GIRL POWER! ft. Rhianna Wurman

Based in North Carolina, freelance illustrator and designer Rhianna Wurman realised her dream of working for herself in the summer of 2011. The creator and owner of Ello Lovey, she posts daily sketches and drawings via instagram and creates everything from quirky typography prints to charming illustrations that are all available to buy on her etsy.  Rhianna's fan base continues to grow, partly because of her sincere dedication to her work, and partly because everyone who comes across her fun and whimsical illustrations falls completely in love. 

What advice would you give someone aspiring to work in the same field as you?

If I were to give advice to someone aspiring to be an illustrator/designer, I would encourage them to practice everyday in some way. The more you work on your drawing/lettering/computer skills, the more you develop your own style and become an individual.  For example, I have been drawing/doodling in my portable sketchbook almost every day for a year and I can definitely see how much I've improved over time. It's a fun way of chronicling your artistic journey. Challenge yourself to try new techniques and experiment. You might discover something amazing withing yourself and your abilities. Promote yourself or find someone who will promote you and your work. It's so important to get yourself out there in the world or else you're just invisible. Share your work on your own website. Use the web to your benefit...read blogs and network with other illustrators and designers! There are so many friendly people in the design community who are willing to share their experiences and encourage you. Men and women are on the same playing field in this industry in my eyes. Fortunately, there have been many successful women in the industry who have paved the way for all of us and really made their mark. I have a print that reads, "Find Things That Inspire You Every Day", and I find this to be a helpful tool to staying motivated and thinking creatively. Just be very careful not to copy another artist's work. Find a way to make your art completely your own. It is very important not to compare yourself with others. We are all on different paths in life with different upbringings and different futures. Produce work that moves YOU! Be confident in your abilities, take risks, work hard and always stay positive!

What does the word feminism mean to you? 

Feminism, to me, means not being afraid to take charge as a woman. Society can sometimes not give enough credit to woman for the work they do. So we have to own it! We are just as much a valuable contribution to society as men are. We can dream big and make big things happen!

What one change would you like to see happen in the future?

I think it would be great to see women get more involved in their communities. We need to inform ourselves about what's going on around us so we can address issues we care about. 

Check out Rhianna's etsy here and her blog

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