'When you're curious, every project is a new opportunity to grow': Carina Lindmeier on her illustration practice

As for so many of us, the path to Carina becoming a successful freelance illustrator was not so straightforward. "Even as a child, I knew I wanted to have a creative job later in life," Carina explains, "but after university, I didn't want to illustrate anything and didn't believe in myself and my talents. Too often, I was confronted with the fact that I wasn't good enough or didn't have the right style. But after a few years, I realised that I needed to explore my creativity again. After about ten years in which I hadn't drawn a single line, I started to fill my sketchbook regularly."

One thing led to another, and Carina began sharing her work on social media. "It was then that I got my first commissions," she says. Platforms like Instagram have been good to her, especially when developing her style. "I'm all for sharing my work on social media. It's great to find a community that offers you feedback and tips and helps you evolve every day."

Looking through Carina's portfolio, there's a theme of female empowerment. She often depicts strong women in their everyday lives, surrounded by uplifting messages around body positivity, relationships, health and wellbeing. "My handmade digital aesthetic features layers of real-life textures, vibrant pattern, colour and subtle imperfections," she says.

Alongside these portraits and editorial pieces, Carina also loves to draw still-life scenes and food, particularly thanking Tess Smith Roberts and Zena Kay for their ongoing Still Life Still Here drawing challenge. "When you're curious, and you're excited about what you do, then every project is a new mission or opportunity to learn something new and grow," she says.

Over the last few months, Carina has gone from strength to strength. She has been filming an illustration course with Domestika and working with Adobe to draw 500 new assets for its Stock collection. "I was also invited to do some live streams on Behance and YouTube with other fantastic creative people where I used Adobe Fresco to illustrate and work with," she adds. "I started the new year with a small break to gather new creative energy. I've since been concentrating on expanding my portfolio." It's undoubtedly panning out to be a prosperous 2022 for Carina.

"I am so grateful for all the amazing people I have met on my creative journey and the supportive way we interact with each other," she continues. "I am convinced that everything comes back somehow if you are open, supportive and respectful of one another. Another thing I am strongly convinced that it pays to be curious and open to new things, but also to stand up for something important to you. The pandemic, in particular, has shown me how important it is to have a community that is honest, resourceful and supportive! It's about having the same creative spirit."