Taking the pulse with Danielle Schulmeister

2024 Applied Arts Student Awards winner Danielle Schulmeister is currently finishing a Bachelor of Design, Illustration and Character Design at the University of Alberta. Her winning work "Opposites and Pride" won in the Conceptual Illustration category, as she says: "The goal of these illustrations was to provide some insight into the content of each article, as well as to add an entertainment factor for the reader by using conceptual strategies such as visual opposites, symbols, and metaphor." We reached out to her to learn more about this talented artist.

How would you describe your artistic style?

I like to refer to myself as a chameleon. I often switch between styles and find it pretty easy to mimic others' if the assignment calls for it. However, the style that I always return to has a lot of fun line work and colour that mimic traditional mediums, even if the piece is digital. 

What is the hardest part when you are creating/ when you created this specific piece?

Each of these pieces was created for a class that was very focused on the concept. And the hardest part was actually coming up with ideas that weren't too literal. I will say that even though throughout the process, I was constantly hearing "push it further", I now have an easier time thinking outside the box with other projects.

What do you wish people knew about your industry?

I am one of the only ones in my friend group who went to school to pursue a creative career. My friends are mostly teachers, nurses, physios, psychologists, or pursued other traditional academic roles. I think what a lot of people assume about art school or the arts industry, in general, is that it doesn't take a lot of effort or that it's easy. What I wish people knew about the industry is that often, it can be just as draining as other careers because of how much of our heart and soul goes into our work, and we work very hard to build our skill sets. I'd also like people to know how much time the design process actually takes (it's not just a couple of hours from idea to final product!). We put dozens of hours into creating things that tell stories, and often, that effort is chalked down to how "talented" we are and not how much time and effort has been put into learning those skills that got us there. 

How do you stay creative/inspired?

I would say that having hobbies that do not rely on creating art is a big help. It's hard to fight burnout when you always feel like you're creating things - even if creating is what keeps you going, even if it's what you live and breathe to do, sometimes you just need a break from it. For example, I really love scuba diving, reading, and travelling, and I stay creative by allowing myself not to feel like I have to be creating 24/7. Usually, a lot of inspiration comes from these other experiences.

Connect with Danielle Schulmeister:

W. dschulmeisterillustration.com | IG. @schullustrations

Danielle you have a very promising career ahead of you, congratulations on your win!