Autumn Von Plinsky
Interview by Mia Cardenas, Colloquium Manager
Interview by Mia Cardenas, Colloquium Manager
Autumn is a Graphic Designer and Illustrator who works extensively in both print and digital design. From packaging, e-commerce and social media campaigns, marketing and tradeshow graphics, she has helped businesses she's worked with create branded experiences and assets appropriate for whatever outlet they've needed to fill.
Mia Cardenas: Hi Autumn! Please tell us a little bit about your job, what you do, and your journey as a SciArtist. Autumn: Currently, I'm working as an art director and illustration at the scientific communications company, LifeSci Communications, so I spend my '9 to 5' day doing a mix of graphic design and illustration for biotech and healthcare companies. The projects there are a pretty heavy collaboration between our on-staff scientists, healthcare professionals, creatives, and communications experts, so it's been a bit of a dream job for me - a really great blend of the arts and sciences. Prior to this role, however, my art & design career was a little varied between museum-centric art, freelance work with ecologists & landscape historians, and mass-market product and packaging design. I feel like I've lived many creative and design lives at this point, but I keep coming back to work that focuses on biology and ecology. I feel like my time interning in exhibitions at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History and later, as a designer for the New York Botanical Garden's retail shop, gave me really broad exposure to different types of applied art that is informed by some sort of scientific background, whether the output was something super informative (say, an exhibit model of tern species) or not (e.g. greeting cards and tote bags inspired by popular NYBG gardens). |
MC: What is your process and how do you go about incorporating science into your visual art?
Autumn: This is a tricky one - I feel like, depending on the project, the process really widely varies. Any piece I work on usually involves a lot of reference image research, and, depending, a lot of additional supporting research, as well. For the scientific illustration and web design I do, there's usually a lot of discussion and research into the nitty gritty of relevant technology and research of my clients, and for my own personal work, a little of that love of research and investigation carries over, even if to a lesser degree. My personal work tends to focus more on perhaps more 'charismatic' subjects, like birds and florals, but I still like to pay close attention to detail - I'd like any illustrations I do to be, for the most part, identifiable as the specific organisms I'm drawing. Lots of looking at field guides, in other words!
Autumn: This is a tricky one - I feel like, depending on the project, the process really widely varies. Any piece I work on usually involves a lot of reference image research, and, depending, a lot of additional supporting research, as well. For the scientific illustration and web design I do, there's usually a lot of discussion and research into the nitty gritty of relevant technology and research of my clients, and for my own personal work, a little of that love of research and investigation carries over, even if to a lesser degree. My personal work tends to focus more on perhaps more 'charismatic' subjects, like birds and florals, but I still like to pay close attention to detail - I'd like any illustrations I do to be, for the most part, identifiable as the specific organisms I'm drawing. Lots of looking at field guides, in other words!
Autumn: Have you encountered any obstacles while developing your career as a visual artist working with science, and how have you overcome them?
Autumn: Definitely. I realize I still have had many advantages pursuing and sustaining my career in many ways, but, coming from a low income family background, I've struggled with not having financial support or fallback. Because of that, I had a hard time finding a good balance between pursuits that were fulfilling and intellectually challenging, things that let me practice my artistic skill, and things that allowed me to become financially stable and self-sufficient. Without going on too much of a soap box, I think one of the most glaring issues in the art world right now - and many other industries, of course - is how difficult it is to find a way to work and practice creatively in a way that is financially sustainable. That's really shaped how my relationship with art has played out, and I can't say I've 'overcome' it, per se, although I have eventually found something that's working for me, currently. I do have less time to devote to personal work, but the stability that has come with that has been an unburdening that has been worth it right now.
MC: Tell us more about one of your favorite pieces of work.
Autumn: I have two! The quick-easy one was a collaboration on a beer label illustration for Savannah River Brewing Company - it's a digital-and-watercolor homage to my hometown, Augusta, Georgia, where Savannah River Brewing is located. It was just a fun project illustrating a mix of state flowers, hops, state birds, and Augusta skylines to pair with the floral-fruity seasonal Kölsch they developed this year.
The second is another Augusta project, a collaboration with Phinizy Swamp Nature park designing and illustrating informational kiosks for the park. I love creating accessible and informative art, and, given how much time I spent in Phinizy growing up, this project is near and dear to me. So far, we've done about 3 of a total of about 9 kiosks, with over 20 custom watercolor illustrations accenting the signs. It's been slow going (mostly my fault!) but a really rewarding project that I can't wait to see in its final form.
"Don't be afraid of specializing (people need artists who have specialized knowledge), and don't talk yourself out of applying for
long-shot opportunities..." - Autumn Von Plinsky
MC: With the increasing popularity of Science-art, more people are incorporating both Science and Art into their careers. What words of advice would you give to up-and-coming SciArtists?
Autumn: Don't be afraid of specializing (people need artists who have specialized knowledge), and don't talk yourself out of applying for long-shot opportunities - it's cliche, but you miss 100% of the chances you don't take (or however that phrase goes). Trying out the 'weird' or 'long-shot' opportunities can really help make your work and your thought processes deeper and more thorough. Also, take every opportunity to learn something new that you can.
Autumn: Don't be afraid of specializing (people need artists who have specialized knowledge), and don't talk yourself out of applying for long-shot opportunities - it's cliche, but you miss 100% of the chances you don't take (or however that phrase goes). Trying out the 'weird' or 'long-shot' opportunities can really help make your work and your thought processes deeper and more thorough. Also, take every opportunity to learn something new that you can.
MC: Any plans or projects for the future that you'd like to share?
Nothing solid yet, since I'm still wrapping up a few larger projects, but I'm really hoping to expand into more large-scale projects in the future (I have a few murals under my belts and really would love to do more), and I'm hoping to make some time for more collaborations (especially a storybook, should the right story come along).
Nothing solid yet, since I'm still wrapping up a few larger projects, but I'm really hoping to expand into more large-scale projects in the future (I have a few murals under my belts and really would love to do more), and I'm hoping to make some time for more collaborations (especially a storybook, should the right story come along).
To learn more about Autumn Von Plinsky, check out her website or her instagram @avonplinsky