Meet Carly Larsson | Illustrator | Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carly Larsson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carly, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I couldn’t picture myself doing anything else. I’ve always been a creative person, and when it came to deciding what I wanted to dedicate my life to, it felt natural. No other option seemed as fulfilling to me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Freelancing is hard and unpredictable. I don’t think that would have gotten to where I am today without a bunch of student loans, scholarships and family support. One thing I would recommend to anyone starting out as a freelance illustrator is to diversify your income streams. Think about commercial illustration, editorial illustration, licensing, murals, creating and selling your own products, teaching workshops on a skill you’re really good at, etc. There are so many different directions you can go and you’re not limited. Also, you’re not any less of an artist for having a day job that helps you live and invest in the art you want to create. Teaching more has allowed me the stability to focus less on commercial illustration and more on making art that satisfies my soul. Lately, I’ve been really excited about incorporating my writing and illustrations. I’ve always kept a journal sporadically, but have been very private with my writing. The teachers in the SVA MFA Illustration program encouraged me to be less precious with my writing, and it opened a floodgate. I recently made a short comic called Let’s Be Gentle that I self-published as a risograph zine, where I combine illustrations with excerpts from my journal. It’s printed on a 140lb smooth off-white printmaking paper and the experience of turning the pages feels very satisfying. I originally made it on an iPad, so it’s nice to have it live somewhere other than a screen and to be able to have this very tactile experience with it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I was very fortunate to have connected with my mentors Veronica Lawlor, Margaret Hurst, Joe Roberts, and Ted and Betsy Lewin during my time at Pratt. They’ve provided invaluable support, criticism, and a sense of chosen creative family for me over the years. Korin Schneider at Radius Art Studio in Portland OR was also instrumental in fostering a really special creative community, where she gave me the opportunity to teach my first drawing and painting classes.

Website: www.carlylarsson.com

Instagram: @carlylarsson