Mike Makatron — Everfresh Studio — Melbourne, Australia

What mistakes or traps should young designers try to avoid when creating an illustration? “Start soft — I try to start with an HB pencil — and work deeper, committing to pen when I’m happy. Be comfortable with your technology and terminology; ask questions if you are unsure. Documentation is very important, and an obvious weakness of mine. Some of my favourite illustrations have been done in random places globally, then given away before scanning or photographing properly.”

Mike Makatron is primarily a painter who works in a variety of media, mainly on walls, canvas and illustration on paper. An active member of Everfresh Studio since 2006, he has travelled extensively, painting and exhibiting around the world. His artwork captures a world in which the natural forces fight back against humanity, focusing on the friction point between human, beast and machine. He is based in Melbourne Australia, but “has been known to wander in other dimensions”.