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The Illustrator
Alex
Furtado 2 EYE 01/14
His name is Alexssandro Mello Furtado , 23 years old , born in Barra de São Francisco a country town , now lives in Vitória the capital of Espírito Santo , Brazil . He says to be a lover of all types of drawings, painting , architecture and nature, plants and animals of all kinds . Loves typography, specially the ones crafted in an artistic ways and calligraphy, interacting with the illustration. “I like to draw since I can remember . When I was little, people always have praised my drawings . My hobby was to draw on the ground , in large backyard that we have in the back of my house . I could make huge drawings on the floor using just a stick as a pencil. I used to spent whole days doing it and never got tired , for me it was like to be immersed in an imaginary world where I could create whatever I wanted . I used to draw plants, animals , houses, towns, people, and inventing various creatures and objects that do not exist ... It was really good. By that time that I believe that I started to develop and improve my skills as an illustrator. At school he always always were the best in art classes , and it was usual to him help teachers and collegues make the posters and stuff . “I learned to paint on canvas and even sold some paintings , assured me some local recognition “ During high school he worked illustrating for the private school where he studied with a scholarship. “ Today on the Graphic Design course , I feel like I made the right choice. I have worked as an illustrator , and done many interesting jobs . I intend to pursue this career as an illustrator and also work in the field of typography , mainly to produce letterings . “
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lose myself trying to identify who they are. René Magritte is a strong
and which one you feel most proud of?
influence, also Gustave Courbet. Also some recent artists that I’m a fan as Mattias Adolfsson. It is
ative work, well finished and achieve I remember doing two very
I’m happy for the recognition
One was to create an interactive ex-
that I have achieved , but I’m still
my drawings. I love the simple
hibition, in the discipline of Project
not very well known and have
trace that he has and richness of
5. It was practically an architectural
difficulties make a living just doing
detail drawings. Bartosz Kosowski
project, involving several rooms,
illustration , although I believe that
is another current artist who has
decorated and fitted with some
this is changing for the better.
influenced me a lot.
devices to stimulate the senses and
wo is the best sign painter I know
some graphic peaces that drove the narrative of the exhibition. Another project that took a little less work but I was really proud to
zilian who works as a sign painter,
be a part of, was to create a board
and has an exceptional work.
game quite complex for the Depart-
doing design and illustrating. I still
ment of Design of Games, we cre-
worry about the financial. I do not
ated a battle game with numerous
know if I can live comfortably just
pieces and rules. The great difficulty
being a designer, at least here in my
is to test the game and see what
town. But I always believe I’ll get
really does work and what does not.
there I just have to fight for it.
Before being an illustrator, you are a graphic designer, what is the importance of the course in your work?
an illustrator. Illustrate is not only
professionally, I consider as another area of design more than art itself. By the time that the shapes, the lines, the colours, the composition, the format, everything that is being represented there was thought
pride myself enough of that.
that it will be placed, how it will be presented, customer demands, costs, everything is taken into consideration. Of course there is an artistic expression in every job, but I do not consider it art. Moreover, the drawings that I do by my own initiative, in my sketchbook, or other media, typically carry an expression of my feelings, my everyday experiences, some thoughts and daydreams. These I consider as art.
What are your influences? Who inspires you? This is a difficult question. I
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Do you prefer sketching on paper or digital illustration ?
You draw from a young age? When did the interest in illustration and when you saw that doing so was a passion ?
to the draw, wielding a pencil, a pen or
We also need to have dominion
I’m drawing since childhood. Draw
‘re painting. After all it does not have
over softwares and learn how to
was a daily activity for me, despite
control Z.
transit between analog and digital.
not having much prodding by my
The projectual method that I
family. But was in the course of
learned as a designer fits perfectly
Graphic design that I discovered
in the production of illustration.
that drawing was really a passion
about knowing how to draw. You need to know and use various artistic techniques, meet different types of art materials, tools and media.
for me, and that’s why I started
to be appreciated by the target audience of this work. The local
Once I discovered that I felt good
I learned a lot with this project , and
collaborated a lot with my work as
The illustration work that I do
When you decided that design and illustration would be your workmates ?
and also Caetano Calomino, a Bra-
The course of Graphic Design
Would you consider what you make art? When was it started ?
customer demands as best as possible.
visible his influence in some of
main influences are David A. Smith
Interview with Alex Furtado
stand out in the market have to do cre-
difficult projects at the University.
In the field of typography, my
1 - Ilustration and lettering - Sketchbook
has grown here in Vitoria. Of course to
I prefer the paper. I feel closer a brush. The paper requires a greater responsibility. Especially when you
Do you believe that drawing is the study / training or talent ? For me are the 2 things. And
How did you choose to study Graphic Design at university?
working professionally as an illus-
they exist at different levels in each
trator. And it has worked ever since.
person. I think some people are
My entry into the university
What is the importance of colours in graphics for you ?
was kind of confusing. I applied for various institutions and courses. But what I really wanted was to do
born with talent, which is nothing
The colours can evoke sen-
architecture. Even though, I was
sations and feelings, become a mor-
searching on University of Espiri-
bid and dark, or energetic and light
more than a natural ability to see shapes and colours in a sharper way. Which when added to the study and / or practice creates good illustrators . The second case is the person
to Santo website before applying
design. Hot and cold, light or heavy,
who can not draw very well, but
to the entrance exam and I just
balancing ideas, convey neutrality,
with enough study and practice can
discovered the course of Graphic
harmony or contradiction. The
improve their perception and hence
Design. Before that I never had
colours may mean more than the
develops talent.
thought about that are, since I had
figure itself represented .
the exception that my talent is
no clue about what it was. Then I searched more about it and signed up for this course, I’m not sorry. It was the right choice .
What was the most difficult job you had to do until now,
I think I fit in this first case, with
You’re still early in his career, but would you say that the illustration is in your future?
limited, I recognise that I still have
I think so. The market for this area
reproduce shapes and colors with
some difficulties in perception. I know people who even without study, using only the practice, perfection
2- Ilustration made for a book cover called “Auditoria 2” (Auditing) The illustration intends to show the many places that auditing can be performed
3. Digital Illustration
4 - Book Cover Illustration - Oficina de Ginástica
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5 - Ilustration in black paper - Sketchbook
6 - Illustration created to represent the feminine spirit of the tropical forests. In this paint, I tried to represent the surprise of this wild spirit when she see the human on the other side of her reality
7 - Ilustration and lettering - Sketchbook
10 - Wall painting made for the Academic Center of Design from Federal University of Espírito Santo. 9 - Graphic design and illustration project and developement for the EP “Vão”, of the singer and songwriter André Prando
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8 - Ilustration and lettering - Sketchbook
11 - Illustration and lettering project and develoment to the restaurant “Ai, Caramba! - Premium Hot-Dogs”