Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got started as an illustrator and artist?

I was born and raised in North Carolina and always grew up painting, drawing, and making whatever I could. I really wanted to pursue a creative career, and a painting teacher suggested I consider graphic design—something creative that would also be financially viable. I earned a degree in Graphic Design and moved to San Francisco for my first 'big job' as a product designer for Airbnb. However, I quickly realized that I wanted to do more visual identity and art rather than product design.

Later, I moved to Los Angeles to join the team at Koto, which amusingly enough happened after I asked if I could work with them in London, but they had just opened their first American office. Then, as we all know, 2020 happened. I experienced a dip in my mental health and had to take a significant amount of time off work (the team at Koto was super gracious in allowing me the time off I needed), and I ended up doing illustration to keep myself afloat. I had always done small jobs here and there while working full-time but never thought I could 'make it' freelancing. That time off, and seeing enough work come in, gave me the confidence to go full-time freelance. I quit my job at Koto, went full-time freelance, and moved to New York in one go!

The downtime with freelance work left more room for personal projects. I found myself drawing more athletic pieces and painting for fun. There was one instance during a longer lull in client work when I painted a massive mural in my friend's backyard in Brooklyn. We threw a huge party in the space when it was finished. That project, in particular, really pushed me towards balancing all my digital work with painting and wanting to use my art to build a community.

 

 Meredith Schomburg in her Studio.

Where are you based? What drew you to your cities (SF/NY/London), and how has the city's creative scene influenced your work?

I'm based in New York City but have spent time in major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and London as well.

San Francisco: It was my first big move away from where I grew up. SF is one of those cities people either love or hate, and I love it because it was where I first got to truly discover who I was, which was both incredible and challenging. It was also the first diverse city I lived in, allowing me to meet friends from all over the world and experience many different perspectives. The California landscape is stunning, which fueled my love for the outdoors—whenever I needed inspiration, I could just step outside.

London: London feels like the calm cousin of New York. It's a place I gravitate toward when I want to stay immersed in a creative community and city life but also need a slower pace. I love the blend of the city's historical richness and the fresh creative energy emerging from it. I actually spent the latter half of last year exploring the possibility of moving there, but visa issues prevented it (sad trombone). As a result, I ended up living a somewhat nomadic life, relying on the generosity of friends who hosted me for almost six months. I fell in love with East London, and it will always feel like a home of sorts.

New York: The energy and the people are what draw me to New York. Everyone here is constantly pursuing something, and I often find myself talking with friends about new ideas or projects. There's a shared kindness and camaraderie in knowing how tough the city can be. I've lived and traveled to many different places, but New York always feels like home and continually draws me back.

How would you describe your design aesthetic? From where do you draw inspiration?

My aesthetic is colorful, abstract, and people-centric. I draw a lot of inspiration from sports and botanicals because I love creating things that celebrate the energy and joy of life. I wrestle with depression, and I think my artistic style has, in some ways, been born out of a need to remind myself of the beauty in life and how fortunate I am to be surrounded by incredible people. It's not about ignoring life's difficulties but rather a reminder to myself that these challenges don't define me when there's so much life, color, and wonderful community around me. I aim to create works that are fun and uplifting, something that brings a smile to people's faces.

 

What is your creative process like from concept to completion?

I spend a lot of time internally thinking through ideas, doing random sketches, and sometimes having conversations with friends, especially if the project is complex. I always start by sketching a lot of ridiculous-looking stick figures to work out the composition and the flow of characters before diving into the details. From there, it's a process of refining and refining, continually visualizing and adjusting the sketches until the final piece comes together.

Meredith's sketches from sitting in on the LINES rehearsal — mixing up her typical process (fast and analog vs. slow and digital)

Do you have any favorite tools or mediums you prefer to work with?

I take my iPad with me everywhere! I use an app called Concepts for most of my drawing. It's like a mix between Photoshop and Illustrator, offering flexibility in editing and manipulating line strokes, which is helpful since much of my process involves refining sketches from rough drafts to final forms.

Analog materials: I love painting with acrylics and have recently been experimenting with repurposing found materials. This is partly due to the necessity of cost-saving but also a consideration of how wasteful art supplies can be. While I was in San Francisco, I found a great art shop where people donated old or unwanted supplies. I ended up painting with everything from craft acrylics to interior house paints and screen printing ink. It was a fun challenge to work with whatever I found instead of just choosing any color I wanted.

Oldie but a goodie: The classic pencil. I recently sat in on a friend's ballet rehearsal and did a lot of quick figure sketches, which was a refreshing change from the precise digital work I usually do. I really enjoyed the texture and simplicity of pencil drawing, which I hadn't worked with in a while and now want to explore more.

Meredith's painting using completely found + recycled materials (repurposed frame, deadstock fabric, house paints, thrown out screen printing ink, kids acrylics etc. — except for staples used to hold the fabric to the frame)

How did you come up with the illustration and typography for the Melting Miles t-shirt? What message or feeling do you hope to convey through this t-shirt design?

I loved this project because it allowed us to rework a running-themed illustration I'd originally created just for fun. One of the lessons I've learned throughout my freelance career is the importance of doing personal work that reflects the type of projects you want to pursue, not just the ones you get hired for. I grew up playing sports like volleyball, basketball, and track and field, so I love being active. This has always been a perfect inspiration for my illustration style. The Melting Miles t-shirt design came from a series of illustrations I was working on that aimed to be minimal in color but expressive in form, focusing more on the athletic space. I've done a lot of tech illustrations, but I'm keen to focus more on the sports and active lifestyle sector.

The typography is something new I've been exploring. I've been playing with custom type and thinking about how to translate the way I draw my characters into letter forms. For this design, I liked the idea of making the type angular, giving it the appearance of a road the characters are running on. This approach ties the visual elements together and conveys a sense of movement and energy. Through this t-shirt design, I hope to evoke the joy and dynamism of being active, celebrating both the athletic spirit and the creativity that comes with it.

Can you share a bit about your running journey and what motivates you to keep running?

When I was growing up, I played all sorts of sports, and running was often seen as a 'punishment.' I was a sprinter in track, so I was fast but didn't have to deal with long-distance endurance. My coach even joked that my mile time was more suited for a two-mile race. Because of this, I long held the belief that I wasn't a runner.

Then I moved to New York, where Marathon Sunday became one of my favorite days in the city. The entire city comes together to celebrate the runners. I caught myself thinking, "I could never do that," and it bothered me. Why was I counting myself out? I decided to challenge that narrative by starting to run again, aiming to find a love for it, just like my friends. I started slow, with short distances, and found my own pace.

Over the past year, I became nomadic, and running became both a goal and a practical way to take care of myself physically and mentally. It was the best form of exercise I could do—it was cost-effective and provided a routine that stayed consistent despite my frequent moves.

Motivation: Running helps me take care of myself mentally. I've had some really low points over the past year, and I remember how much better I felt after running, even if I didn't want to do it at first. It gets me outside and out of my head. Running has become a form of meditation and a tool to manage my depressive dips. I stay motivated to run because it keeps me mentally balanced, allowing me to care for my body and remain present in the moment.

As a runner, how does your athletic practice influence your artwork, if at all?

Running influences my artwork in both subject matter and in maintaining my ability to create. I often celebrate the endurance and strength of the human body in motion in my work. Additionally, running is crucial for my self-care, which enables me to create art. When I'm lacking motivation to start a new art project, going for a run often kickstarts my energy and creativity. It's a balance between the momentum of my internal creative world and the physical movement of my body.

Do you have any favorite running spots in Brooklyn or memorable running experiences?

I love running in any large park with trees. Since running is also about maintaining my mental health, I enjoy it most when I'm surrounded by nature, even in the midst of a bustling city. Some of my favorite spots include:

• McCarren Park or Central Park in New York

• Golden Gate Park in San Francisco

• Victoria Park or Hackney Downs in East London

Memorable Run: One of my most memorable runs was at the beginning of the year when I had just returned to San Francisco. I was staying in Twin Peaks and felt really low but wanted to see the ocean. I didn't want to take a bus, so I ended up running through Golden Gate Park to Ocean Beach. It was a simple route, but I loved the transition from the steep city neighbourhood, through the forested park, and finally ending with a view of the Pacific Ocean.

What's next for you in both your artistic and running endeavors?

Artistically, I plan to keep drawing and hope to focus more on the sports and lifestyle space. With the Olympics coming up, I'm excited to do some personal work around that theme. I'm also collaborating on a bigger art installation project with friends, though it's still in the early stages. Engaging in more community-based projects is a big goal for me.

For running, I'm looking to join a run club. Although running has been a personal, meditative activity, I love that it's an easy way to make new friends in cities. One day, I hope to run the New York Marathon. I still have a ways to go, but I'm excited to cheer on friends who are running it this year.

You can find Meredith's work at @meredith_schomburg. For inquiries or to get in touch about projects, visit her website: meredithschom.com.