Who is Viktor Sakshaug?
I’m Viktor Sakshaug, educated as a graphic designer, and now working as a freelance illustrator and designer. I love Lego, colours, climbing, typography and cooking.
You have quite a unique style, how did you come to develop it?
Thank you for saying that! I have spent the last year refining my illustrations, trying to find a style I am comfortable with. I think it’s hard to say how I have developed it.
I would say it’s a mix between trying to just draw things my way and being inspired by many different talented people that I like.
How did you discover Affinity apps?
A friend I made while travelling recommended it to me approximately two years ago (a great illustrator and photographer: Janosch Kunze, check him out!). I was intrigued and when I got back home in front of the computer after six months away from digital drawing, it was the perfect time to start fresh with new software.
We love your use of negative space, what is the secret to doing this well?
Wow, thank you. That is not the easiest question to answer, because a lot of times I do not necessarily plan it. But I do often try to think in the sketching phase of an illustration how this can be translated to a digital format.
Working in the space between what I actually have sketched, and what I imagine it can become in Affinity is a fun place to be in and explore. That’s often where ideas around negative space appear.
What do you find most useful in Affinity Designer?
I do not have the most complicated illustrations, but a lot of them have some sort of idea behind them.
So for me being able to capture an idea quickly, and easily translate it into a digital illustration is key. Affinity Designer feels super-fast and snappy to start up and I can quickly work the Pen Tool and get the feel of an illustration.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
Because I have done mostly personal illustrations the last year, I try to come up with ideas to what can become a nice clever illustration, often based on ideas around shapes and form.
I have actually tried to gradually disconnect myself from the vastness of inspiration from the internet. It often makes me less happy with what I am able to make because I am comparing myself to something I am not. I, therefore, try to find inspiration in completely different arenas. It makes it harder to make a direct comparison and therefore feels more fun to have as the source.
What is a typical day for you?
The last year I haven’t really had a typical day. I work part-time in a startup as a designer and combine that with freelance work. But I try to get out of bed around 8 am on workdays, and sometimes work from home, sit at cafés or I sit together with the startup.
I try to climb a couple of days a week and hang out with my girlfriend as much as possible.
What would you like to see added to Affinity Designer?
What a fun question! I would love to be able to drag and drop colour palettes into my affinity file. I am obsessed with creating colour palettes, and I always use at least one in each illustration as the starting point for choosing colours.
Do you have some wisdom you can share with our readers?
I don’t really feel that I have worked enough professionally to say this at all, and it may turn out to be entirely wrong, but here goes… I think people, in general, like to find patterns in your work and put you in a category. If you can find a style you like and stick to it, you will be more memorable to people.
Check out Viktor’s website and follow him on Instagram.