BRIANA KRANZ CORCORAN

FASHION ILLUSTRATOR / ILLUSTRATOR

Orange County/Los Angeles/San Francisco, CA

www.brianakranz.com
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WHAT DO YOU DO?

“I am a fashion illustrator specializing in drawing fashion, portraits, and locations.”

My tools consist of liquid media such as watercolor and ink, as well as marker and pastel. I try to capture the color and emotion in what I see, as well as experiment with the way my media reacts to one another.

WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?

While majoring in graphic design and illustration, I fell in love with Fashion Illustration and began to study under a mentor. I teacher-aided for her as well as attended extra courses to specialize in my field. Shortly after graduating, I was asked to return and teach. Teaching forced me to dive very deep into my passion and has improved my skill set in ways I couldn't have imagined. When it comes to freelance, I have made many small mistakes to really learn my process, my preferred type of work, as well as how I like to run a business. From family portraits to birthday gifts, I eventually found myself drawing portraits and fashion at live events for Neiman Marcus and other retailers, as well as private parties.

FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD, WHAT DO THEY USUALLY LACK?

Taking risks as well as overall being open-minded and experimenting has helped me grow and become a stronger artist. I constantly change my media to make sure I am being challenged consistently.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?

I just got through a few drawing events but am rewriting a fashion figure and rendering class for the school that I instruct at.

WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?

Simple, clean, but evidence of life. I like my work to have energy, which usually means it comes with happy accidents. There is a lot of me in my work, whether it's my emotion in a line or the thoughtfulness in a shape. As of late, I have been beginning with shapes and then refining work with line afterwards. This recent piece was a big step forward for me, in the mindset of changing my process.

WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?

I'd like my work to go in more of a fashion editorial direction. I am currently seeking representation through some sort of artist agency.

WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?

As a freelance illustrator without representation, I find it hard to find the right connections to get in contact with important people such as an editor. I have been sending out so many portfolio and connection e-mails to receive no response! It's like repetitively running into a wall and has been a large obstacle for me as of late.

IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?

At this point in time, I'd rather do most of my work myself and don't feel that I need someone else!

LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?

I would love to slap some sense into myself as a new student in college. Being new to San Francisco and intimidated by the other artists around me, I got extremely lost and had a very hard time finding my artistic voice. I wish I could go back to 2006 and tell myself to take it all with a grain of salt, and to do the work that felt right to me.

IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?

I would love to have a drink or two with a successful art director or editor - I'd pick their brain about the right way to be approached by an artist, the type of work desired, as well as how to keep a long-term relationship with a magazine or editorial of some kind.

WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

Anything! I am open to collaborations, editorial work, live drawing at events, portraits for artists or more corporate companies, anything.

DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.

I worked in the past with a graphic designer - I created illustrations of their client for business cards and had such a wonderful time working with her. She was organized and very clear when it came to her vision, making it easier for the both of us to give and receive what each other wanted out of the work.

WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?

For live drawing events, I charge $250/hour; most events have a large customer base in attendance and they get to leave with illustrations drawn that evening that I package nicely. Subject matter ranges from portraits to cocktails to fashion subject matter such as shoes, perfume, clothing, etc.

For original commissioned portraits, I charge $350 depending on color and the overall expectations. The client is given three directions to choose from and then a final is created; they receive both the original in the mail and a digital version, as well. I do a similar process digitally for $250, and the client does not receive an original this way but a digital file.

When working with more of a design firm as I have in the past, my hourly starts at $75; the price can rise or lower depending on the clients' needs, my artistic freedom and the overall expectations.

HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?

I love when people approach me in a friendly manner; I don't necessarily need a formal format - the more upfront and honest and ourselves we are in the beginning the better. I do prefer an e-mail and when a client is upfront about their budget and/or expectations.

HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?

Frequent visits into nature; quiet mind.

Last one, Who's in your go-to squad?

Inez Galvez - my best friend is running her own fashion line and is working her ass off doing it. She understands the struggle in the grind, but also appreciates the hardwork. We talk about the ups and downs of being creative a lot.

Danielle Wallis - a friend of mine where I teach; she's an incredible stylist and we are both trying to pump up our freelance game. She's bright, colorful, hilarious and overall just a wonderful person.

Eda Kaban - a friend from college, Eda is a children's book illustrator and I admire not only her hardwork but her success as a freelancer. Her work has so much life, diversity and a great sense of humor to it. She's been a great person to get advice from as well as to aspire to be like.

Shane Corcoran - I may be a little biased, but my husband is an awesome jeweler, who is also trying to push his freelance work. We are both still balancing the stable, regular paying jobs while trying to follow our dreams. Being a ceramic major, his work is sculptural and he pulls a lot of texture from nature as well.

Briana Kranz Corcoran