It’s not every day you get the opportunity to interview someone as talented and successful as Katie Rodgers, the artist and illustrator behind Paper Fashion. So you can only imagine our excitement when we got to catch up with her and hear what she’s been up to lately. Aside from creating beautiful commissions for clients like Harpers Bazaar, Elle, Glamour, and various luxury brands, it was recently announced that Rodgers was selected to be one of the mentors in SOREL’s annual #SORELstyle program.
If you’re not familiar with it, the program is open to anyone—specifically an artist this round—who wants an inside look at how the fashion world works and the chance to be featured in a #SORELstyle video and photoshoot. Once the applicant is selected (SOREL just announced the lucky winner for phase one!), they will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work alongside Rodgers to see what it really takes to work in such a competitive industry. With that in mind, we picked Rodgers’s brain about everything from what people find most surprising about her work to the inspiring quote that keeps her going. Keep scrolling to see her answers to our burning career questions.
“Commercial artist and illustrator.”
“I am an artist and illustrator in the fashion industry. I create fashion illustrations as well as artwork used to advertise fashion-related products or services. I first began solely working on fashion illustration and over time began to expand my work into animation and more conceptual fine art that could be used in new ways for commercial or advertising purposes!”
“That it is often hard to find time to sit and paint!”
“Over the years, I’ve simplified my style quite a bit so that I can focus on my work above everything else. Wearing simple, neutral clothing helps me focus on what I’m creating. I like to be comfortable but also have a quality, classic wardrobe. I like to wear things that can easily transition from day to night or with a swap of shoes.”
“A midi black pencil skirt with simple sandal heels and a white button-down tank with a bow at the collar.”
“Finding and creating a way to do what I love for a living—both a personal and professional accomplishment.”
“Adele”
“Creative, easygoing, spontaneous.”
“Instagram, WWD, and the like.”
“I don’t believe in having regrets!”
“Black and neutrals!”
“Get out of my head and my workspace. I like to go for walks in Central Park, go see a movie, or go to a museum to spark inspiration.”
“Brock Davis (he’s so clever!), Amanda Brooks, and @Alirezanyc (he finds awesome artists to share and also created the artist plate wall at Sant Ambroeus).”
“In the morning I like to go to the gym lately, and then have a nice breakfast before starting my day. The evening is my favorite time to paint and zone out to my latest inspiration playlist.”
“Not direct advice, but I love this quote by Oprah: ‘Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. If you hadn’t been prepared when the opportunity came along, you wouldn’t have been lucky.’”
“A holiday campaign for someone in the beauty industry!”
“Sheer and mesh fabric!”
Whose fashion illustrations are you most inspired by? Tell us in the comments below.
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