We were lucky to catch up with Anne Connor-Schroten recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Anne thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

Since I graduated college in 2021, the rise of AI generated creative-work has risen exponentially. While I think that AI could be a wonderful tool as a jumping-off point for artwork if used morally, but unfortunately we have a lot of immoral users that are already showing their true colors.

I’ve seen entire books published with anatomy errors, all generated from stolen artwork from other illustrators in the industry (that very-well could have been paid for their work, rather than creating illegitimate and digitally-morphed copies). Technology has been, and always will be, a double-edged sword. What can be used for good can be used for “evil.” I long for the day that the arts and their makers were respected, a new-found Renaissance that fights against the mutilation of the arts. We are in the digital age- illustrators and creators are available for the public, only just a few taps away. No computer can ever compete with the creativity, and rather, the humanity of creating art. The experimenting, the discovery, the interest that it requires to hone the skill.

There are so many amazing creators that are out there that may be willing to work within their client’s budget, and if they are not, then they may not be the illustrator for you! I do not find that AI in the illustration industry is going to be used the correct way, and I worry for myself and my peers who have worked incredibly hard to develop their artistic voice. It’s going to be incredibly important for employers and clients to employ real, hard-working people in order to combat the unfortunate easy accessibility of AI generated images.

Anne, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Anne Connor-Schroten (pronounced Ah-nah Kah-ner Schro-tun), and I am a 23 year old illustrator professionally going by “Punkrat Studio” that is currently based in South Carolina. I have a BFA in Illustration from SCAD, and since my graduation I have been focusing on finding my voice as a mixed-media illustrator, designer, and sketchbooker.

I’ve gotten some amazing opportunities over the past few years including designing the stamp-illustration and promotional materials for the Linda Lucas Walling Collection for Disabled Children at the University of South Carolina, developing branding materials for Ego Boost Salon in Chapin, SC, and becoming a freelance contract designer with Dynacraft, BSC, a company focusing on “Fun on Wheels.” While these are only blips in my early-career post-grad, each have given me incredible learning-opportunities including but not limited to navigating communication with the client, the importance of deadlines, and finding my process of while creating a final product for the client.

My proudest development in my “Punkrat Studio” brand is definitely my capability to have a wide-range of style while the product still feeling true to my artistic voice. I have worked hard over the years to feel like I have achieved that solid-voice, and I am proud of where my artwork and design is today.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I find the most rewarding part of being a creative is the freedom to explore. There is potential in any image that appears in your head, and you have the control of creating that image. It doesn’t have to be the exact picture that you dreamed, and frankly, most of the time the end result has many significant differences to the initial vision, but with this flexibility a creative is able to go on their desired journey to an end result. Though we do not see it most times on social media, sometimes these outcomes suck, however, it is also in the artist’s capability to just create. To make mistakes, to learn from them. There are so many opportunities being a creative. Endless supplies. Endless media. There will always be an outlet to create, and no one can ever take that from the individual.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

While I feel like this may be an old-notion, the concept of “using reference is cheating” really stuck with me when I was a younger artist. Now? I am RELIANT on reference. Don’t know how a hand looks? I don’t either. Maybe I should take a picture of my own hand or a roommate’s hand or practice what I think a hand looks like. Using reference creates a catalog in your brain that you can always look back on! It’s practice! The use of reference is important!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.punkratstudio.com
• Instagram: @punkratstudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/punkratstudio
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/punkratstudio/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/punkratstudio

Image Credits
Anne Connor-Schroten