Interviews

Vanessa Lilak

Vanessa Lilak’s iconic, graphic illustrations embrace and satirize our sexualized selfie culture. Working as a designer at Capitol Records while developing a thriving personal illustration practice, Vanessa brightens our days with the smart, semi-nuts, wild-at-heart spirit that infuses her work, her Instagram, and her life in general.

Is there any difference between client work and your own work style? Do people ever try to make you dial it back? (They’d be fools to!)

The only difference between client work and personal work is that when I’m creating for myself, I’m truly having fun and feel total freedom. And when a client is involved I’m just a stressed out person with imposter syndrome, overthinking everything. I think my biggest flaw is not just going for it when it’s client work. Like I need to just pretend it’s personal work so I don’t just dwell on thinking if someone’s gonna like it or not. WOW answering these questions is so therapeutic, I’m literally just working through all my thoughts. And I’m pretty lucky that for the most part, when people reach out to me it is because they want something that isn’t dialed back. Sometimes people actually push me to get more wild than I could even imagine, it’s great!

How do you stay inspired when you’re busy being creative at your day job?

I get inspired by taking walks, traveling a lot, reading, listening to music…and sometimes just sitting alone in my room thinking about life (scary!). I have to do those things to kind of recharge so I can be creative for myself and also at my day job. And to be honest, one of my biggest sources of inspiration is driving around LA, aka my 30 minute (or hour lol) commute to and from work. Having time to myself in my car lets me prep for or reflect on my day, and influences a ton of what I make.

“Shoutout to all my friends who have photographed me nude, you are the real heroes!”

It’s hard, though. I definitely go through waves of high and low productivity. Sometimes I’ll draw every night for an entire month and love it. Other times—like right now—I have a list of ideas in my head, but don’t have the energy to actually get started. I think that balance is healthy and necessary. Or maybe I just tell myself it is? I find it hard slash impossible to always be ON.

Is that an answer? I’m inspired by being alone and driving around LA lol.

Your self portraits on instagram are works of art! Do you see them as an extension of your illustrations?

FINALLY someone is recognizing my selfie game as art. I think a person’s Instagram is really just a performance of who they are, and doesn’t need to be taken seriously as a super “authentic” representation. Which means you gotta have fun with it, and allow yourself to flex between being serious, funny, sexy, perverse, whatever feels right in the moment. A selfie is just as valid an “artform” as an illustration or drawing, especially for people who’ve had IG in their pocket since high school or college. Eye of the beholder, baby. Shoutout to all my friends who have photographed me nude, you are the real heroes!

WHAT was it like working on merch for Lizzo???????!!!!! Gimme the goss please.

Honestly what a dream ?! I’ve been obsessed for a while but last summer I saw her at Red Rocks and pretty much cried emotional happy tears the entire time. It was weird but wonderful. I just love what she represents—ugh I just love everything about her. My roommate, Quinn, is her creative director and she’s the best. So when she approached me to work on merch I was so excited! It was so fun just listening to Lizzo all day for a few weeks and drawing. I got to see her show last night and walking into the venue and seeing all the merch there was such a fun and surreal experience. I want to do more!

Can you think of a time that you wish an art director provided better direction or support? Obviously never me when we worked together, I was perfect, but has anyone else given you trouble? We’ll keep it anonymous!

Ah I can think of so many times when an art director could have provided better direction. It seems like the biggest problem I face is not having clear direction from the start and then everything just turns into a big mess. Sometimes I think people don’t know what they want until something is in front of them and then it’s very easy for them to either love it or hate it. I do understand though, it’s hard to explain a vision. I may be an outlier in that I love to get on calls with someone to fully talk things through or better yet meet for lunch! Sometimes I feel like things get lost in emails and it’s good to just sit down with people and talk things through. That may be naive though, like people don’t have “time” to meet up. Whatevs, I like having a relationship with an art director—it helps me! Support via clear communication is hot. But of course NEVER any issues when we worked together! Honestly sorry if I was a trash intern.

What are major red flags when someone gets in touch about a potential project?

The biggest red flag is when a brand says “let’s collab”—although if collab means pay me to make you something I’m down.

Anything else you want to share?

Ugh so many thoughts. Let’s do this again soon.

View Vanessa’s portfolio.