Today we’d like to introduce you to Marianna Kulukundis.

Marianna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Despite many detours through acting, producing, and even working as a first AD for branded short films, I fell into an illustration career after a casual request to illustrate a friend’s wedding invitation started it all. I am fortunate that commissions started coming in almost immediately. I like to say it happened overnight, but with twenty years of preparation. My background is in fine art, so I am self-taught as an illustrator. I am sure some would say I break the rules, although I don’t know what they are, so I muddle along on instinct. However, when I need to select a typeface, I worry that a seasoned graphic designer will look at my font choices and shudder. I have a “fear of font failure.”

Initially, I posted daily rudimentary illustrations on Instagram, which gave me a platform to show my work and helped refine my daily practice. There’s too much emphasis on follower counts and “mastering” Instagram, yet it can be valuable for getting your work out there. Instagram is a necessary tool for many creatives, but I find it frustrating that the follower count is used to measure value when getting bigger and better clients.

Today, my main work still comes from commissions from brands and private clients, and I am mostly asked to illustrate items for events: invitations, menus, and so on. However, I am slowly moving away from event work to focus on my love of homeware design. The next chapter for me is a homeware line that includes patterned tablecloths, napkins, trays, and possibly plates. Fortunately, the creative part flows easily, but my business acumen is not my strong suit, so I am currently searching for a business partner. I am in total admiration of other illustrators who seemingly managed to make the shift from freelancers to business owners.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My creative journey hasn’t been linear, a common experience for many creatives. I always knew I wanted to pursue a creative career and was so determined that I tried to apply to Central Saint Martins in London at fourteen! I attended Central Saint Martins for a year and studied painting at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).

I found life as a painter post-RISD challenging, mainly because it felt very isolating creatively. I remember one of my RISD professors, Dennis Congdon, telling us that we would be desperate to get feedback on our work after we graduated and that we would be begging any unsuspecting passerby for a “crit” (critique). He was right about that. I believe it is essential to surround yourself with a creative community. If I could go back to that time, I would have prioritized that and found a way to get a studio with other painters or creatives rather than isolating myself by working at home.

Later, as I embarked on a career as an illustrator, I would ask every illustrator I came across for advice, enroll myself in classes, and join as many Instagram challenges as possible. It’s never too late to learn something more; it helps to learn from creatives who may be further along the path than you are.
Despite the seemingly overnight start of my illustration career, taking it to the “next level” remains challenging as I strive to define what that means for me. Is it gaining more name recognition, earning more money, or attracting better clients? I’ve reached a point where I know my worth and no longer feel the need to prove myself. Yet, I still have moments of disbelief that people want to hire me and pay for my work; it’s a work in progress.

Many people think illustrators get a project, spend five minutes drawing a flower, and that’s it. Pricing work accurately can be difficult. Some clients do not understand that a seemingly loose, whimsical flower illustration may involve many iterations, extensive client feedback, and even a shift in concept, such as changing the original flower idea to an elephant!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
First and foremost, I allow myself to be inspired by the project and the client’s requirements. I love to consider the location where the work will end up or elements of the client’s personality or brand passion points. By the simple fact that I am creating the work, the result will always have the look and feel of my style but hopefully include elements that are personal to the client or specific to the event. This personal touch is an essential element of my work and what attracts clients to me.

Most clients find me through word of mouth or after seeing my work, so I am fortunate not to need extensive client outreach to get new commissions. Occasionally, a potential client requests a particular illustrator’s style. I never copy another artist’s work, so I am not the right choice for clients seeking that.

I recently worked on a fun project for Chase Travel; I was asked to create designs for several Wimbledon events they hosted in London. I loved the variety of this project, as the designs were used for a Smythson notebook liner, a scarf, tablecloths, menus, notecards, and rattan hand fans with strawberry designs for their guests to use while watching the tennis. I had never painted on rattan before, so this seemingly simple design took weeks of preparation, including various paint tests, design alterations, and getting used to painting on such a surface. Unfortunately, an unforeseen family emergency arose just as I was about to start painting the actual fans. Despite budgeting two weeks for the task, I only had a weekend to paint all the designs on the fans. After a couple of days of frantically painting strawberries, I was happy with the results, and the client loved them, which is the main thing. It may be a while before I paint on rattan again, but I am proud I managed to pull it off.

What’s next?
While I love the variety of work I get through commissions, which tend to focus on designs for printed stationery, items for brand launches, weddings, and special events, I’ve discovered a particular passion for creating homeware, such as plates, tablecloths, and repeat patterns for fabrics. Between commissions, I’ve been developing designs for wallpapers, textiles, and homeware, including plates and trays. I hope to shift my focus to design collaborations with homeware brands and ultimately launch my own homeware brand. It will be a significant change, but I am ready for the challenge!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mariannak.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariannak_illustration/

Image Credits
Bio Photo: Amanda Pratt Rattan Fans: Apalma Handmade, strawberry hand-painted designs by Marianna Kulukundis Pink paper fortune teller photo: Alice Currey Smythson book liner: photo pending approval