#025 — Liza Mennes

Hello Liza! Great to have you here on our Artist Spotlight. It’s time for the Blauw Films audience to get to know you! Could you please introduce yourself?

I’m Liza Mennes, an artist from the Netherlands based in Utrecht. I make illustrations and 2D animation!

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Between illustration, storyboarding and animation, where did your interest start and is there one of them you love most? 

For sure animation! I really love Avatar: The Last Airbender, I started drawing lots of fanart and a bit of animation. Right now, I would say I’m an illustrator first and animator is second : ) 

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I absolutely love it too! Interesting. When I look at your animations and illustrations I can truly feel your love for storytelling. Could you tell us more about that storyteller's drive?

I think I love building on concepts and expanding ideas. Like a child coming up with stories, and acting like you're on an adventure with friends. When I draw I like to think about what happened in a room, to a place or to a character. I think it makes art more interesting. It’s nice and exciting to be able to dream away and think of stories while looking at a drawing. 

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What’s your personal process behind finding what you want to say with your work? 

I struggle with that a lot. Beforehand I don’t think about what I want to say with my work, it’s more of an ongoing process of discovering and trying to find how to convey a certain feeling or vibe! The art I’m most proud of are usually the ones I didn’t think about.

I think I sort of make art not just for myself, but also really to connect with other people. 

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I do truly feel and connect to the free-flow aspect of your work. 

Let’s say we bring it all the way back to the beginning. What was your first creative memory?

Probably drawing all 100 Pokemons on paper when I was 6. And making hundreds of storyboards of stick figure fights in my sketchbooks. 

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Love it. That’s your own Pokédex right there. 

How much do you tend to conceptualize an idea before developing it? Are you big on experimenting? 

Usually when I start putting words to art before making it, it never ends up well. I’m really a, trust the process, just do- kind of person. I do look up references, and scroll through pinterest and instagram for inspiration. But I usually also find it very distracting because it’s an overload of art and I get overwhelmed. 

I like trying new things and experimenting a bit, but I usually stick to my own ways and build on that. Like trying out 3D, making music, analog painting, trying different art styles. But I don’t do anything too crazy. 

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And then going forward, into “professional” art, what's influenced you in your career?

The drive to make money. Through the years I really started to appreciate commercial projects and started to really love art as my job. I did a lot of different projects, in so many different art styles. They all influenced my workflow and art style in a way. Especially when I worked for Brawl Stars, that really drilled a certain workflow, drive and confidence into me that has helped me a lot with making new art and working with clients. 

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What would you say are some key moments that progressed your career to where you are now?

For sure my first freelance gig for a feature film. I was able to full time work on a big project and save up money.  And the second one being Brawl Stars, it was such an honor to work for them and I’m still really proud of all the art I got to make. 

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So as you get more and more experience, what has changed for you in terms of your art making?

I think I got a bit faster and more sure on what I want to make. I used to like so many different art styles, and worry a lot about not being able to draw a certain way. But I think through the years I started to get confident in my own taste and art style. Making art that actually brings you joy is a lot easier to make. 

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Do you ever feel pressure to adapt your style depending on the audience or market?

I used to! But I really like my own art style right now and I have a lot of fun with it. I also sell art on art markets every now and then and it really helps grow your confidence. It’s really nice to hear from people face to face that they like my art.

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Yes, that’s very important :) 

Actually, how has your experience been with the industry up till now?

I think it’s a very difficult industry. The people are super nice, the work that gets made is great but the mental and financial struggles are hard. It’s a very diverse career path and you never know what each year brings. You just have to keep going and hope for the best. 

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Did you know many people in the industry before? Or how did you approach networking? 

I graduated from art school in 2018 and I only knew a handful of people. I looked at networking events like hanging out with friends. I think I got 90% of my jobs through friends or people I know! So I guess what worked best for me is to make friends, be excited to work, let people know you are looking for work and post art. 

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What are some of the projects that you most liked working on? Any fun personal projects you are currently working on?

I really like my last animation project. I was able to work in my own style, which was a bit more soft, sketchy and delicate. I got a lot of creative freedom and that was super nice. I can’t share it yet, but it was a promo film for an artist residency in Hoorn! 

A personal project I’m working on is opening an online webshop! Where I can hopefully sell cool things like t-shirts, tote bags, art prints and stickers! And I also still hope to finish my children's book “Neighbirds”. 

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Ah that all sounds amazing! 

What kind of advice would you give to someone thinking of a career in illustration or animation? There is always a new generation taking their first steps into this adventure.

Make art you really enjoy making! Have a lot of fun with it. And don’t be afraid to try different things in the industry to figure out what suits you best. 

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Liza, before we close this off I want to say it’s truly amazing to have you on here! 

So, one more question: Do you have any recommendations for the reader? Places to visit, movies to see, habits to pick up, hobbies to try, artists to follow?

Thank you for having me!!!! I would recommend going outside, do sports! Touch grass, make music, go see some friends!!

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