What inspired you to start illustrating, and how did you get to where you are now?
My Dad and I used to hang out with one of his friends a lot when I was a child, and this friend just happened to be a painter! I loved watching him work, and I pretty much just tried to imitate what he was doing at that time!
My parents were always very supportive of me regarding my creative career. They always urged me to study and go after my dreams. This is how I ended up in a graphic design program at one of Budapest’s local art schools, and I recently just obtained my master’s degree at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts.
“I’ve always considered myself a creative person, and illustration is the purest form of self-expression for me!”
While my studies helped me understand the fundamentals of composition with a short learning curve, I do not think academics played the biggest role in me becoming an illustrator. I’ve always considered myself a creative person, and illustration is the purest form of self-expression for me!
How would you describe your illustrative style, and how has it evolved over the years?
I would say my current style is heavily inspired by pop art-esque elements and humour, dressed in a colourful aesthetic. I mainly create black line arts and simple colour spots under the linework. I pretty much worked only in black and white in my early days. Not using colour was sort of a safe zone for me, but thanks to one of my teachers, I managed to get out of that phase, and since then, colour has played a huge role in my works.
My early drawings were also a lot different in technique. I started with digital paintings, and then I created some geometric compositions, and my current style evolved from a part-time job! I used to illustrate textbooks for children back in 2018, in a style similar to my current one!
As you mentioned, colour has a special place in your work. How do you choose the colours for your illustrations?
I used to look up colour palettes that I could work with. Nowadays, I colour most of my works based on intuition and my mood on that day, the more vibrant and contrasting, the better! I’ve been also been trying to experiment with some softer, pastel-like colours lately.
“I colour most of my works based on intuition and my mood on that day, the more vibrant and contrasting, the better!”
When did you start using Affinity Designer, and what are your thoughts on it? Do you have any favourite features?
I started using Affinity Designer about four years ago when I purchased my first iPad. I instantly loved how user-friendly and logically built it is, even for someone using it for the first time!
I would say my favourite feature is that I can create my sketches and also the polished vector works within the same program. I am currently working on a project that requires me to use raster textures on vector linework, and Designer is a perfect tool for that!
“I would say my favourite feature is that I can create my sketches and also the polished vector works within the same program. I am currently working on a project that requires me to use raster textures on vector linework, and Designer is a perfect tool for that!”
Can you describe the creative process behind your work? How do you develop your ideas into finished illustrations?
My approach differs a bit when I work for myself and when I work for clients, although the technical process remains the same for both.
When I start working on a new concept, my first step (after brainstorming) is always to gather as many reference images as possible. Then I start the sketching process, and when I have a seemingly workable draft, I begin creating the linework. Colouring is the last step. I usually try three to four colour variations before choosing the one that fits my mood/project theme the best.
I only work on personal projects when I feel a creative flow, and I can get lost in creating. I feel like this is a pretty convenient way to avoid burnout when someone works as a full-time illustrator, although it is also important to push myself sometimes when I feel a creative block—finding a balance is important!
When a client commissions me though, there is rarely any place for personal preferences. It does not matter if there is any flow or not. My brain practically switches from a fully intuitional approach to a mostly analytical one, and I feel like this helps a lot when I have to create something that fits the client’s needs. My graphic design background probably has a lot to do with that!
Where do you find inspiration?
TV shows, movies, books, Instagram, my fellow creative friends, retro posters and nature—these all inspire me!
We love the tarot card illustrations you’ve created. Could you tell us more about the project?
The tarot project actually comes from an incredibly frustrating art block that happened to me last summer! Having a theme with existing motives that can be approached in a relatively free manner, both in style and interpretation, helped me overcome that!
I’ve always admired tarot decks, and I felt like my portfolio could only benefit from a series like that! It is still a work in progress, though. I am currently planning to illustrate the Major Arcana, and six cards are still to be created in the future!
How do you hope people feel when they see your illustrations?
I feel happy if someone smiles at my illustrations—at my funny-looking cat icon, for example, or if one of my works inspires someone to also create something!
Do you have any advice for illustrators just starting out, looking to develop their style and identity?
My most important advice is not to stress! There are people who make a living working in several kinds of styles/mediums, and there are people who strictly stick to one—neither way is worse than the other. Your own little marks that differentiate your works will eventually show over time; you only need to keep creating and keep loving the process!
“Your own little marks that differentiate your works will eventually show over time; you only need to keep creating and keep loving the process!”
Lastly, what are your future aspirations? What would you like to achieve in the next five years?
Expanding my freelance business is always a priority, of course. My current focus is on creating more art prints and more personal pieces in general. Sadly, these were a bit neglected in the past year because of uni, but now I can finally start working towards these goals at full speed!
Also, now that I have a little bit more time for myself after graduation, I would like to explore some other forms of self-expression! I recently started taking dance classes, and I feel like this is a great start to that journey!
To see more of Melinda’s illustrations, check out her Instagram account @magyarmelcsi or visit her website magyarmelcsi.com.