Emily Rich Creates The Illustration For Every Episode of Andy Frasco’s World Saving Podcast, Here Is How She Does It.
My Background:
I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember. My mother was super crafty and introduced me to a wide variety of art supplies at a young age. She created an environment that encouraged me to use my imagination, be unique, and express myself through art. In high school, I took advanced placement art classes where I learned the fundamentals and experimented with mediums.
Finding My Style:
It wasn’t until I started doodling and sketching consistently that my art started to look like “me”. Deep down, I’ve always wanted to be a courtroom artist. There’s just something exciting about capturing someone’s essence in a passing moment. People watching and sneaking sketches of strangers really helped me to develop my portrait style. When you know your subject could turn away at any second, you learn to quickly read and memorize their unique facial features.
Illustration for Andy Frasco’s World Saving Podcast:
Andy and I first met in 2015 when he played at this tiny venue called The Red Wolf Lounge in my hometown, Birmingham, AL. We stayed connected on social media and a couple of years later he messaged me asking if I could draw the next guest on his new podcast. I started on episode 6 and now we’re coming up on the 100th episode!
How It’s Done:
Before I sketch each guest, I do a little research to get an idea of their personality, physical appearance, and brand. If they have an Instagram, I go there first. I like looking through the pictures they post because I feel like they boil down how someone sees themselves and how they want others to see them. Next, I browse through the photos they’ve been tagged in to see outsiders’ view of them. I start with a rough pencil sketch and send it to Andy for approval. The final draft is drawn in colored pencil, ink, and marker.
What’s On Tap, Where You Can Find Me:
When I’m not drawing portraits for Andy’s podcast, I’m usually working on watercolor commissions. My top requests at the moment are for paintings of houses and family pets. To view more of my work or stay updated on future projects, check out my Instagram @emilyrichofficial.
