Today, we’d like to introduce you to Cleonique Hilsaca.
Hi Cleonique, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us. To start, could you share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am an illustrator based in St. Louis, MO. I am a current MFA candidate in the Illustration & Visual Culture program at Washington University in St. Louis. I started my career as a surface designer for tees and greeting card companies and in art licensing.
Throughout the years, I slowly built my illustration portfolio with client projects that ranged from editorial work in magazines and newspapers to where I am now working on board games and picture books.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My career started smoothly as soon as I graduated from the Savannah College of Art & Design by having an illustration agent, an internship in art licensing, and a contract job as a tee designer after graduation.
However, I realized I didn’t love being a graphic designer, and after a few years of working as such, including a short career as an in-house surface designer at a greeting cards company in Atlanta, I decided to pursue freelance illustration full-time.
In the meantime, to pay my bills, I was moonlighting as a barista at a coffee shop in Savannah, GA. The work was humbling yet fun, and it allowed me the time and space to eventually build a full-time freelance career after a couple of years.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
It’s hard to define what I am most known for, but I believe it’s my bright and magical color palettes as well as the fun and bubbly characters I bring to life. I am most proud of the worlds I create when I rely on my own vision and, more so, when others trust me through that process.
What I believe sets me apart from others is how I draw. Even though I love experimenting with different media, from digital to analog, I can never disguise the way I enjoy drawing.
Do you have any big plans?
After graduating with my MFA, I’ll be looking for new adventures in teaching, art direction, and new freelance work! I have started writing more and am hopeful I can one day bring my own stories to life through picture books, comics, and more.
I would also love to participate in artist residencies around the world, and I look forward to pursuing such opportunities. I am eager to paint large and fill all the sketchbooks I own (too many to count!). In short, I am excited to go harder, bigger, and farther than before.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cleonique.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleonique/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleonique-hilsaca-54a48b32/
- Twitter: https://x.com/cleonique?lang=en
- Other: https://www.behance.net/Cleonique
Image Credits
Cleonique Hilsaca
