We recently connected with Mitchell Hawley and have shared our conversation below.

Mitchell, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

As a creative person, I’m not always happy at the moment about where I am in my creative career, or if I can even call it that, but in the long-run, I do feel happy setting time aside to draw and be creative. It’s encouraging to be able to look at the work I’ve made and feel like I’m making a path. I can’t really compare my accomplishments with others, because most people don’t get it, and that sort of makes it even better at times. I mean- folks keep up with stock-investments, getting a PHD, you know, adult stuff, as a measure of meaning and success, and then there are those of us who keep up with creating silly cartoons, etc.

Creativity is like a humble bug living under a rock, having this unique experience. You kind of have to be at peace with knowing it’s for your own enjoyment. That’s not to say there aren’t moments where the public gets to enjoy my work, and I feel seen, and part of the community as an adult, but those moments are fewer than the time spent doing the work in solitude or with a few friends. However, I still think one day I will be a published Illustrator, and maybe even writer!

I’ve always had a regular job as a creative. I worked full time at a family owned coffee and wine bar in Austin, Texas for 7 years, while I continued to put in time for drawing and creative projects. My time at the coffee and wine bar was very socially fulfilling. I worked in the kitchen, which was basically like a food truck, because it was so tiny, and was in charge of prepping, cooking, bussing, washing dishes, doing inventory, and grocery shopping. It was fun and satisfying to help manage a small business. My time there catered to my creativity, because all my coworkers were dynamic, full of life, and hilarious. I have so many good memories. I felt like I was on the set of a zany TV show or story. It was like a combo of The Bear, Money Pit, and Friends.

During the pandemic, I got the opportunity to work remotely for the first time working with a team of animators and artists to rotoscope an animated film called Quantum Cowboys, starring Lily Gladstone, which is available to stream on Amazon! I worked on that film for 1 year, and it was a dream come true. I was able to take quite a few road trips to New Orleans, Florida, Texas Hill Country, and North Carolina before relocating there.

For the past year and half I’ve been doing social work-full time in Asheville, North Carolina. I help folks with IDD be independent in their homes and community. I find overlap between my clients and myself with their interest in books, visual media, music, and how they interact with the world. I’m currently working on 4 Illustrations for a Therapist at the main office depicting 4 emotions. I’ve always been attracted to educational and cognitive visual design to help with learning and development. I had learning disabilities growing up, and was dyslexic. All the visual media and design I was exposed to was exciting and memorable as a kid, and I think it played a big part in being a visual person.

So for me, having a regular job adds an extra layer of opportunity that stands apart from my creative life, but also adds to it. If I’m feeling unfulfilled in one area, there is always another area that is adding memory and meaning, and for me that’s enough.

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

Hi, I’m Mitchell, and I’m an Illustrator and visual storyteller currently residing in Western North Carolina.

My work stylistically is oriented towards young adults and the kids book market. This wasn’t intentional, although over the years I’ve become more aware of it, and have purposively taken online art classes focusing on commercial illustration, and the children’s book market. My family and friends can tell you I have an incredibly strong work ethic, and I’m very self disciplined when it comes to my creative work, which is often my own personal projects. I have a strong ability to create memorable, genuine characters, and can fill up a page with fun and stimulating details. I would love to work with authors on
illustrating stories that are unique, imaginative, and funny.

My creativity comes from sketching without intent. Sketching feels like writing to me. I often sketch and sketch until all of a sudden I have a very strong and unique illustration, which seems to have its own story. I noticed while taking classes that during an assignment, we would be given a prompt, and a lot of the time, I would get so inspired that my drawing(s) seemed to go beyond the prompt, often into a realm of their own. This was frustrating, but also encouraging. I had to learn to keep what was necessary for the assignment, but also put in time to follow my flight of fancy as a separate project.

I’ve worked with clients on design and event collateral- murals, logos, t-shirts, etc. All my client history can tell you I work well under deadlines, edits, and, revisions. I’m easy to work with, patient, and prompt in communication.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Make Art That Sells is an online art school geared towards commercial Illustration and the kid’s book market. I’ve been enrolled for the past couple years with various classes, and I have found it to be very much integral to the creation of my current portfolio.

I was also part of the SCBWI chapter ( Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators ) in Austin, Texas, and I found that to be so memorable and rewarding. The Austin chapter is very active- monthly drawing meet-ups, monthly reviews, critique, and lectures at Book People Book Store. If you’re looking for a city with a strong, active local community of kids book writers and illustrators, Austin is definitely a great choice.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The joy that all you need is some simple technology like a pencil or guitar to create entertainment, meaning, memory, and a laugh.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mitchellgranthawley.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mitchellgranthawley