Ilana is an animator with many talents and a love for coffee. Her instagram feed is a testament to what diligence can accomplish. She answers how to avoid burn out during projects like these.

Ilana’s Conversation Talking Points and Briana’s Responses I believe your Java Doodles feeds is one of the most fantastic social feeds consisting of two of my favorite things, coffee and doodles. Not only do you doodle on cups of coffee but you also make clever cartoons involving coffee cups and pots. What is your inspiration behind this adorable project?

While Ilana was going to school she would go to the coffee shop on campus. After finishing her coffee she experimented drawing on the cups and never stopped. In our conversation, she describes a deeper reason why she loves it so much.

Currently you work at Nickelodeon as a 3D animator, generalist, lighting/render/comp on multiple show properties, products, and digital applications. Custom GIFs, coffee cup art, and social media materials for multiple shows and creators, posted on Nick tumblr, instagram, facebook pages. To me this sounds like you are a creative ninja that pretty much does is it all. Would you consider that an accurate assumption?

She started at Nickelodeon in New York before coming to LA where she learned about the brand and programs that they use. In our conversation, she mentions a interesting variety of work she accomplishes in a given week. Currently, she is working on several TV shows depending on the demand of the studio.

What’s the biggest difference between working at Nickelodeon in LA and Nickelodeon in New York?

Los Angeles as a city has a much slower pace than Manhattan. I went on to share my ULTIMATE vacation idea that Ilana shared an awesome tip to help make it happen.

I saw on your Facebook page that you had the chance to meet Brandon Stanton, the creator of Humans of New York. Who is the most inspiring person you have met and made a java doodle for?

After much searching, Ilana was able to meet Brandon Stanton at a talk at her school RIT. She was granted special access to talk to him where he shared his entire story with her. Needless to say, after how much she expressed excitement over the opportunity to meet Brandon that this was the most inspiring person she was able to make a java doodle for.

I come from a background in branding and one of principles from branding that overlaps with an artist’s portfolio is that everyone should have a consistent theme or medium in which they express themselves. Personally I find myself wanting to experiment with everything. Is it possible that some creatives take longer to find their “thing” than others?

Ilana says it best, download the episode to hear her response.

Slowly I’ve found that I’ve been going back to either the same type of content or style that is nice because I feel it’s nice to have some consistency and I can create work faster. Do you ever get bored with your style?

Burnt out is a better description that boredom since Ilana has to work in such short sprints while working her full time job. I love what she says in our talk about finding rest.

Any questions for me?

Ilana asks if I’m having fun creating my artwork each morning. I mention one of my favorite online courses I was in the middle of completing – Aaron Blaise’s anatomy and Character Design Course.

Bonus Cold Brew Coffee Recipe

Episode by Creative Market – the best place for design resources online