Today we are delighted to share with you an interview with Ella Elron-Breitman who is a graduate of The Ultimate Portfolio Builder which she took in September 2015.
When did your interest in design first start and how did that come about?
When I was a little girl I loved collecting stickers and stationery, but I never got everything that I wanted, and like every child I wanted everything… so my solution was simple I made my own. I was an ambitious kid and I didn’t just make stationary sets and hand drawn stickers. I sculptured tinny figurines, designed my own jewellery, illustrated comics and pop-up books and created home decor pieces and clothes for dolls. My collection expanded, I had gifts for everyone and I even set up a make shift stall and sold my creations to neighbours.
As I grew up this passion lead me to industrial design, I was captivated by researching, designing and manufacturing and especially adored drawing creatures and trying to combine them into my product designs. But I felt something was missing. My intellectual curiosity was not satisfied. I began learning and afterwards teaching history and art history in the Hebrew university in Jerusalem. I delve into medieval art and society, and I found myself flourishing, I was so in my element that even teaching was not so scary after a few semesters.
When I became a mother I was focused on raising our daughter and struggling to find time for academia and art. I read as much as I could and took illustration classes. Then a tragedy happened. My husband was sick and when our daughter was only three years old he passed away. I felt devastated but knew I had a mission to rebuild our lives. With the support of my remarkable family I managed to rise from the ashes of a broken life. I am now creating a better future for our daughter and going back to my childhood dream. Thanks to the internet with its wonderful e-courses, global communities and online communication I can learn and work from home and be connected to the design world while hugging my daughter.
What steps did you take to get to where you are now as a designer?
I am a student by nature, so my academic learning methods took over when I decided to re-enter this world. I conducted in depth research, read all I could, searched for and followed artists that sparked my interest. I made lists of my strengths and weaknesses and then I looked for the learning platforms that would help me hone my skill and turn it into a commercial attribute. I took and am still taking many courses in a variety of fields artistic and commercial. And while doing all of this I make sure to spend as much time as I can actually drawing and designing.
How would you describe your style?
My style is a bold hand drawn illustration edited in the computer. I just adore the intimate and raw feeling of a hand drawn line and the versatility and playfulness that the computer adds to the mix. As for the subject matters, they depend on the requirement of the project so they run between anthropomorphic cats and quirky mermaids to geometric and abstract patterns.
What kind of designer do you want to be known as?
I would want to be known as a designer that makes you notice the tiny moments and details of everyday life which usually go unobserved, but when seen make you curious and fill you with joy
What are you working on currently?
At the moment I have two projects in progress. The first is a paper collection which aims to bring people together and help them connect via images and words. The second is a more personal project. Since my husband passed away our daughter and I have been living with my parents, but now the plan to build our own adjacent apartment is starting to take shape and I know that I want our home to be a place that is full of memories that connect us to our past, but also a place in which we live and create a new future full of hope, change and potential. I have started to work on ideas for a home décor collection that will express and serve these needs, while thinking how I can give this gift of preserving while growing to other people, children and families.
What advice would you give emerging designers wanting to build their portfolios?
Try not to feel overwhelmed by your vision of the future you seek. Set yourself goals and use them your guide to determine actionable tasks. Make sure to always schedule time for small things which you can accomplish and that are aligned to your values and your aims. And most importantly set actual steps that you can really accomplish.
What would be your dream design gig?
I am at heart a paper lover and my dream gig would be to take part in contributing to an inspirational publication such as the `Flow Books for Paper Lovers`.
And then there is the mother in me that is dreaming in 3D and has great ideas for sophisticated and fun child oriented home décor, perfect for customers such as `Land of Nod`.
Looking ahead what are your major goals for the next couple of years?
For the next couple of years my aim is to expand my income streams mainly by focusing on more illustration and licensing projects (I wouldn’t say no to offers from agents that could enhance these aspects).
If you were a pattern what kind of a pattern would you be and why?
I would defiantly be a conversational (novelty) pattern. Probably a postmodern toile combining complex and detailed scenes from everyday life with hints of stories and a little bit of wit and sensitivity all disguised in a delicate and calm traditional pattern.
What was the most important lesson you took away from UPB?
The course helped me realize that while it is important to experiment in art and creation, it is vital to make collections that are consistent and represent a strong opinion. I learnt that my voice and point of view must be clearly reflected in my style and subject matter if I want to best match my customer’s needs.
What difference did it make to have a supportive community of fellow students and how important do you think that will be going forward?
The online global creative community turned out to be a great source of inspiration. I’m constantly amazed by the good hearted creative people from all over the world who are willing to support and encourage each other.
Please tell us about your experience of the live briefs and student work reviews.
The live briefs and student work reviews were the highlights of the Ultimate Portfolio Builder course. So much energy and goodwill were injected to create a learning experience that helped process the tools and advice given during the course. This assisted me in growing my body of commercially viable work, drew me closer to having a stronger and more rounded portfolio, and made me stretch my boundries and move forward. I really enjoyed this combination of hard work, fun and insight.
Ella is an illustrator and surface designer based in Jerusalem.
Her first passion was industrial design; from there she made her way through academia studying, then teaching history and art history at the Hebrew University. Focusing on medieval art evolved into a personal desire that leaked out of the academy into her sketchbooks. Then tragedy struck, her husband fell ill and when their daughter was three years old he passed away. While picking up the pieces and giving her daughter hope, she found an outlet in illustration, this lead her back to her artistic roots and to a new career path.
Website |Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Society6
Amazed by what you see from our talented students? Join our latest class of The Ultimate Portfolio Builder starting March 21, 2016.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.