We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Julia Lopac a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Julia, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I knew from a young age that I wanted to pursue a career in art. Regardless of what it looked like or turned out to be, I wanted a pencil in my hand and my art all around me. So, where did it all begin? I was twelve years old, cranking out portrait after portrait of each member of One Direction like it was my full-time job. Fast forward, and I’m attending The School of Visual Arts as a college freshman, and it feels like I’m learning how to draw all over again. Of course, I had shifted gears artistically at this point. It was an incredibly valuable experience to learn illustration among other creatives. All of a sudden, I found myself surrounded by different artists, each with their own perspectives and art practices. Inspiration thrives in these types of creative spaces. My professors were most definitely a valuable resource in my education and had imparted their wisdom as professionals in their field. The most valuable skill I learned from many of these teachers at SVA is storytelling. I practiced the best, most concise way to convey a message in one single image, often finding ways to incorporate my sense of humor. It truly is a skill that needs training just like any other technique. I saw a remarkable difference in my work once I developed my storytelling skills. Something I found challenging, however, was learning how to cultivate my own style.
I experimented with different styles and eventually settled into something that felt comfortable and true to myself. There was a lot of trial and error in discovering what resonated with me. I don’t see that period of learning as time wasted; I see it more as a domino effect that led me to where I am today. Every discarded piece, failed stylistic choice, and portrait of Harry Styles taught me a lesson I needed to learn. The honest truth is that I still feel like I’m learning with each new illustration. I strongly believe that just because you’re learning doesn’t mean you don’t know what you’re doing. If you have nothing left to learn, you have no room to grow. Admittedly, I am early in my career, but I hope I can still say I’m learning from my art, however many years from now.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Julia Lopac, I’m a New York-based Illustrator and recent grad of The School of Visual Arts with a BFA in Illustration. I specialize in 2D illustration & animation full of fun characters, vibrant color, and humor. I hope to break into editorial illustration and children’s books in the near future. I currently work full-time at an arts & crafts company in NYC as a technical illustrator for crafting instruction material. I’m also a freelance illustrator— I just worked on an exciting project coming out soon for NYC’s Bob’s Pizza Tour that you’ll be able to check out on their website and instagram. I’ve worked with various clients, including LinkNYC, where I had multiple illustrations displayed on screens across the city and Brooklyn as an initiative to display local artists’ work. Additionally, my work was featured in the 2022 Summer Archive edition of Visual Opinion Magazine.
As an illustrator, I take pride in the ideas I bring to the table, particularly through my personal style. I feel I have a unique voice that’s present in my art, one that I worked hard to cultivate over the years. I genuinely have fun while creating my art, both personal and professional works. I feel very lucky to do what I love, and I’m committed to make a successful career from it.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I first came to SVA, my work consisted mostly of realistic drawings and paintings. I concentrated in oil painting portraits and I really honed that skill. It wasn’t until my sophomore year that I began experimenting with digital illustration. It was then that I realized I wanted to change gears. It was intimidating, knowing I needed to develop a new style, learn new skills, and create a portfolio when I had already dedicated almost two years doing something entirely different. Many of the principles and techniques I learned in my drawing and painting classes didn’t go to waste, though. I’ve found it useful to have a background in traditional drawing, anatomy, composition, color theory, etc.

It’s almost like you subconsciously carry these lessons with you as you draw. You’ll find yourself being able to break the rules of realism to achieve something stylistic that still looks “right”. This was definitely a challenge I faced along the way, but like anything else, you learn to adapt. I like to think that I’ve grown into my work, but also that my work grows with me.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is having your art surround you. It’s fun to be able to decorate your space and have it also serve as proof of your hard work. Often, the art on my walls inspires new ideas or reminds me of certain techniques I’ve used in the past. Beyond that it’s really cool to think I’ve created this entire universe with characters and situations that are uniquely mine. As my portfolio grows, I see this world expand, and it fills me with pride and admiration for my work.

The fact that other people can enjoy my art with me as my career grows is just another perk that feels rewarding in an entirely separate way. This mutual appreciation for art encourages me to create work that I’m proud of. Art in any form has its own way of bringing people together by evoking some sort of emotion. As an artist, I think you start to develop this intuition for what will resonate with people. And typically what resonates with people are things that are meaningful to you, brought to life in your art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://julialopac.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capol.ailuj/?hl=en
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/julialopac