Cris De Lara

Compiled by DjF du Marais

The Art Of

My name is : Cristina de Lara Stockler, artistically Cris De Lara.

Internet Links http://www.crisdelara.com http://www.crisdelarapinups.com http://CrisdeLara.itsartmag.com http://crisdelara04.deviantart.com/ http://crisdelaraimages.blogspot.com http://crisdelara2007.cgsociety.org/gallery/

I have worked for four years in comic book industry as colorist, some of my works were: Advent Rising, Serenity, Banzai Girl, Thundersaurs, etc. Nowadays I am well known as one of the best contemporary pinup artist according to specialized publications. Just google my name and you will see a lot of my works: Tutorials, interviews, workshops, posters,forums, etc.

Beyond that, I am a female brazilian Illustrator and digital painter, owner (with my husband) of Artepixel Illustration and Digital Painting. in which I have been working in some areas like: Graphic design, publishing, concept art, illustration, painting/coloring, 2D animation, teaching/training, games and consultancy.

What am I doing here? well, I still love drawing comic book character and doing commissions is the best way of showing my artwork for fans, collector and publishers.

IT'S ART : Cris de Lara, Can you tell me a biography of yourself

Cris de Lara : I started painting at school; I used to study art at a catholic school, when I was nine years old, oil paintings classes up to 12 years, when I decided to draw, because I wanted to paint my own images instead of painting other images that my teachers offered. From age twelve up to sixteen I took several other courses to improve my drawing skills but I was young and influenced by my friends, who persuaded me not to continue studying art.

At university I took business administration, and from the age of eighteen to 26 I had no drawings or paintings. At age 26 I felt the call back into artistry. In 1995 I marked this return by founding my own graphic design company. In 1997 my partner and I decided to change our approach to work more

with

illustration,

digital

painting,

training,

and

consulting. From 1998 up to 2001 we ran a small printing house. Clients would come to our store where I would design logos, and illustrations. My partner or some of the employees did the “desktop publishing� and we printed everything

right

there:

folders,

banners,

business cards, flyers, invitations, and letters.

periodicals,

In 2002 we changed our approach again. We shut down the printing activities and I came back to my SOHO activities working as a freelance illustrator and painter for some clients as well as a comic colorist for an American company.

In 2006 I quit my comic colorist job but continued to work as a freelancer. My partner and I had an important conversation about what to do as an artist; to produce something attractive to the audience or to create a product to sell and to be recognized as unique. We thought about producing pinups. In 2008 I moved from Brazil to Canada where I continue doing the same as before. From here, we continue working in the Brazilian market. I am the illustrator and the responsible for artistic things in my company and my partner is the responsible for all “non artistic” things.

I.A: How would you classify your style / work if you had to?

CDL : Clients say I am a versatile artist because I do a variety of drawings and paintings, children’s illustrations, fan art, comic books, cartoon, portraits, caricatures, manga, and pinups. Sometimes I look at the things I’ve done and guess I have no defined style yet. I like doing Pinups, no matter if they are manga, comic, classic, “chase cake” styles. This is something that I really love to do.

I draw and paint my own images, and while I’m painting them I mix the styles; a little using traditional technique (though it is done using computer) and a little using vectors to mark and define the details of the pictures.

If you compare my images, you will see they are different from other traditional artist’s paintings. I guess it’s is the comic’s influence on my job. You notice in comics the art line often appears in the images. The boundaries between one area and another are clear.

If I had to qualify my style I would say I am an artist who prefers making realistic drawings and paintings, mixing a comic/vector style in my work.

I.A : Lots of people are depicting creatures, fantasy scene, etc using CG tools and it's good sometimes to meet some people like you using CG for a refreshing work. Can you tell me who're the other artists who've influenced you and why you've choosen to express yourself with cg tools?

CDL : Hmmmm, This is a long diverse list. I would say I ‘ve been influenced not only by artists, illustrators and painters, but also by writers. Actually some of them were introduced to me by my partner.... old artists, especially from comics and cartoons but I have some current ones that are a sort of reference to me. For pinups, classics and fantasy images: Joseph Leyendecker, Norman Rockewell, Gil Elvgren, Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, William-Adolphe Bouguereau.

For other styles I would say: Will Eisner, Carl Barks, Albert Uderzo, HergĂŠ (Georges Remi), RenĂŠ Goscinny, Morris (Maurice De Bevere) Adam Hughes, Alex Ross, Frank Cho, John Buscema, John Romita, Mike Wieringo, Dave Stevens, Hermes Tadeu, The Hildebrandt Brothers, Alan Lee, John Howe, Jo Chen, Mike Deodato Jr., Steve Rude, Olivia de Bernardis, Kim Hyung Tae, Jeong Juno.

Wow, I think the list is long enough.

Expressing myself using CG tools, was, I suppose, a natural condition of my work. I painted and drew in the traditional way but not as a profession. When I founded my company with my partner 13 years ago I started doing graphic design and drawings for advertising. I used to work with Corel Draw and progressively I became more confident with digital technology.

Later I studied Photoshop and Painter, and was amazed by the things I was able to do using those softwares...

Although, everything has changed since we bought our first tablet, It was not until then that I was able to do something like true painting. Today, using CG tool it is faster and easier to produce my images and I am free to try lot of different styles that I’m unable to produce in the traditional way. It can be done but it takes a long time. Drawing and Painting, especially paintings, in traditional way an artist can produce some hundreds of pieces during her/his time life, however through digital means we can easily achieve a thousand pieces and the images can reach almost the entire world through the Internet. I think the versatility, the possibilities and the faster production are the main reasons why I have chosen the CG tools to express myself, although I still love to paint.

I.A :What's are the other outside influences ?

Are you really sure about asking me that after hearing my last list, hahahaha Well, let's see.

Books: Tolkien's books, J.K. Rowling's books, J. J. Benitez books, Art books especially the ones

with

images

from

Caravaggio,

Michelangelo, Rembrandt. I like reading Mythology', actually my sons and my husband have the habit of doing reading sessions at night. While I work I listen to them to gather information and ideas for my pinups and images.

I also like, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller, Straczinsky and I read graphic novels, especially Will Eisner's novels, they’re fantastic.

Movies and Series: LOR, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Indiana

Jones,

Star

Trek,

X-Files,

Smallville,

Supernatural. Music: Original Soundtracks; these songs really inspire me. Sometimes I need to draw a warrior, so I listen to Conan's soundtrack, for instance. I also like and hear a lot of: Enya, Amy Whinehouse, The Police, various Anime music. I have a playlist on my computer organized according to genre to inspire me. When I am painting on canvas I like to hear the classic ones.

I.A. : Can you speak about your creative process; the flow from the initial idea to the final sketch?

CDL : I have a schedule with my partner which includes dates like, Mothers day, Christmas, Halloween, Earth Day, etc.

We work together creating a situation, telling a short story about that theme and trying to make a sketch about that brainstorm. After that we make a list about the scenes that I will draw for each date/theme He does the description, and does the initial research; content, reference images, elements, etc.

I do the initial sketches and we discuss the composition for the image. When the sketch is approved I start doing a better

sketch

to

be

scanned.

Sometimes, when I am involved in other projects he does the flat color process and I work on rendering colors.

Otherwise, I do all the coloring.

I like to draw and paint my own images because I am free to change whatever I want, that sometimes generates discussions, between my partner and I, about changing the things agreed in the sketch, but the end the result is OK.

If we are doing a more classical image like Aphrodite's Belt, he usually does all the research about the characters and elements related to them, that helps us a lot in the creative process. Until the final penciled sketch, I often redo a lot of drawing; thinking of the scene's composition,

and

drawing

different

elements on a separate sheet or file, combining them later. I prefer using only penciled sketches in the beginning of my work instead of doing them digitally.

I.A :What is the criteria that lets you know a picture is

Sometimes, at the end we add

done?

something

more

trying

to

improve the image but without CDL : If I am working for my company portfolio the criteria

changing it too much.

are the final sketch and the list of elements in the image, for instance, my Mothers Days 2009 image, I had the final

If I am working for client, things

sketch and also a list of elements to be used in the

are different; there are clients

background, some tattoos for the girl, the chain, the tattoo

and clients. I try to do exactly

machine, her short texture, the big guy shoelace that

what was asked as to the

reminds a skeleton hand (after all his mother has died in

specifications of the sketch just

the story).

to make things easier. Because of

some

previous

bad

experiences in projects, we have

developed

working

that

a

way

of

does

what

is

written and agreed by us and the client.

Unfortunately it is too risky when we want to improve an image for a client,

because every improvement done generates other updates and at the end if I was commissioned to work 14 hours in a project,

I could easily work 20 hours because of the updates and the client may not want to pay more than was agreed. On the other hand there are some clients that leave us free to create, they’re more confident, they make the project more pleasant and pay for the extra time to have a better job, so the job becomes more attractive for both of us especially if the image were distributed over a variety of media.Every artist likes to do a good job, like a masterpiece, if she has freedom to work. If the artist feels tied-up for so many requirements or changes from the client, the final result will not be as good as it could be.

CDL : Yes, for sure. I am always trying new things,

Actually almost everything I

studying subjects related to somehow to improve my

learned was self taught. I am

knowledge:

animation,

not a graduate of a school of

storytelling, design, traditional drawing and painting. I like

art, so I push myself every time

a lot oil painting so I study and practice at home. I did not

when I am doing a job. I have

study in a traditional art school.

to produce better images every

photography,

composition,

time.

Trying different techniques is something I am always doing. I will try to change my painting method to simulate more oil painting style when doing my pinups. Another thing I will do is produce more penciled original art using a different technique as if they were finished in charcoal,

so

commissions

I will

think be

my more

attractive and I hope sell them more.

The last project I worked took me

IIt is a very interesting project. I ‘m not allowed to give

nine months in which I could not

more details about it, but the client said that probably in

produce the images I wanted. Now I

July she will release something to the press and I will be

have to work faster to save time. I

allowed to post some of images in my website and

can say for sure during the next few

portfolio.

months you will see more pinups than before and I hope all of you enjoy them a lot.

I.A : Wha's the most difficult picture you've made? Why?

CDL : The most difficult pictures I have made was my last job, a children book project that according to my client will be released in September or October of this year.

The entire job took from September 2008 until May 2009. It was hard work, I did all the illustrations and paintings and also model sheets for other purposes.

I can talk about my second most difficult image though,

Before that I used to do commission

Rockstar. While I was doing it, I decided with my partner

for

to produce pin-ups and post them in as many forums as

illustrations (which I loved), and

possible to show people what we could do and how we

comic book coloring. We decided to

work.

stop doing things that did not make

clients,

cartoons,

children

us happy and invest in our own product:

Pin-ups.

Those

images

would be the first ones: the one to show our product to the audience.

We thought about a theme that would catch people's attention and came up with a rock show. As women are much more appealing to pin-ups we came up with the idea of drawing a sexy girl playing guitar.

We decided some points about the

CDL : My favourite picture is Jolly Halloween 2007

picture: the girl should have tattoos,

(Abgail) that I decided to use it at my logo.

there are reasons why those tattoos are there, why she has a tiger and a dragon on her legs, a red rose on her arm. Originally the red rose tattoo was in a different arm, I have changed it later in the painting process. The perspective was a challenge, the color's study too. I chose strong and energetic colors without making the image annoying to our eyes, so while doing the lights and shadows were very difficult too.

Fortunately, I guess I got a good result and we were very happy and proud of it.

I.A : What's your favorite? Why ?

She is one of our characters

After posting both images in the forums I have a surprise that

developed for a future projects.

Marie Antoinette received an award while Jolly Halloween had

It was a special occasion when

many good comments. I did not expect awards but in my

I did it, we were thinking about

opinion Jolly Halloween was more attractive than Marie

a monster, funny, sexy girl,

Antoinette.

something like a mummy, when I had an insight about a sexy witch. I did the sketch and sent to my partner who liked it although it was very different than what we had agreed.

I do not know how to explain, but the work flew so nice and I had

so

searching

many

pleasure

and

choosing

patterns, adding details to the image‌ when I finished it I was very happy an motivated that in the same week I also did Marie Antoinette’s Revenge image.

I.A. : Do you think that the fact you're

Maybe the world has a sort of prejudice about women

a girl impacts your style and/or your

doing art, thinking we, women, produce only “cute�

vision of the CG world?

drawings, fairies, children illustrations, babies, and so on.

CDL : Wow, this is a tough question.

I do not think being a girl is something that affects my style within CG world. We have excellent female artists

in

every

illustration,

area

painting,

of

CG,

design,

animation even 3D. Just take a look at Its Art Galleries and you find dozens of amazing images done by girls. I prefer doing my pinups with women and humour, trying to tell a story

behind

the

image,

lot

of

elements and details inside them that are related to the conception; it doesn’t matter if the main character is a cute little girl or a sexy woman.

One thing I can say; the female

and help me to produce better drawings and paintings; you can

figure is more attractive than

see through my images the way I work, I keep the basic idea of

male figure, and women know

concept art: humour, attractive composition, color scheme,

very well how to draw women

interesting characters, details and elements that complement

as well as men. Score one for

the image, etc.

the girls, hahahaha.

I.A : In what way do you think you're producing art, and what's your

own

definition of

this

word?

CDL : Hmmmmm. I love doing pinups,

creating

my

own

images, with a story behind them. I am always seeking something new, different, new version even for some well known

images

from

other

artists that inspire me. I am always

looking

for

new

knowledge to improve my skills

I try to show not only the final result

Art you just feel it you should not have to critique it. A

but also the sketches, references

piece of art that is beautiful for one person may be not

and some steps during my work, so

nice for another.

people can see and have an idea about how I did the job. There is an entire researching time and

dedication

that

go

beyond the final result.

This is producing art in my opinion. I hope my images can reach as many people as possible and they can make people laugh, think, admire, being motivated and inspired in somehow as I feel when I see an image that inspires me.

This is one definition of art to me. Something that inspires you, motivates you, touches your senses.

I.A : If you'd to reinterpret a

CDL : I am a Leyendecker’s fan, so if I had to redraw some

favorite piece of art what would

image I would like to choose one of his amazing jobs, its title is

be your choice? why?

Easter, 1923.

The link, just in case. I think this piece of art has unique touch of humour and the idea, conception, is

brilliant.

Probably,

I

would spend hours and hours thinking what I could do

in

this

image.

Of

course, as a fan of him my main concerns were how to make it to honour him.

I.A : What would be your advice to a new cg artist to find it's own style and way?

CDL : Hmmmmm. As I have said

on your new knowledge in a positive way. You will see

before, an artist, in my opinion, has

errors that you didn’t see before. This is part of the

to have knowledge about art, real old

learning process. You will avoid former errors and will do

fashion art, not only about software

better pieces next time.

or hardware. They are tools, the artist is you. You have to control your tools not be a slave of them.

For sure, digital art, CG, other forms and Medias where we can express our art are important and have their own value and we have to explore them to reach as many people as it is possible.

Look for other artist’s art pieces, read about them, search for information in reliable sites and try, always try without fear.

Do your art, continue studying and some time later come back to see it again and judge it based

I.A : Anything else?

CDL : I would like to thank Its Art for this wonderful opportunity. For any artist, having the chance to talk about her/his work is something very important, especially in such notorious site as “Its Art.�

This opportunity is unique. I hope all your readers enjoy the answers and I would like to apologize in advance for my English. I am still learning.

Thank you all. Cheers.

Exciting feeling

Catwoman's shower Oil - July 2007

Curupira

Aviator Pinup

Autralian girl

Angel

Kyrla

Ms Santa

Rock Star

3

Red Warior

Portrait

Untitle

Girl

3

Angel

Kyrla

Ms Santa

Rock Star

3

Razor

Autralian girl

Angel

Kyrla

Ms Santa

Rock Star

3

Curupira

Aviator Pinup

Autralian girl

Angel

Kyrla

Ms Santa

Rock Star

3

Curupira

Aviator Pinup

Autralian girl

Angel

Kyrla

Ms Santa

Rock Star

3

Curupira

Aviator Pinup

Autralian girl

Angel

Kyrla

Ms Santa

Rock Star

3

Curupira

Aviator Pinup

Autralian girl

Angel

Kyrla

Ms Santa

Rock Star

3

Curupira

Aviator Pinup

Autralian girl

Angel

Kyrla

Ms Santa

Rock Star

3

Curupira

Aviator Pinup

Autralian girl

Nadja, the mystery of East June 2009

Ms Santa details

3

Curupira

Aviator Pinup

Autralian girl

Angel

Kyrla

Ms Santa

Rock Star

3

Curupira

Aviator Pinup

Autralian girl

Angel

Kyrla

Ms Santa

Rock Star

3

Curupira

Aviator Pinup

Autralian girl

Angel

Kyrla

Ms Santa

Rock Star

3

Curupira

Aviator Pinup

Autralian girl

Angel

Kyrla

Ms Santa

Rock Star

3

Curupira

Aviator Pinup

Autralian girl

Angel

Kyrla

Ms Santa

Rock Star

3

Curupira

Aviator Pinup

Autralian girl

Angel

Kyrla

Ms Santa

Rock Star

3

Cris de Lara in her studio

Marvel Comic's

Adriano Sonja

Black Cat Conquest

Wonder Woman

Black Cat Conquest

Daredevil and Elektra - October 2006

Daredevil and Elektra - October 2006

Red Sonja

Super-Heroines - November 2007

Catwoman's shower lineart - July 2007

Catwoman's shower - July 2007

Red Sonja

Vampirella perfum - June 2007

Elektra

Xena

Cat Woman

Princess Manga Criscolor - July 2006

Medusa draw - July 2008

Medusa - 2008

Blood Rayne

Warrior - June 2007

Harley Joker draw

Harley Party - June 2007

Bag

Tough choice- May 2010

Ipanema's GirlL- May 2010

Robot feelings - August 2007

Poison Ivy pencil – June 2007

Poison Ivy - June 2007

La Voyeuse - September 2009

La Voyeus

Witch Halloween

Jolly Halloween - October 2007

Jolly Halloween - October 2009

Tricking Spells - November 2009

Jolly Halloween draw - October 2008

Jolly Halloween – October 2008

Curupira's girl - July 2007

Aphrodite's belt - May 2008

Aphrodite's belt - May 2008

POPWATER - January 2010

Photos for M.A.R - October 2007

Marie Antoinette's Revenge - October 2007

Zatana draw

Zatanna cover - March 2008

Discovering the new - September 2007

Rockstar - July 2007

Dangerous Girl Portrait - June 2008

Pixel Cover - 2009

Shahrazad - December 2007

Sweet Whispers - February 2010

Coffe

Shoes - January 2010

Angels and demons - November 2009

No Snow White No ! - June 2009

Gandalf « Lord of The Ring »

Morgan Freeman Portrait - October 2009

Michael Jackson always alive - June 2009

Super-Heroines - November 2007

Catwoman's shower lineart - July 2007

Cover « The Daughter In Law »

Manga warrior draw - July 2007

Manga warrior - July 2007

Mother Day - 2009

Sci-Fi Crossover - March 2008

Santa Claus gift - December 2007

Baby Vader lineart - July 2007

Baby Vader - June 2007

Balloon scheth

Balloon – May 2009

Baby Alice scheth

Baby Alice - August 2007

Fairy meeting scheth

Fairy meeting - June 2007

My angel - July 2007

My angel - July 2007

Catwoman's shower lineart - July 2007

October 2007

Continuig Education - May 2009

Morgan Freeman art in progress

Turtle - January 2008

Waiting for her - January 2008

Photos and work for : What are friends for ?

What are friends for ? - February 2008

Kyrla

Wonder Wooman, Jungle Girl, Zatana and Fairy

Mother Day sketch, Stargir and Zatana

Mary Jane, Sonja and Black Cat

Criss de Lara studio

Caricature Angelina Joulie