Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Emma Szostok

Hey guys happy 6th of November =) .... I cannot believe I am writing 'November' already, what happened to this year??? We are already on week twenty-two of TAT, which actually makes me feel woozy to think about haha this week's featured artist is studying at university for her degree in Illustration, please enjoy her interview:

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are

Hi, My names Emma Szostok and I’m an Illustrator & Crafter. I live near Manchester and I’m currently in my last year at Salford University studying Illustration. Drawing is everything to me and always has been, through all the academic stuff in school that I was terrible at, I always knew I had something I was ok at and had a passion for doing. I have a degree in Graphic Design and when I leave University this time I will have my BA Hons.. Yayy !

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?

I think for me its got to be my confidence. I always compare myself to other and think how bad my work is and how others are fantastic at what they do. But then I realise that I’m unique and I do things in my own way and its good to not be a perfect drawer or designer because I still bring something to the table that others might not do in my design work. Never put yourself down with your work, you do things how you want them to be done and be confident in being unique !

Do you think you have achieved a uniquely recognizable style as an artist, or do you find it a struggle to find your own style?

If I answered this question last year I would say I’m majorly struggling to find where I fit into this wide industry but in the past 6 month I’ve come into my own !

I wouldn’t say I have a set style but I have a few ways I like to work. One being with stencils and paint or spray paint that the technique I’m developing on at the moment and loving every minute of it and my other is I like to draw and use markers. I have a big thing about use sharpies at the moment there my most favourite tool to use.

What is the best thing / worst thing that art has brought into your life?

The best thing it’s brought into my life is my boyfriend I met him at college when we was studying Graphic Design and I think it’s also brought me confidence and taught me to express myself. It also gives me great pleasure to be able to create things for other and watch them smile and be grateful for a piece of work I've created.

The worst thing has got to be the amount of money I spend of materials and bits and bobs. I live in the pound shop and just grab whatever I like the look of at the time I constantly go in to check for new stock that’s been put out. I think any stationery / art & crafts store is the worst thing for me I can spend so long looking round and then buying stuff that I don’t need at the time and probably never use

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?

There are quite a few ways to find my work, I think I’m on nearly the majority of networking sites....here goes..

Facebook : www.facebook.com/emmalouiseszostok 

Tumblr : www.emmalouiseszostok.tumblr.com

Instagram : emmalouiise91

Twitter : em_louiise

I think that’s covered the main and most networking sites I use. I upload to these several times a day especially when I have projects on or I’m doing personal work. I like to update people and keep them interested in what I do.

Thanks Emma for your interview, I especially like the fact you said your biggest challenge includes comparison to others, which we all deal with, but I think can be a bit embarrassing to admit so thank you for your honesty. It's difficult to not compare our artwork, like we do our lives, with others but your words 'be confident in being unique' hit the nail on the head, I'm trying to embrace my differences & not see them as meaning I am 'bad' or 'less' than anybody else. And though I haven't visited for a while, I so hear you about the pound shop ;) lol

Want to be a featured TAT artist,

click the link on the right for more info =)