Tell us a bit about yourself and how you found your way to a creative career.

I'm Dror, I live in London with my partner and our two little boys. Perhaps like most people in a creative field, I’ve always loved to draw and always loved stories. After studying visual communication, I moved to New York seven years ago, working a bit in a printmaking workshop and a bit at a publishing house. And while I liked both, I really wanted my drawing to be my work—so every now and then, I’d send friendly emails to art directors with some of my work—usually, I wouldn’t get a response. But the first time someone replied—and then, two months later, gave me my first job—it opened the door to more opportunities. 

How did you find your medium and style, and who and what influenced you?

Slowly, and with a lot of time spent painting. During my first year in New York, I didn’t know anyone and didn’t have a job, so I had a lot of time. I walked a lot around the city, spent time in parks and exhibitions, watched all the TV series I could, and painted. I can’t point to one specific thing that influenced me, but I remember, for example, that the scale of everything— especially large spaces like the Met—led me to experiment a lot with perspective and space. Or that working in a printmaking studio and with Riso led me to work with color in a certain way.  

What subjects are you most fascinated with? 

I love stories—especially ones with a bit of weirdness. I’m really drawn to anything related to dance because it allows for so much expression without needing to be too literal. I also love drawing the body in motion, whether dramatic or still, often with objects or trees. Theatrical scenes appeal to me for the same reason. I like creating scenes that are part real and part something else, with a touch of magic—whether it comes from light, movement, or atmosphere. 

What illustration trend are you either loving or hating at the moment? 

I never know what the trend is! And even now, I have no idea. There isn’t a specific “type” of illustration or painting that I like more or less—any technique or style can be interesting, and any technique or style can also be boring. 

How do you create characters, what inspires them, how do you use colour?

Before my studies, I never used to draw people—I don’t think they really interested me much. And during my studies, when I had no choice, they always came out looking strange and not quite right. At some point, one of my teachers told me to think about drawing a figure the same way I would draw a tree. That advice stuck with me and, in a way, freed me from the sense of obligation and seriousness that came with drawing human figures. Even though the eye is usually drawn to figures first in a painting, when I draw, I work on the image with its atmosphere or general sense of mood and the figure is just one element— sometimes functioning as part of the background or as an object within the space it's set in. 

If you had to pick a favourite project, which one are you most proud of and why? 

I’ll pick something from a few years ago—three paintings I made for three pieces in the literary section of Port Magazine. I chose these because those were three stories I remember as being really good, and the imagery in them was beautiful, with such interesting connections between them. The printing was so nice! But mostly, I pick it because it was the first project that felt like that—interesting, beautiful, with a lot of freedom, and a series, which is always more fun than just one image. There were other projects after that, and maybe things that I am more proud of, but this one stands out as kind of special.

Describe your dream project.

Theater or dance! But I also always love working on print projects. 

What’s next for you?

Not sure! At some point, I want to find or make more time for personal work to try some things I’ve been waiting to try. Also, I want to get braver about riding my bike in London so I can get to know the city better—it’s too big to do it on foot. 

Rapid Fire Round - Quick answers! And add a few words if you like :)

Morning person or night owl?

Both night and morning are not my best times, but before having two kids I was definitely a morning person! 

Lunch or dinner?

Lunch!

A celebrity you’d like to have a drink with 

I’m too shy

If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?

Past, just not to any war

Sweet or savory?

Both!

Are you a thinker or doer?

Both

Go-to karaoke song

Very much not a karaoke person 

City break or beach holiday?

Both!

Thank you Dror!