This spring we hosted freelance illustrator and artist, Mandy Arroyo, at Getaway Mount Adams outside of Portland. After her stay, we sat down with her to hear more about her creative process, her connection to nature, and her Getaway. Here’s what she had to say.
Hi! I’m Mandy Arroyo, a freelance illustrator and artist based in Portland, Oregon. I grew up in the Seattle area and have a background in graphic design. I’ve worked on a range of creative projects, from large scale signage and murals, to food packaging and surface design for home goods. Whether working digitally or with traditional art materials, my work utilizes organic textures and vibrant color palettes, and often focuses on themes around travel, food and the outdoors.
Time in nature and my creative practice are in constant conversation – I feel most at peace when I’m surrounded by trees, and my outdoor adventures always fill my cup with new ideas to create. I almost always bring my sketchbook and my camera with me on hikes and camping trips, and I love drawing on location as well as painting larger pieces in my home studio using reference images I’ve gathered while out exploring. My goal when painting landscapes is to create work that reflects the emotions I feel when spending time in nature – to me, warm color palettes that incorporate lavender and peachy pink represent the sense of wonder I feel outside.
My Getaway was the perfect opportunity to unplug and get some quiet time. I took lots of walks and a few hikes in the area with my dog, and spent time drawing, painting and reading at the cabin. It was so lovely to have a camping experience with the luxury of a nice shower and comfy bed! I really enjoyed flipping through the creative and outdoorsy books that were in the cabin – they gave me some motivation to get started on an illustrated book project idea of my own. 😉
You can keep up with Mandy’s work on her Instagram and her Website.