If you don't already know Agnes, you need to go to her IG account @agnesricart and tap "follow" this instant! When I found her, I literally started drooling scrolling through her highly saturated feed. I knew what I had to do, I slid into the DM. But in all seriousness, I thought there was NO way she would ever agree to an interview with me. I mean she must be far too busy off somewhere creating worlds of vibrant gut-wrenching color loaded with messages of female empowerment & the zeitgeist of our current pop culture for some crazy publication like the New Yorker ...right?!

But I was persistent and took her initial silence as an opportunity to brush up on my "Just circling back around here..." email skills. And a few days later there was an email from Agnes sitting right there at the top of my inbox, agreeing to my Q & A. Drool. Drool. Drool. Initially, I thought I was going to discover some huge mysterious answer when I asked her for the secret sauce to success. I mean she had to know something we all didn't right?! But her responses read as pungent and pure as the strength of her work, reconfirming what we ALL already know to be true... "Deep energy, perseverance, and exposure." is the only way to get there. 

Who is Agnes? Where are you from? How did you become the woman you are today?

Your work has been featured in HUGE publications like the New Yorker. Can you tell us about how you arrived at these types of partnerships and what you learned from them or didn't expect? 

To work hard and show it to as many people as possible is the only secret. Deep energy, perseverance, and exposure.

What is the message you're sending into the universe with your work? Why do you feel so strongly about said message?

I don’t believe I have any specific nor defined message to express, but a tone of energy that I catalyze into images which can be interpreted as many different messages, depending on the eye that observes them.

Tell us a little bit about what drew you to your medium. Did you choose to work with said medium or did it choose you?

I decided to transition to the digital medium when it became obvious for me that it was the easiest and fastest way to be an illustrator in our pixel era. But I’ll always be a traditional painter at heart.

How often do you create? Is being an Artists your full-time job or is it your side hustle? If it's your full-time job how did you make that transition?

I create every day since I am a part-time freelance graphic designer too. I’ve been combining both jobs for a year and half and I’m quite contented with my short term results. Right now I’m transitioning to full-time illustration since it is my favourite activity. 

What do you know for sure? 

That I was born to paint.

How do you stay motivated? What does your daily routine look like?

Give us three of your favorite/ most inspiring things right now. Could be a book, a food, a destination, a song, a person, etc.  

 What's your guilty pleasure?

Illustration for The New Yorker about the comedy play Collective Rage

What can you never leave home without? 

My keys, I’m very basic ;)

Do you have pets? If so what kind and tell us about them! 

I live with a beautiful cat named Viel, who was born on my grandparent’s country house. She’s the best housemate ever and she’s going famous on my insta.

To Learn more about Agnes and her work please visit www.agnesricart.in