Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erin (E) Gonzalez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Erin (E), thanks for joining us today. Is there a lesson you learned in school that’s stuck with you and has meaningfully impacted your journey?

The most valuable lesson I have learned during my time at The School of Visual Arts was one that was unexpected. My most important lessons would be technical and artistic, but that is not the case. The lesson that has brought me the most success so far is that presentation is essential to showing off your work.

I took a class during my third year of college about presentation and presenting. In this class, I made a pitch bible for my thesis film, and that bible alone has given me many more opportunities than I could have imagined. While creating great work is essential, how you choose to present that work and your approach to doing so can make a big difference. This pitch bible got me my first job, and I was awarded grants and opportunities such as this interview. If you take the time to organize the work you are passionate about in a way that is creative, fun, and uniquely you, it only enhances your work and your excitement for making art. This lesson is essential.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My full name is Erin Gonzalez, but I cut that down, and everyone calls me E. I am a very proud Mexican-American artist who specializes in all things color. I am originally from Houston, TX, but I live in New York City, where I am getting my BFA in Animation from The School of Visual Arts. I had gotten into illustration early, but I started perfecting my craft when I entered high school. From there, I navigated to color design, which I have been specializing in since. Aside from schoolwork, I make art for social media. This work can vary from illustrations to animations to comics. Making multiple types of work is fun because you learn various things about each project. My work primarily centers around original characters and stories that I make, but you can also find a piece of fan art or two hanging around.

I am most proud of my ability to work and create in different mediums. My artistic journey began in film when I was younger, evolved to drawing, and still evolves today as I have picked up needle felting! Whatever the project is, I can more than match the medium. I pride myself on the fact that my characters and stories can be made and seen across multiple art forms. This, as well as my lively color choices, sets my work apart. As long as I am making what’s fun, I think it makes it easier for the audience to enjoy it.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

My audience came to me unexpectedly. I used to post my illustrations primarily on Instagram, which was all my page had to offer. I had no problems with this! I wanted a space to post my work and show my friends; however, with the rise of TikTok and reels, I wanted to extend my posts from just illustrations to some video content, as I am an animation major. I posted a short animation I had completed for fun, leaving it alone and expecting only my established followers and friends to find it, but it went further than that. That short animation was only a few seconds, and all it was was two of my characters talking, but that reel now sits at over 200k views. With those views came a large influx of followers. I was overwhelmed, but I welcomed all the positivity that came with it. Since then, I have had other reels to pass 100k views; with them, more followers keep coming.

To anyone trying to get their foot up on social media. I say to create and post anything you make! I did not think such a short reel could get much attention, but here we are. Of course, only post what you are comfortable with and at your own pace. It is so easy to feel obligated to post faster with the rise of social media, but posting faster means only some of your posts will be successful. My account is still relatively small in the sea of giant influencers, but I take it one step at a time as someone trying to grow a healthy and fun following. Post what’s fun and what matters to you, and share it confidently! An audience is sure to find you.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most satisfying aspect of being an artist is watching myself adapt and improve. It is hard for artists and non-creatives alike to see their own improvement. However, there are these moments where I get to evaluate where I am artistically, and I see so many things that I have improved at. This can be technical aspects like getting better at anatomy, perspective, or design, but it can also be things like public speaking, organization, and time management. With each piece I make, I take things from it and incorporate them into the next. Seeing how far I have come, even within the last few months, is rewarding. Even more so when you look back on how many years have passed. I only strive to get better and to continue to expand my understanding of my art and myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://erinegonzalez.squarespace.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discount099/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-gonzalez-8218a5256/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpaceDiscount