Artist Profile: Rita Salm
Rita Salm is an illustrator and artist currently creating in the Madison area. As a non-binary and queer illustrator, they like to focus on making things that are meant for everyone. Rita enjoys using a colored pencil texture and hand-rendered typography in their illustrations and designs. Some of their favorite things to illustrate are patterns; designs for cards; and just little doodles. Also they've been really loving making bags and using fabric scraps to make scrap quilts. You can find Rita running workshops at different libraries and working on freelance projects from home or at a cafe.
1) Who are 2-3 inspirations that have supported (or challenged) your growth and artistic process in the past several years?
I would say my dad was definitely a huge part in my artistic growth throughout my entire life. When growing up, he always encouraged me and my younger sibling to be creative. He made us feel proud of the work we created by putting up everything all over the walls. The dining room in my family home was covered from floor to ceiling with projects, paintings and drawings from when I was in elementary, middle and high school. My dad continued to be supportive when I made the decision to pursue illustration at an art school, even though he was a little worried I would have a hard time finding work after college.
Another mentor who really inspired me was my high school art teacher, who I lovingly called B. B was something special—she was always real with me about my work. She knew when to push me to do more and always encouraged me to do better. Because of her, I decided to make the move to go to art school. I don't think I would be where I am today without her. As far as more typical inspirations go, some different artists that I look up to (who were also very helpful in finding my own illustrative style) are: Lisa Congdon for beautiful hand-rendered typography, simply shaped illustrations, and fun pattern-work; Philippa Rice for quirky and sweet proportions of people and simplified faces; Keith Negley for beautifully rendered children's illustrations, and also reminding illustrators and artists that finding work is often serendipity; and Oliver Jeffers for his wonderful use of texture and blend of hand-rendered typography and typed out work.
2) How do community and collaboration factor into how you engage with art—from what you create to how you think about artmaking more generally?
I think community and collaboration have always been really important in my art-making. But I especially realized this after going to art school and experiencing critiques. Critiques always felt so scary. However when you can go home and make changes to your project to make it better, it always feels better. Even now, I really appreciate when I can send over sketches to clients and friends and ask for opinions—it makes the process of creating more fun and helps me come out with a better product. Another thing I really love about collaborating with other artists is the feeling of making work in the same space. It can be so wonderful to work on the same project—or even completely different projects—with a group of artists (or just friends!). I feel it really helps me be creative to work around other people who are also being creative.
3) You're an illustrator bringing your design work to create zines, signs and children's clothing. So how does a new project begin for you?
Most of the time a new project begins with a client wanting something to get done! I've been approached by folks from the Bubbler for many projects. Plus I've chatted with teachers from Shabazz; librarians at different branches, folks who are working on Story Slams and want some visual notes; and even folks who simply want a little portrait to make their new profile picture.
I'm so grateful that I've had so many opportunities to work on different projects throughout the past year. And I really can't wait to work on a wider range of different projects in the next coming year! If we're thinking about a personal project or something that I'm creating for an online shop (which I will *hopefully* be able to launch in 2024), I usually like to base them on things that I like. For example, I've made patterns out of Puppycat from the YouTube series Bee and Puppycat as well as sticker designs for Max and Ruby from the show Max and Ruby on Nickelodeon and other similar things. Once I've got some good ideas of characters I'd like to draw or details I'd like to include in the pattern, I'll start with a super rough sketch (either physically in a sketchbook or digitally on Procreate for the iPad). Then from there, I'll go through and start the process of making an illustration.
4) What are 2-3 exhibitions, concerts, books, spoken word events and/or films you're hoping to check out this winter in Wisconsin?
Lately I've been into knitting a lot, so I'm hoping to attend some events that the Madison Knitters Guild is putting on, in addition to the Sow's Ear Finish or Frog get-together in December. I'm looking forward to Mercury Stardust's book talk at Pinney Library next month too!
