Amazing things will happen. Yes, yes they will. Originally from Philadelphia, now based in Brooklyn, New York, Mary Kate McDevitt is a hand-lettering master. She studied graphic design at Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, with just a few illustration classes. Outside of class she discovered her love for hand-lettering while exploring vintage type—and the rest is history! Her projects are incredibly varied (journals, book covers, greeting cards, editorial, packaging, ad campaigns), but none of them are short on hand-crafted elegance and playful charm.
JC—Which artist’s work/life/career are you most jealous of and why?
MKM—I’m jealous of Louise Fili because of her acclaimed vintage design collection. Not to mention her successful design studio and the work with the amazing Herb Lubalin (my design idol). The books she has worked on introduced me to vintage design and how it can still apply to design today.
JC—Describe the first moment that you truly felt like an artist.
MKM—I have always been interested in art, since as long as I can remember. I tried to keep diligent sketchbooks, and would paint the wildlife in my boring suburban backyard, but I would get pretty frustrated that I couldn’t paint realistically. I also felt I couldn’t truly flourish as an artist if I wasn’t living the life of Laura Ingalls. I kept up the drawing and painting, and in middle school I had a teacher who encouraged my drawing skills and gave assignments that I really enjoyed—including calligraphy and hand-lettering. One assignment we had was to make a pattern that was more illustrative and abstract. I spent a lot of time on mine, and in the end my drawing was picked to be framed and hung in the school, where I believe it still hangs. I definitely felt like a true artist at that time.
JC—Is there anything else you’d want to be?
MKM—Along with making art my whole life, I was also known to rearrange the furniture and would bring paint samples to my mom and hint at our need to redecorate. I think I would be an interior decorator.
JC—What inspires you most?
MKM—I’m inspired by vintage design. Old advertising packaging is chock-full of interesting lettering borders and designs. I also enjoy the idea of the “simpler times” and love collecting trinkets from the ’30s.
JC—When do your best ideas come to you?
MKM—When I’m trying to sleep. When I get to bed at a normal hour (any time before 2 a.m.) I usually lie awake thinking about work. I don’t do yoga very often, because when the instructor says to “clear your mind,” I think, “This is a great opportunity to think about my work!”
JC—If a drawing isn’t working, do you get frustrated?
MKM—No, if it’s not working, I move on. Oftentimes there are fragments of the drawing that are working, so I usually trace the design and start over on the area that isn’t working.
JC—Does your inner critic tag along on your projects?
MKM—I can’t ignore it; when I’m working on some intense lettering I have to critique my work along the way. But I do sometimes have the inner fan cheering me on that it’s working: that is the best feeling. But when my inner critic starts getting fussy, I do have to step back, take a breather, and realize that it is just a project and not the end of the world if it’s not perfect.
JC—Does your day job as an illustrator tend to be a creative drain or fuel for your personal projects?
MKM—When I have a chance to work on personal projects, I’m usually excited to get started, and the project goes smoothly. I think it’s important to work on personal projects, as it usually informs your skills and teaches you more than most client projects. You can be more experimental.
JC—What is your advice for pushing through creative blocks?
MKM—Diverting your attention to another activity can help you through creative blocks. Most of the time client deadlines prevent me from activities like cooking and reading, which are great ways to get past creative blocks, so stepping away from the project to make a cup of tea or just start doodling something else can shake the creative juices loose.
JC—How do you feel when you’re on a “creative roll”?
MKM—I could be working without headphones, with someone right next to me trying to get my attention, and I am completely oblivious to anything but the task at hand. I really like getting in those grooves! One minute it’s 8 p.m., the next minute I’ve finished my project and it’s 3 a.m. That’s pretty magical.
I do have to step back, take a breather, and realize that it is just a project and not the end of the world if it’s not perfect.
