Jillian Mendoza is an Illustrator based in Glasgow, known as ‘Mendonka’. They graduated in 2023 having studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design. Since graduating, their style has continually developed and takes influence from everyday experiences and the lives of other people. They believe that Illustration is a powerful tool that can serve others and uses their talent in collaborative projects with different organisation within Glasgow.

See Jillian’s works as part of our annual Spring open call, Keep Your Eye on the Doughnut, Not the Hole, which runs April 3rd to 24th, featuring an incredible collection of works by thirty artists leaning into joy, curiosity, and the often surreal pleasure of focusing on what is rather than what isn’t, in a myriad of mediums.

Hi Jillian! How has your practice changed over time?
I think I’ve been a bit more aware of my surroundings and been choosing to reflect upon the spaces that inspire me in my drawings. I’m part of a number of communities and spaces in Glasgow, and they influence the energy I want to portray.

How do you know when a piece is complete?
It’s an intuitive feeling I get that says “okay, stop, that will do now.” I then take a break for an hour to look away from the piece and if there isn’t anything glaringly erroneous when I come back to it, then I consider the piece done!

Which artists inspire you? Are there non-artistic influences such as literature or music that impact your work?
I’m an avid listener of jazz, and how many musicians usually base their playing on improvisation and intuition are elements I try to implement into my drawings. For artists, Bill Watterson who created the Calvin and Hobbes comic strips is a massive influence, and Maurice Sendak. I also am intrigued by  architecture and old video game designs.

What do you do to keep motivated and interested in your work?
I try to draw everyday and have a belief that there’s always an idea that is worth developing and to stay curious on what’s going on around me.

How do you overcome creative blocks?
I tend to switch up mediums/do colour or lack thereof when that does happen. Most importantly though, I take breaks and decompress in many ways: reading, listening to music or walking the dog, which usually helps in loosening up a creative block.

What emotions or reactions do you hope viewers experience when they see your artwork?
Happiness, and the joys of being in this world together.

Find out more about Jillian’s work on Instagram. Keep Your Eye on the Doughnut, Not the Hole runs at Six Foot Gallery until Thursday 24th April 2025.