217. What Travel Teaches You About Creativity with Caroline Tomlinson

Drop everything and book a flight. Join Michelle and illustrator Caroline Tomlinson as they dive into the winding, wanderlust-filled path that led Caroline from agency burnout to full-time artistry, with pit stops in London, Cape Town, and New Zealand. They talk grit, galleries, creative identity, and the irreplaceable inspiration of travel. Tune in to embrace the beauty of happy accidents, creative ruts, and why travel is the ultimate fuel for your imagination.

 

Caroline Tomlinson is a London-based illustrator whose sketchbook and passport are rarely apart. A graduate of Central St. Martins, she blends inky, expressive marks with a love of travel, fashion, and culture—embracing “happy accidents” as part of her creative process. Her work has appeared in campaigns for Christian Louboutin, Sephora, Marc Jacobs, and Matches Fashion, and has been featured in Vogue, The Guardian, and Suitcase. Caroline also collaborates across mediums, recently launching a sustainable brand with Anthropologie and exploring film and animation in her latest project, Wanderlust Illustrated.

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In today's episode, we cover the following:

• Caroline's creative path
• The role of travel in shaping your work and perspective
• Burnout and reinventing your path
• Illustration style and medium
• Finding confidence as an artist
• Creative identity and career pivots
• Access to art and inspiration
• The power of your environment for creative flow
• Art as emotion, not emotion
• Dream projects

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GUEST INFO:

To peruse Caroline's stunning illustrations, follow her on Instagram @CarolineTomlinsonIllustrator and visit their website, CarolineTomlinson.com

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WORK WITH MKW CREATIVE CO.

 

Connect on social with Michelle at:

• Kiss My Aesthetic Facebook Group
• Instagram
• Tik Tok

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