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FLUENT ILLUSTRATORS AROUND THE WORLD
ISSUE 003 MAY 2018
JONATHAN CALUGI + NIELS KIENE MAY ‘18
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FILL YOUR SPACE WITH MUSIC.
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The Home Sound System FLUENT // ISSUE 003
Table of Contents 04
About Fluent Get to know us!
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Neils Kiene Interview
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Jonathan Calugi Interview
Get to know us!
Get to know us!
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Illustration Tips & Tricks
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Q&A w/ Christophe Quibe
Get to know us!
Get to know us!
COVER IMAGES: NEILS IN HIS STUDIO
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Photo by: Robert Lane
Niels Kiene INTERVIEW WITH
NIELS KIENÉ, ALSO KNOWN AS SALVENTIUS, IS A DUTCH ARTIST.
He creates one-line portraits using mediums including light, photography, tattoo and sculpture. The way he produces portraits without removing his tool from the canvas is something of skill, and the abstracted images formed from this way of drawing and sculpting are unique. Through a technique that can so easily produce mistake after mistake, Kiené constructs the beautiful. In a practise which in some respects idealises perfection, he proves with every piece that mistakes themselves are breath-taking, and even necessary within art.
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How did you get interested in art? It doesn’t feel like I suddenly got into illustration as I have always been drawing. To be honest, I don’t even consider myself an illustrator, a painter or an artist; I just like to create and I do it with love… So maybe that makes me more of a lover! At this moment I enjoy creating light paintings, tattoos, sculptures and 3D prints. All following the same single line style.
You’ve got a very distinct style. How would you describe it? I’ve always liked to experiment with continuous lines and that technique allowed me to create spontaneous forms, mostly portraits. It’s also a way to challenge myself, as each drawing is created in the moment and I don’t lift the pen off the paper until the entire portrait is revealed. Then is when I finally get to meet that face I’ve created and the personality behind.
What’s been the most enjoyable work you’ve done so far? And the most challenging? Being constantly experimenting with new ways of expressing myself though art feels like every work is both enjoyable and challenging at the same time.
What’s your design process like? Where do you start? I just try to force myself to finish every work I start. It’s the only way for me to get the best result, and I hope that discipline and joy reflects in my work.
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Is there any meaning of feeling you try to evoke through your pieces? I am not creating portraits to tell a story. I do hope they start a story in the people who see them and like them. I’ll sometimes receive a message of someone with an explanation of what my portraits do to them, such a beautiful compliment.
How do you feel once you have finished a piece? It’s kind of addicting. A finished portrait is so nice to meet, and the kick to stop at the right time and moment.
Where do you find inspiration for your work? Faces I see, in real life or online; Music. I like to experiment with different activities and see how they affect the different personalities that I create.
What advice would you give to people who’d like to get into the art field? Some say art should be pain. But I think it should be fun. So always find the fun and keep doing it…
What tools do you use for your work? Everything that allows me to create a continuous line: I use a flashlight and camera for my light paintings, spray paint on canvas for some other artwork, and I am currently working with laser-cutting and 3D printing technique to create continuous line portraits in 3D. I’m looking forward to trying VR techniques with Google and Tiltbrush, although that’s a little too expensive to experiment with at the moment!
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What are your tips for anyone struggling with breaking out of traditional styles of art, or to anyone just wanting to try something new? Allow yourself to make mistakes. Mistakes are gifts! And sometimes literally try to look at (or create) your work from a different angle. The belief that errors are a necessity and that they should be embraced, is something we can apply to all aspects of life. Sometimes the destination we find ourselves in, is better than the one we initially thought we were heading towards. Art, much like living, is a journey of discovery. Taking risks, finding inspiration from all that surrounds us, and continuously striving to grow is what breeds the beautiful.
What are the differences and similarities you find in you work, and its overall effect, when working in 2D compared to 3D? 2D is more spontaneous for me. 3D is a sort of reproduction of a 2D portrait. I like the extra dimension because it allows me to see a different path for my portraits. I am working on a cabinet made out of a 3D one-line drawing.
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Some say art should be pain. But I think it should be fun. So always find the fun and keep doing it. 10
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Jonathan Calugi INTERVIEW WITH
JONATHAN CALUGI IS AN ITALIAN ILLUSTRATOR BASED IN PISTOIA.
From his self-proclaimed chaotic workspace, he creates clean illustrations and patterns for leading for numerous clients and for his self initiated projects. Each piece is a take on his quirky child-like doodles with clean minimal lines and simple, uncomplicated colors. Read more to find out what else he told Fluent about his work.
Photo by: Matt Kyle
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What originally made you want to become an illustrator / artist? I’ve loved to draw ever since I was a small child. now I usually play with color and forms but I never studied to become an illustrator. when I was young I was in a music group and drew our CD covers. my girlfriend suggested to put them all on a website, eventually people started to notice me and I started to do work for clients. I love my job and I think I’m very lucky to do what I do for a living, but I really need to draw and would do even if nobody asked me to. that’s probably why the projects I enjoy most to this day are my own projects.
What would you say is your strongest skill? To continually find a new starting point. if something is popular then clients start to ask you for something really similar to what you have done before. but since we
“ Enjoy and
spread love.
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are always changing as people it’s not easy be yourself and find passion to repeat yourself so you have to find new things to keep yourself passionate about the work. right now I’m trying to do more with less in my works.
What materials do you enjoy working with the most? I choose to use the computer as a self imposed limitation. in my life I’m really chaotic so I decide to use just a software like (adobe illustrator) and just stick to its line tools. cut, paste, draw, just this, no more than a line. I do enjoy to work with other materials and mediums like screen printing for example and I look forward to working with even more materials in the future.
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Do you have any superstitious beliefs or rules that you live by? Try to be happy. there is no time to be sad.
What’s your personal motto? Enjoy and spread love.
How do you think online design resources have influenced the art being produced today? They have increased the speed of reception. all over the world you can be updated in a single second on the world of design. Conversely it has standardized the production a lot. we are losing the idea of looking for uniqueness because people doing perfect work with the computer, I believe that the flaws are what makes something unique.
What are your thoughts on specialization vs generalization? Specializing means having an obsession. you live with it and sleep with it but I think it can become a cage of sorts. on the other hand being a generalist can lower the perceived value of the work. perhaps there are too many generalists today, at times the world can feel a bit superficial because of this. personally I believe that the solution is curiosity. no matter if you’re a specialist or a generalist, stay curious and you’ll produce valuable work.
How would you describe your approach? As going from from chaos to order, following my instincts, having fun and not taking myself too seriously.
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Who or what has been the biggest single influence on your way of thinking? My family – for me it’s very important. I grew up with the idea that everything is possible and I has been always free to express myself.
What’s the best piece of advice you have heard? Draw a smile. Last time that I saw my grand father he told me, the best things that you can do it’s just two dots and one line. draw a smile, it’s enough.
Has anything you have seen recently changed your views on art or design? Last month I saw yves klein’s piece ‘pure pigment’ at the 900 museum in milan and was totally fascinated by the power of the pure color. so simple but yet so powerful.
What are you passionate about besides your work? Basketball, good wine, good food, art galleries, music, cats and love.
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