Milan TopaloviĆ

The Path To Success

Spring has been busy for Milan, working on a range of greeting cards, some map covers for British Cycling along with a mural measuring 11.8 metres. At the time of our conversation, the location was top secret so follow his Instagram account for updates! Milan has been delivering painting and craft workshops in the city celebrating Mother’s Day and Eid, these sit alongside his regular drawing classes on Zoom and he’s even finding time for some personal skill development!

“I’ve been drawing since I was very young, and I was always fascinated by the ways in which I could make a drawing better. I have a BA in Visual Communication from BCU, and my specialism was illustration –specifically picture books. Then I started entering competitions to get my name out and challenge myself with live briefs. I am quite a meticulous worker, so looking at competition briefs allowed me to find deadlines I could manage nicely. Sometimes, briefs might be set in the morning, with a final illustration expected in the evening. So quite a cosy turnaround!”

In Control Of His Artistic Destiny

He’s always been freelance, enjoying the freedom this gives him in his career. Every day is a little bit different for this indemand illustrator. Aside from two evenings a week when he teaches portrait drawing via Zoom, his inbox dictates his schedule. “I am either wrapping online orders, working on new designs, or planning teaching sessions and workshops. In my spare time, I have been painting in oils and practising pastels, as I think it is good to learn new skills and processes so that I can pass them on to my students.

It Is hard work, and there is a lot to juggle. Changing with the times is important, but not necessarily changing with the trends because it is important to find a home for your work and do what you love. One of the lovely things about freelancing is being in a position to take on projects where clients can see how your imagination reacts to a brief.” His work can come from almost any angle. “I am always surprised by the reach of social media, whether local or overseas. The nature of how the industry has progressed means I can complete my work remotely. This flexibility has allowed me to produce work for clients which would have previously been onsite only.”

Inspiration Is All Around

He finds inspiration in diverse places, filling his social media accounts with colours, styles, and atmospheres that he wants to replicate in his own drawings. “I have a few favourites in art history from Romanticism onwards to modern artists. I love illustrations with little narratives woven through and often hide little Easter eggs in my work which people discover down the line, whether it references them or the cat on my road, which chases my hot bag of sausage rolls when I walk down the drive.

“I have always been in awe of the dreamy and thoughtful aesthetic of Studio Ghibli, and the ever-enduring charm of Milt Kahl and Marc Davies’s classic Disney illustrations. As far as contemporary illustrators, I love Heikala, Loish, Benjamin Lacombe, Tom Haugomat, and Lab Partners.”

So, what’s next for Milan?

“Once I have completed the big mural project, I have some lovely little projects with National Trust to work on, and then I will continue to develop my everyday cards range. I have a few art workshops at different venues, which gives me a breather from my laptop.

I am planning workshops for Birmingham Heritage Week, having previously taught drawing sessions on canalboats with Roundhouse Birmingham! History and sentiment are always a big part of my illustration, and I am always grateful to celebrate Birmingham and fly the flag!”

Look at some of Milan’s personal projects and private commissions at:

IG @milanillustrator

IG @milanportraitartist

You can find out more about the artist at: www.milanillustrator.com

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