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

I’m a freelance illustrator, I live in Madrid and I draw for projects all over the world.

Sorry but I'm another case that claims to have always drawn, I never had any doubts

about wanting to study Fine Arts. I also studied a specialization in Design and this

allowed me to work designing wine labels and restaurant menus when I moved to

Madrid. I really loved it, but I still spent my free time drawing without commissions.

I decided to start publishing some of these drawings and the first professional

commissions started to arrive. I was combining it for a while with my work as a designer,

until I could become 100% independent :)

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

It's amazing but drawing without thinking about publishing, in the privacy of your desk, is

a fabulous tool for self-knowledge. It brings you face to face with yourself, and this practice over time makes your own voice bloom, powerful and true to who you are.

I have always been very influenced by outsider art, as well as by the whole tradition of

animation and illustration from Eastern Europe. I was lucky to have been studying for a

year in Slovakia and this definitely opened my mind and fed my references.

What subjects are you most fascinated with? 

Food has always had a certain relevance in my work on other subjects, but I am also

very inspired by nature, animals and the everyday objects that surround us.

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

I love to see more and more illustrators leaving the screen aside and doing final

illustrations completely offline. I do digital illustration on most of my commissions but

when I have more time and can afford it, I try to do it directly on paper, it certainly

elevates the experience.

I also miss a little more formal risk in editorial or commercial projects, I understand that they are aimed at a wide audience but no less intelligent or with low visual culture.

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

I like to approach the characters from a total initial freedom. I don't have a specific way

of making eyes, noses or mouths. Their shape and stroke always respond to the tone of

the project and the character's personality.

On the other hand, I like to work with color in a very intuitive way. It is a less rational

process in which I listen a lot to my unconscious. I have a base palette that I feel

comfortable with, but it changes over time and includes new colors that I find

interesting.

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

I feel very proud of one of the last projects I did for Barcelona City Council. Despite

being an institutional campaign, in which the tone must be for all audiences, I feel that I

have been able to make the most of a graphic system based mainly on line drawing and

characters.

Describe your dream project.

An illustrated book that doesn't need words.

What’s next for you?

I'm working on a small but exciting project. It's about illustrating a textile piece, it's

something very punctual but it makes me very excited to see it finished.

Soon I will also release a calendar with wax illustrations that I've been working on for the

last few months.

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

Morning person or night owl?

Let's say not an early bird.

Favorite word

Siesta

Lunch or dinner?

Both!

A celebrity you’d like to have a drink with

Rihanna

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

Past, 70s, 80s or 90s

Sweet or savory?

Both and together!

Are you a thinker or doer?

I usually think by doing.

Go-to karaoke song

Pantera en libertad by Mónica Naranjo

City break or beach holiday?

Mountain holiday

What superpower would you like to have?

Mind reading

Thank you Silvia!