It’s time for our next Featured Student! For May we are featuring:

Miranda Hoover

• Website: mirandahoover.com

• Instagram: @mirananemone

Below is an awesome Q&A that SVS Producer, David Braud, conducted with Miranda Hoover.

Selling yourself short as an artist is something that lots of folks do. Miranda’s story should encourage many who get caught in the “comparison trap” or who’ve spent too many years in jobs or education outside the area of their greatest passion. In this interview Miranda shares about jumping into illustration with both feet.

Hello Miranda! Could you please tell us a little about yourself?

Hello!

I was born, raised, and live in the Pacific Northwest, where I am currently enjoying the season change to warmer weather. My favorite things are rain, green trees, pink trees, IPAs, and anything fluffy. Other than drawing, I love to explore creative outlets such as crochet and playing Dungeons and Dragons with a group of friends.

Although I’ve loved art and drawing all my life, my path to becoming an illustrator wasn’t the most direct. Since I was afraid I couldn’t make art into a career, I ended up dragging my feet in jobs that I didn’t have a passion for. Without realizing it, I’d stopped drawing altogether.

When the pandemic started, I thought long and hard about what I wanted for my future. Thanks to the 3 Point Perspective podcast and other content creators, I learned it was still possible for me to make my art a career. I hadn’t missed some imaginary window because I didn’t choose art in college. So over the past year, I’ve committed myself to becoming a career illustrator once and for all.

I also find it really interesting that in additional to 2D art you have a real love for 3D creations as well. Tell us about your crochet creations and how those factors into your creative life.

Since I love to create things and rarely enjoy sitting still, crochet is a great hobby for me. My mom taught me the basics when I was young, and I’ve been crocheting off and on since then.

When my niece was about to be born, I wanted to make her a raccoon lovey (small blanket with an animal head) and decided to take a crack at making my own design. It came out a lot cuter than I’d anticipated and so I decided to share the pattern with others. About 2 years later, I started my very own online business (Woolen Yeti) where I sell my crochet patterns. Since then, I’ve created several more animals including a fox, a red panda, and an axolotl!

This was actually the first step in realizing I could actually make an income from something I’d created.

If I still had little babies, I’d be ordering crocheted raccoon lovies from you! Okay, back to 2D art. What are you currently working on that excites you and can we see some of your art?

Right now I’m working on my first-ever professional book cover (Yay!). Needless to say, this past month has been a big growth period for me (growing pains and all), but it’s also exciting! The book is inspired by Dungeons and Dragons, so I’m delighted my outside interests can contribute to my work. I’m hoping to have many more book covers to look forward to in the future.

An illustration Miranda did for SVS’s Three Point Perspective Podcast

What are a couple things that have helped you develop most as an artist?

The biggest thing for me was changing my attitude about art. I used to have a toxic relationship with my art and thought talent was the most important factor. I was always comparing myself to the people around me and decided that I still wasn’t good enough to make art a career.

Because of many great artists sharing their experiences and struggles online, I've learned talent doesn’t need to play a role. It’s about committing yourself to the work, knowing where to focus, and reminding yourself that you have potential. Now I can feel inspired instead of disheartened when I see an amazing illustration. I’m may not be at that level yet, but I know I can be there someday if I keep working on this path.

Going back to focus on my fundamentals has been another big factor in my development. I still have a lot to learn, but I’ve noticed a lot of growth in my skill, speed, and confidence. This is because I took the time to go back and learn skills I had taken for granted. A big part of illustration is problem-solving! The bigger problems become a lot easier to solve when you’re not stumbling over a ton of little problems.

Lastly, what are your goals for the next 2-3 years?

My biggest goal is to establish myself as a full-time, freelance illustrator. This means working on my fundamentals, getting faster, and learning to market myself. I still don't know exactly where I want to fit in the illustration industry. But I love working on book covers, and soon, I want to try starting a webcomic or graphic novel project.

Thank you so much, Miranda!

Featured students are selected from our amazing group of members! Want a chance to improve your illustration skills? Become an SVSLearn member today for 30 days with our free trial and take the next step on your journey to becoming a working illustrator.