Alumni

Visual Communications Grad Amber Day Releases Interior Design Coloring Book

Visual Communications Graduate Amber Day has released the adult coloring book, Sanctuary, which features various living spaces. We recently chatted with the busy freelance fashion and lifestyle illustrator to learn more.

What motivated you to create a coloring book? As an artist myself, I've always loved coloring books. It's a great way to unwind at the end of the day, keep yourself busy at the airport, or explore your creativity. Most coloring books on the market right now are made up of mindless patterns and florals, so I thought it would be great to create a book specifically about interior design to give people the freedom to create their dream home and color more realistically. Basically, I created a book that I would want to color in myself, where I can spend more time on some pages shading and creating dimension in the rooms, or quickly color a page full of intricate pillows when I don't have as much time to spend.

Can you tell us anything about your other upcoming book projects? I've got several projects in the works that I am not supposed to talk about until they're published, but I can tell you that I am working on another book with Amazon right now geared more towards fashion and textile design. If I can manage to stay on top of my deadlines, we should be releasing it by the end of the year.

What do you love about illustration? I love the freedom to create something out of nothing using only a pen and paper. As an illustrator, I have the ability to tell a story using only an image and the best part is leaving just enough blank space to let your imagination tell the rest.

How did FIDM help prepare your for your evolving career? FIDM gave me the resources, training, and confidence I needed to make it as a freelance artist. But what has made the most impact, are the lifelong connections I established with some truly amazing people I met while attending FIDM. I still believe that with all the training and talent in the world, to be successful you need a close network of encouraging people to help push you, as well as a few good friends who you can bounce ideas off creatively. I wouldn't be where I am today without the people I've met along the way.