an agency doing graphic design and web design I might spend almost 8 hours in front of my computer minus the time spent staring out the window when I need to space out for a little while.
What is your favorite food?
Risotto Nones. Hands down the most professional dish out there.
What kind of music do you like?
Twinkie Clark, Karen Clark, Mariah Carey, Beyonce and The Frogs.
Do you have any hobbies outside of art and computing?
I like to snowboard, walk, run, play animals and hang around with my boyfriend Josh and our sugargliders Romulus and Reemus.
Any final comments?
Don’t look at what you can’t understand.