Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Little foxes, little bears, lots of details and fine hairs!
What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Materials to work with and music to listen to.
Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I work in a wide variety of mediums - oil, gouache, ink, pastel, fabric, digital. I tend to go from one medium to another depending on what I’m trying to do.
But recently, I do most of my work digitally. It’s a convenient way to create art even if I can only do it on the sofa for 15 minutes – which is what I usually have time for!
Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Hieronymus Bosch, L. S. Lowry and Marlenka Stupica. (an honorary mention goes to William Morris)
Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
I don’t have a fixed workspace – working from home in a pandemic meant a lot of adjusting. Since I still work as an Architect, I do all my creative work when I can and where I can. This means my laptop is my best friend. So is my sofa.
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
I don’t think I have a favourite part. All stages are important when trying to create something that works, but I guess finishing a large and detailed piece is always very satisfying.
What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
I’m sure I won’t say anything new here: practice, practice, practice. If you’re young, practice as much as you can as you’ll never have more time than you have now. If you’re older, pick up a medium that is quick so you can get as much practice in with the valuable time you do have.
Katia Hinic is a Slovenian Architect and Illustrator. She is based in Bath, UK. Alongside her architectural projects she also works on various art projects, children’s illustration, book illustrations and design. She advocates for sustainability and social inclusivity in illustration and the wider art world.
For more information, please visit Katia's website or follow her on instagram.
Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Hieronymus Bosch, L. S. Lowry and Marlenka Stupica. (an honorary mention goes to William Morris)
Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
Providing I can avoid the plague, Renaissance would definitely be top of my list. As a period between the Medieval and modern times, it connected the spiritual importance of the old world and the human, lived experience of the new. The connection between the two is very much something I explore in my drawings as well – mixing magical with the mundane, folklore with modern time.
Providing I can avoid the plague, Renaissance would definitely be top of my list. As a period between the Medieval and modern times, it connected the spiritual importance of the old world and the human, lived experience of the new. The connection between the two is very much something I explore in my drawings as well – mixing magical with the mundane, folklore with modern time.
Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
My parents were both important in their own way. My dad was the one that made incredible technical drawings, taught me the basics and instilled a keen interest in details. But it was my mom who always encouraged me to draw. Even when I decided I wanted a more secure and cerebral job and became an Architect. She was the one who saw my potential, even when I had not, and was certainly not surprised when I finally acknowledged my passion for illustration.
Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
I don’t have a fixed workspace – working from home in a pandemic meant a lot of adjusting. Since I still work as an Architect, I do all my creative work when I can and where I can. This means my laptop is my best friend. So is my sofa.
I don’t really mind where I work. If the space is tidy or messy. If it’s inside or outside. Once I start drawing, the space and sounds around me disappear. I may as well be on the Moon!
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
I don’t think I have a favourite part. All stages are important when trying to create something that works, but I guess finishing a large and detailed piece is always very satisfying.
What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
I’m sure I won’t say anything new here: practice, practice, practice. If you’re young, practice as much as you can as you’ll never have more time than you have now. If you’re older, pick up a medium that is quick so you can get as much practice in with the valuable time you do have.
Also, diversify. Try making products from your art to sell or try projects that you normally wouldn’t. You never know where those avenues lead or what doors they may open.
Katia Hinic is a Slovenian Architect and Illustrator. She is based in Bath, UK. Alongside her architectural projects she also works on various art projects, children’s illustration, book illustrations and design. She advocates for sustainability and social inclusivity in illustration and the wider art world.
For more information, please visit Katia's website or follow her on instagram.
