Meet the Artist Who Made Fig the Pig!

At SkillPathway, we value the power of building human connections through art. There is something special about looking at an illustration or any piece of art that is not AI-generated. One of our goals is to share this experience with you and inspire learners to imagine, create, and explore new possibilities. Moreover, as adults guiding children’s learning, it is important to keep developing essential skills like creative thinking, communication, and an entrepreneurial mindset, and to show children how to use them. When we embrace the process of thinking, making mistakes, learning, and overcoming challenges, we not only create something that is ours, we also have the opportunity to share our work with the world, build meaningful connections, and inspire others. 

We are thrilled to share our interview with the illustrator of Fig the Pig and offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how creativity, hard work, and passion bring ideas to life.

Illustrator Spotlight: Mac Ledesma

Job(s): Methods Analyst by day, artist by night, gamer on the side

1. What helps your brain think of new ideas?
Mac: I get inspiration from social media, especially from other artists, as well as from watching vlogs. I also draw creative energy from my favorite things, such as my favorite games, TV shows, and traveling to new places.

2. What tools do you use to create your artwork?
Mac: I work with various mediums. For traditional art, I mainly use brush pens and watercolors. For digital art, I use Procreate, Designer, Photoshop, and Illustrator.

3. Do you usually go with your first idea, or do your ideas change?
Mac: I try to stick with my first idea when making art. It helps me trust my instincts and keeps me from overthinking or restarting too much. It also helps me finish projects more consistently and strengthens my personal style as an artist.

4. What helps you keep trying, even when something is tricky?
Mac: When something gets tricky, I just remind myself why I love making art. I know it’s normal to struggle, so I don’t stress too much. Sometimes I just take a break, come back later, and things make more sense. Honestly, finishing something after pushing through feels really rewarding.

5. What do you do when you feel stuck? How do you overcome creative blocks or challenges?
Mac: When I feel stuck, I just take a break—play some games, scroll through social media, whatever helps me take my mind off the art for a bit. Then I’ll look at some art inspirations and come back to it feeling refreshed. Sometimes, I change things up, but most of the time I just tweak and improve it since I usually like to stick with my original idea.

6. What’s something you’re still learning to do?
Mac: I’m studying video editing right now and I’ve been into making video vlogs. I’m really interested in learning how to color grade properly and just understand the whole process of telling a story through video.

7. What’s your drawing superpower?
Mac: I’d say my drawing superpower is just sticking to my mantra, always going back to the basics. It helps me keep things grounded and build my work up the right way. I also try to put in the emotion I want to show or how I’m feeling about the piece. And whenever I really love what I’m making, I always put a little extra into it.

8. If your pencil had a name, what would it be?
Mac: I’d name my pen “Callie.” I’ve been watching too much Grey’s Anatomy lately and I love her! Plus, it’s a nod to what started my whole art journey: calligraphy.

9. What’s your favorite thing about being an illustrator?
Mac: My favorite thing about being an illustrator is bringing ideas to life and sharing a piece of myself through my art. It means a lot to me when people connect with what I create and feel the emotions or story behind it. I also love seeing the joy on people’s faces when they appreciate my art. Knowing my work can inspire or touch someone else is what keeps me going.

Take a peek inside Mac’s creative process through these sketches with your learners. Encourage them to ask questions, and if you’ve purchased the Fig the Pig comic, we’d love to hear what you think! 

Get your copy of the Fig the Pig comic today!