Piper Adonya: Meeting the Artist
I'm an illustrator, visual storyteller, and designer passionate about amplifying voices, nerding-out on research-based illustration and design, and creating works that tell a story.
Q: How did you get involved with Lions and Rabbits?
A: Hannah Berry. She is THE connector of artists!
Q: What themes/ideas are highlighted in your work? Intentions?
A: Whether I'm drawing a portrait of an individual who has shaped history or hand lettering an editorial social justice post, I use illustration and design to educate, inspire conversation, and make complex social justice-related issues easier to comprehend and work through.
Q: Run us through your creative process - How do you start, flow and finish?
A: Research first. Always research. I research what has been done before and take notes along the way of what gets my attention. Then I start a mood board and start crafting sketches based on research and the mood board. After I have a few sketched concepts in place, usually three, I refine at least one of them. Then, if time allows, I step away from the design for a day and look at it with fresh eyes a day later. This time away allows me to see anything that feels off or needs to be edited. The process of design is one of my favorite parts of creating. It’s so exciting! Sometimes I think I know where a design will land and it’s fun to see it morph into even more than I envisioned.
Q: What obstacles/struggles have you encountered throughout your career as an artist? Or challenges you face through your creative process
A: Sometimes artists are not taken seriously as professionals. We can be labeled as unorganized and unfocused. When in reality, some of the most organized and laser-focused professionals I know are creatives.
Q: Can you share a little more about how your art career started. Have you always been in your field? Were you self taught or had additional schooling?
A: I am one of those people who always knew from childhood that I wanted to be an artist. I made a few detours along the way but never stopped creating and honing my skills as a designer. I already had my Associate's degree but knew I needed to push myself. So I went back to school as an adult and earned a BFA in Digital Media from Kendall College of Art and Design. Even though I graduated, I will forever be a student of art and design. There is so much to learn from Skillshare, YouTube, IG Reels, and MasterClasses. Staying hungry and curious has served me well.
Q: Who/what are your biggest inspirations that play a key role in the work you produce?
A: People (especially kids) that will see my work are at the core of my inspiration. I am inspired to create so whoever is looking at my work will somehow see themselves reflected. Everyone should see themselves reflected in art.
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Q: Is there anything you wish you could change about your work?
A: No. I like to let myself and my work grow and develop without judgment.
Q: What mistakes have you made? What did you learn from them? What are you trying to get better at?
A:Rushing and trying to skip foundational art classes like figure drawing or color theory were some of the mistakes that I made early on. I quickly realized I needed to take the time to learn the basics. Learning the complex basics of drawing the human figure develops the skill necessary for more simplistic gestural comic art figures. Hard lessons learned. The crazy thing is, now I love drawing the traditional human form.
Q: Do you feel supported by your community as an artist? In what ways could you feel more supported?
A: Grand Rapids is a city that truly loves and supports artists. It’s a vibrant community full of people who embrace the value of an artist and celebrate the impact the voice of an artist can make.
Q: Describe a moment when you felt most proud of yourself
A: Going back to school. Whew! It was a journey.
Q: What's most important to you about what you create, and how it impacts others?
A: That my work moves and inspires me first. I keep pushing my designs until it does.
Q: What's next? What are you currently focusing on or looking forward to?
A: I am working on a portrait series of headdresses around the world. I have a thing for headdresses!
Q: What does being an artist mean to you? What is the function of artists in society?
A: Artists have the task of making complex issues digestible. Art has a way of wooing her viewer before they realize they are being challenged and changed by her.
Q: And of course, if you could chose any vehicle to travel, real or imaginary what would it be?
A: Flying car.
Follow more of Pipers’s work on piperadonya.com and instagram.com/piperadonya
Thank you for tuning into this week’s Meet the Artist, be sure to checkout more artist stories every week on our blog!
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