We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Miki Rose. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Miki below.

Alright, Miki thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

When I was younger and had yet to be exposed to the diverse selection of creative careers that exist, I really only had a vague idea of what an artist was professionally. I think most people’s idea of an artist can resemble a lonely oil painter or sculptor alone in their studio, fated to either achieve profitable fame or to never be recognized.

The internet exposed me to a lot of artists who were making a living as concept artists, character artists, surface designers, even comic book artists. It made me realize that there was potential to genuinely make money from my art, rather than push it to the side and focus on something more conventional–as I had been expected to do for most of my life.

Miki, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My primary focus at this time is surface design, which has a pretty literal definition. This industry produces artwork for home goods, greeting cards, wall paper, apparel, or really anything that can have a pattern or design printed on its surface. Getting involved in this industry has also funneled me into hand lettering, which I’m kind of obsessed with. If that makes me a graphic designer now, so be it.

My surface design work is generally playful and youth oriented, maybe even a bit feminine. I tend to market to either young girls or their moms–whatever I’m feeling at the time.

On the side I’m also doing general illustrations and comics. I’m currently working on my main comic Faithful, which I’m hoping to do a web release of within the next year.

My illustrative work is a lot darker. When it does get playful, it tends to have a dark undertone to it–as if it’s hiding a secret.

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

If you’re a young artist on the internet, you might receive some advice or feel an impulse to develop a single distinctive style–and straying from this can feel scary. Followers tend to like it when you deliver a consistent product, and if internet notoriety is your goal then this might be something to focus on.

But if you’re seeking to work in the industry, having a diverse styles and abilities actually improves your marketability. My portfolio demonstrates a wide range of styles, so much so that I have to organize my website to account for this.

During my time at school I’ve been encouraged to foster and tend to these different styles like fragile plants, and because of this I’ve gotten bits of work in a lot of different places. And despite the contrast, my friends have commented that there is still something about any one of my pieces that is distinctively “Miki Rose.”

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

It’s a secret fantasy of mine to see someone in public with something I designed. Maybe it’s a shirt or a bag or something. I think I really want to connect with people through the stuff I produce, even if they don’t know it’s my name behind it. Just to walk by that person on the street would be really exciting.

My ultimate goal is to be able to sustain myself off of my work exclusively. I’m still a student, but that time in my career is arriving quickly. This next year might even be the deciding factor for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mikirose.art
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikiroseart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikirosephx/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikiroseart

Image Credits
Portrait photographer: Joya Steverson