Eglė Plytnikaitė is a Lithuanian illustrator, recognized for her distinctive minimalistic yet bold style, often infused with a touch of vintage warmth. She has collaborated with major clients such as The New York Times, The Guardian, Bank of America, and the United Nations.
In this Talk on Creativity, Eglė reflects on developing her unique style and the challenges that come with it. She opens up about her transition from architecture to illustration, the shifting creative industry, the struggles beginner illustrators face today, and the practices that keep her grounded and inspired.
Let’s dive in!
Listen to this Episode on Bloomerangas Podcast 🎙️
Subscribe to the Bloomerangas Podcast
From Architecture to Illustration
Eglė’s creative path wasn’t linear. Originally, she studied architecture—a compromise between her artistic passion and her parents’ wish for a stable career. After completing her studies, she realized what she truly wanted was more creative freedom. That honest answer led her toward illustration.
Her first commission, a children’s book, seemed like a dream but turned out to be a disappointment. The limiting text and lack of inspiration left her feeling she couldn’t use her full potential. Instead of giving up, she began exploring other avenues and soon discovered the vast world of editorial illustration. Inspired by Lithuanian illustrators like Kotryna Žukauskaitė and Karolis Strautniekas, who were already working internationally, she saw new possibilities. Bit by bit, she built her portfolio, reached out to art directors, and learned from their feedback. This persistence and curiosity helped her break into the field and understand how illustration could bring clarity to complex subjects.
Developing Her Style
Finding her own style was indeed challenging for Eglė. With endless techniques and visual languages available, she struggled to decide what would truly represent her. Therapy and self-reflection played a decisive role. “I hate drama and clutter,” she admits, explaining how her personality shaped her creative work. She developed a process of deleting and simplifying until only the essence remained—no more, no less.
“I hate drama and clutter.”
Her illustrations began to stand out for their bold shapes, clean forms, and striking colors. The bright palettes, she explains, often came as a reaction to Lithuania’s gray winters, adding vibrancy to what she felt was missing around her. Style, for Eglė, became more than aesthetics; it was an honest reflection of her inner world and her search for clarity.
On AI and the Industry Shift
The rise of AI is impossible to ignore in the creative industry, and Eglė has strong views. While she keeps up with what the technology can do, she finds it limiting and ethically problematic. “It’s basically stealing,” she says, pointing to the way AI systems are trained on artists’ work without consent. She also worries about its environmental cost.
What troubles her most, however, is the impact on beginners. “When you’re just starting out, your work may be at the same level as what AI can produce,” she explains. “If beginners can’t find jobs, how will they grow?” For her, human creativity remains irreplaceable—the ability to analyze, reflect, and develop metaphors that give meaning to complex ideas is something machines cannot replicate.
She also notes how AI has unexpectedly changed her own career. For years, Eglė preferred to remain anonymous, letting her work speak for itself. Many of her clients didn’t know her age or even that she was a woman, and she liked it that way. But today, with clients eager to prove they are hiring real humans rather than AI, she feels more pressure to be visible—participating in photoshoots, reels, and online appearances. This shift, she admits, is uncomfortable, as her presence sometimes overshadows her work, yet she adapts in order to stay relevant in the industry.
Collaboration and Creative Freedom
Over the years, Eglė has collaborated with some of the world’s most renowned clients. For her, the prestige is secondary; what excites her most is working with creative teams that value her input. “I love creative directors who play ping-pong with you—exchanging ideas, building them together, really listening,” she says.
Surprisingly, the biggest clients were often the most open to her creativity, while smaller clients tended to micromanage. The freedom to shape a project makes her want to give her best, while restrictive projects risk losing their creative spark. At its best, collaboration for Eglė is a dynamic exchange that pushes both sides to create something greater than either could alone.
Creative Blocks
Unlike many creatives, Eglė doesn’t experience long creative blocks. For her, discipline and self-care are key. Rock climbing, time in nature, and rest are not luxuries but essentials. “Creative blocks come when I’m too tired,” she explains. Instead of forcing productivity, she listens to her body. Sleep, exercise, and rhythm help her stay resourceful and inspired.
“Creative blocks come when I’m too tired.”
This practical approach reframes creative flow not as something mystical, but as the natural result of balance and consistent effort.
Advice for Beginner Illustrators
Eglė knows how discouraging the early years can be. Clients may be small and controlling, money scarce, and doubts overwhelming. Her advice is to stay honest: define the kind of clients you want to work with and understand what value you can offer them. Illustration, she emphasizes, is commercial work—you need to bring value while still staying true to yourself.
“You need people who support you continuously.”
Equally important is support. “You need people who support you continuously,” she stresses, recalling how her husband kept pushing her forward when she felt like giving up. Sometimes tough love made all the difference: “Stop complaining and go to work,” he would say. For her, persistence paired with a strong support system is what eventually leads to breakthroughs.
Though she has built a strong voice, Eglė remains open to change. “I don’t know who I’ll be in five years,” she admits. This openness allows her to evolve while staying true to her essence. Interestingly, she’s returning to where her journey began: children’s books. This time, however, she’s doing it on her own terms. She is both writing and illustrating her first book—a full-circle moment.
