Featured Artist – Lino
Artwork by Lino
How and when did you know that you wanted to become an illustrator?
Like many other kids, I drew all the time, but early in my life I started admiring master painters like Gaugin, Lautrec and Picasso. To me, they were a kind of genius. Their freedom and their exotic lives made me dream of becoming one of them.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I’m really interested in people, their lives, what makes them happy or sad, what are they running for…
Also, our society and how it’s transforming all the time. These and poetry are definitely my major inspirations.
What type of environment do you prefer to work in? At home or in a studio? Listening to music?
I work in a small studio with a few other artists. I like their presence, even if we don’t see each other that much. Just not being alone all the time is good.
Having a place separate from the house where I can leave my creativity and work is really important to me. That way I can come back home with a free mind. I mostly work in silence but sometimes I use music to stimulate me. My studio is a little museum of my inspirations, with drawings and paintings everywhere, puppets, funny things that I found in the street, pictures of my friends and family, a couch, a fridge, many books, and all my brushes and colors around me like a family.
As a working illustrator, do you still find time to create art for yourself?
Having other artistic projects is very important to me. It really stimulates creativity and changes the day to day routine, so I paint, do graphic novels, animations and sometimes just drawing for fun!
Who was the first illustrator that you noticed and admired?
Actually the first artist that I really admired was a painter: Jean-Michel Basquiat. His artwork is somewhere between graphic design and painting and I was really fascinated by the way he was using both forms of expression.
What is your favorite way to get out of a creative block?
I go for a walk with my dog or I open a poetry book for a while. Doing something else helps me come back to my work with a solution.
How do you deal with negative criticism?
It think it’s normal to be criticized. Art is highly subjective and I totally understand that. Artists are naturally exposed to critics and it’s a very good way to confirm your creative choices.
If you had to describe your body of work in one word, what would that word be?
Emotion.
What are your goals for your future as an illustrator?
To keep myself curious, stimulated, and to always find a way to touch people with my art.
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News published at 3:11 am, Wednesday, September 5th, 2012
