Illustrator Deanna First Hopes to 'Make People Feel Like Their Most Confident Self' With Her Drawings

It's safe to say Deanna First has a pretty cool job. Known for her modern, fashion-forward sketches and A-list roster, First got the chance of a lifetime, as she got to team up with ESPN and Hulu for a one-of-a-kind artistic takeover at F1 Miami — capturing the fast-paced glamour of the sport through her signature style.

"It’s been a really surreal experience! I love that it puts me in a completely different element and has opened my career up to expand in several different directions outside of fashion and beauty. I created 21 driver sketches in advance using mixed media and added an element of smoke in the background to give each sketch movement and speed. Some of the driver’s sketches were personalized with racing patches of their pets. For instance, Lewis Hamilton’s sketch had his bulldog Roscoe, and for Charles Leclerc’s sketch, I added his beloved Leo, his miniature dachshund. My art was then blown up on LED screens throughout the Paddock at the Miami Grand Prix and also given out as souvenirs in the VIP area," First exclusively tells Morning Honey.

"It's a chance to showcase my artwork in a completely new light and reach a new clientele that might not be familiar with my work or have never had the VIP experience of receiving a fully customized illustration on the spot of themselves, done in minutes. The opportunity to meet the drivers and see their reactions to my art is something I’ll cherish," First notes of the opportunity. "I feel like the sky's the limit, and I enjoy the thrill of being an entrepreneur. It’s never predictable, and there is so much room for growth. I also have a few potential projects brewing I’m super excited about, but I always wait to tell until finalized."

First has always known she wanted to be an artist since preschool, as drawing "comes very naturally" to her.

"I love that it allows me to get into a meditative state and tune out the outside world. I put on Tibetan bells or zen music while I work, and it feels like an out-of-body experience. Everyone could use a little break now and again from the real world," she explains, noting that it's a joy to sketch other people, especially because she gets to see their reaction.

She adds, "The way people light up when they view my interpretation of them is truly the most fulfilling part of my job. The most challenging part is not related to the sketching. I would say since I’m an introvert and extrovert, my long days of sketching two to three events per day can lead to needing a full day to recover from the stimulation (which isn’t always possible with how packed my schedule is)."

Over the last few years, First has built up her business — and she hopes to continue to "expand my reach and presence globally."

As for what the future looks like, she says: "Married with a beautiful family, with a stable and fulfilling art career, where I live outside of NYC and just fly in for special events. I see myself creating more personal projects and collections to sell. Perhaps being in art galleries. I see myself collaborating with dream clients, but not just for live sketching. I want to expand to illustrated store windows, my art on products, walls and venues, and used for branding to catch people’s attention and pull them into different businesses and shops. I see my hard work paying off in 5-10 years (hopefully before that, of course)."

Ultimately, First hopes "to make people feel their most confident self. I always focus on what I perceive as people’s best features when I sketch. It’s not only the physical aspect, I feel I capture the aura and energy of the person," she says. "I am drawn to women who exude elegance and fashion in my illustrations. Take the woman walking down Fifth Avenue, she typically exudes elegance without trying, by how she carries herself. When I create an illustration, it naturally tells a story. The magic about it is that each person can have their own story to go along with the illustration, even if it’s completely different compared to the one I had in my mind when creating. That’s what makes art fun — it’s always open to interpretation and one of the many reasons I love it."

She adds, "I hope to make people feel confident when they look at my interpretation of them. I love capturing the aura of people and places and adding movement and motion to them, making them come alive. I really hope my art gives off a healing and positive energy when being viewed."

First's portfolio includes Louis Vuitton, Dior, Ralph Lauren, Valentino, and Meta, and she can't wait for any more events to come.

“With LVMH signing a 10-year partnership agreement with F1, I feel my fashion illustration experience with all of the LVMH brands like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Dior, Hennessy, Sephora, Bulgari, and more has prepared me for this moment. I feel very on brand for this special collaboration. I also was fortunate to sketch at a Met Gala event on Monday, and I know Lewis Hamilton was attending as a co-chair — so I was excited to have the opportunity to potentially illustrate his look twice!”

Feel free to follow along on her journey @deanna_first. To sign up for announcements and upcoming events you can attend, go to: www.deannafirst.com