The Postcard Post: Druscilla Santiago

The Postcard Post is thrilled to welcome illustrator Druscilla Santiago. I first saw Drusilla’s work through the SCBWI Portfolio Showcase (digitally) and was delighted to see it in-person at the Winter Conference where I snagged a postcard. Now it’s your turn to enjoy!

Druscilla Santiago is a fan of postcards! A lifelong doodler, Druscilla is now an illustrator with a background in graphic design and art direction. She is a recipient of the 2023 SCBWI Winter Conference Portfolio Showcase Award and her comics have been published in Cubby at Home and Illustoria magazine. She is drawn to funny stories and often roots for the oddballs, loners, and troublemakers. Druscilla lives on the island of O‘ahu in Hawai‘i where she is from.

How do you choose the image(s) for a postcard?
I always aim to tell a story. So, thinking about the postcard as a medium—we know it has two sides and that “flip” is essentially a page turn.* So whatever story I start in the main image, I can continue on the flip-side. This is basically where my head is at when I’m scanning my work for potential designs.
*Excellent way to think of the medium serving the narrative.

Do you prefer text on the front of the postcard with the image or do you prefer all text on the back of the postcard?
If the text is meant to accompany the image and help tell the story, then yes, I would add it to the front. However, if the text is my contact information, then I like to put that on the reverse side. This way the face of the postcard can act like a mini art print for the person on the receiving end.* I also like how this layout gives the text (my contact info) on the reverse side its own stage where it doesn’t compete with the main illustration.
*Yes! That’s one reason I love printed postcards.

Do you create illustrations specifically for your self-promotion pieces?
It depends on time, really. For me, a self-promo is a fun opportunity to create a piece of art with a specific message designed to a particular format with a particular goal in mind. Not all of my portfolio pieces can check those boxes for me, but if one can then that’s great! Especially if it’s relatively new. 

Most recently I used an illustration with an energy I really liked. I changed it to look like a middle grade book cover and pushed the narrative forward with a small spot illustration on the flip side. I was pretty happy with it.

Some illustrators create a series of postcards and send them out over time. Do you create a series or stand-alone images?
I do stand-alone images. Although, I do love a series! It sounds like a great idea for artists who send out mailers regularly. And I bet it saves a ton of time to think it through all at once. *Note to self: Consider making a series.**
**Haha! 🙂 

How often do you send out postcards?
I started woking in kid lit during the pandemic, so I haven’t quite worked out a marketing schedule for myself. I’ve done the Kid Lit Postcard hashtag on Instagram a few times, which has been fun but I’m hardly consistent. As I learn and grow in this industry, I hope to have a more structured approach to marketing. 

Do you have any tips on the production process?
I think my only tip is to test-print the piece yourself and check the copy size, margins and line weights before you send the order to print. Sometimes, when I’m looking at screens too often I lose touch with what type sizes and line weights feel right to me when printed. And I say “feel” because I don’t believe there is a right or wrong type size or line weight, but there are ones I prefer.

Do you use any online printing services? What are your favorite places to get postcards printed? 
For postcards and business cards, I always use: moo.com  Their paper choices and turnaround time are awesome. Also, for artists who don’t have design software and are less into that side of things, Moo offers templates so you can just upload your art and pick a font. 

Back in 2019, I created a more elaborate self-promo that was a booklet. It was a standard paper size that folded down to greeting card size and I sent them out in envelopes. For that, I used: smartpress.com It was pricier than postcards, of course, but they did the printing and folding for me which was really convenient.*
*Great idea! NOTE TO SELF: Ask Druscilla to please come back and show us!

Let’s talk about digital postcards. Since the COVID lockdowns in 2020, illustrators haven’t been mailing printed postcards as much. Do you use digital postcards now? How do you get them to art directors and editors?
The hashtag #kidlitartpostcard on instagram and twitter seem to be the way to go. So often, when I’m listening to industry podcasts, this hashtag gets brought up by the folks who hire illustrators. The official postcard day is every first Thursday of the month—and I miss almost every one, ha! But it seems pretty cool. If an art director likes your post they can easily save it and if they click on your profile, they are immediately immersed in all of your other work. 

Any tips for producing digital postcards?
Hmm.. I know I said earlier that I like to put my contact information on the back of postcards.. but for a digital piece, I put it up front. And if I’m emailing it, I would also name the file with my full name. An attachment does not have the same qualities as a piece of print, so if the recipient of the email likes my work and saves it to their desktop—I want to make sure my name is on it.*

Also, on that note, a digital postcard (or social media post) does not have to be 5×7 or 4×6, or any standard size. Neither of these things are actually postcards, after all. So, this is another chance to get creative and play with the medium. 
*Really great point about digital vs printed: Take note, illustrators!

Thanks so much for a very informative interview, Druscilla. And of course, for sharing your wonderful illustrations.

Check out more of Drusilla’s work here:

Website: adventurefun.club 

Instagram: @adventurefunclub

If you’re joining us for the first time at The Postcard Post, you can catch up with a general article on postcard mailings for illustrators and previous featured illustrators in the archive (there’s a tab above too). And you can see recent posts by searching for The Postcard Post on this blog. See you next month.