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contributors Bremen W Millinery, Ian Wong, Cole T, Ckay Liow, Tze Shian, Emmy L, Tina Eisen, Jenny @ Profile Models, Nikki Wolff, Sam Burnett @ Hare and Bone, Lindsay Adler, Karmay Ngai @ Wilhelmina, Griselle Rosario by Ken Barboza, LSC Styling for 4Season Style Management, Emily Gualdoni, Madison Moss, Abby @ Factor Modeling Management, Iris Guevara, Heidy Best, Irvin Rivera, Kasimira Miller @ NEXT LA, Brian Valentine, Taryn Feldt, Brian Valentine, Aban Sonia, Benjamin Kui, Dar-
win Abad, Cody Lloyd, Paula Loos, Francis Gum, Jennifer Avello, Kat @ Factor Women Model Management, Andrea C Samuels @ Black Board Group Management, Ashley “ASTROWIFEY” Crowe, Rozen Antonio, Adam Roberts, Gyn Mendoza, Michael Amazona Del Mar, Martin Francis Medillo, Alexandra Gor, Akvile Jurksa @ Model Pool, Iryna Gor, Amanda Gift, Gina Nicole Vaia, Tony Yanez, Elena Lewis, Ahmad Barber, Karl Fielden @ Kevlar Rose Models, Shalawn Willis, Tre Baines, Carter James, Matt Licari, Anastasia @ One Management,
Nil Muir, Avian King for Davines, Lauren Temple, William Godwin, Jeff Glotzl, Damien Mohn, Andrielly Costa, Katia Ren, Iti @ Mademoiselle Agency, Yoan Perez, Svetlana Ivanova, Lou Tombe, Eva Gelly, Sarah Kali, Yoan Perez, Camille @ Mademoiselle Agency, AMarfoog, Omar Makeup Artist, Gino Eraña, Brian Dean, Mona Mohammadpoor, Kadir Nelson, Sonia Hensler, Bremen W Millinery, Moises Ramirez, Katarzyna Jagielnicka, Shannon Phelps
Volume 3; Issue 2; MAR/APR 2014
features Moises Ramirez NYC-based painter, makeup artist & visionary!
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THE BONES BOOK I
4
Bremen W Millinery Avant Garde Hat collection 2014
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sonia hensler We’re toally loving this artist’s modern, edgy take on fashion illustrations - mixture of the simple & the abstract!
42
KADIR NELSON
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Illustration by Sonia Hensler
Katarzyna Jagielnicka 20-year-old, self-taught illustrator from Poland.
Edit or’sNote
California-based painter/author, with works included in the public collections of notable institutions, as well as the private collections of several celebrities MHMP Mona Mohammadpoor talks about the artistry behind her brand, MHMP
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Brian Dean This super crafty artist manages to create masterpieces using a lighting concept through Triplex Glass. Cool, right?!
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GINO ERAñA We love “Gino Sunscreen “ & his super fun & unique fashion illustrations!
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on the cover CREDITS: Photography by: Damien Mohn, Model: Camille @ Mademoiselle Agency, Retouch: AMarfoog, Makeup: Omar Makeup Artist
Welcome to the issue where Art meets Fashion! It’s definitely been a long time coming! We are extremely excited to show our appreciation for the incredibly talented artists out there. We truly admire their passion & are constantly inspired by their amazing creativity. Our only regret is that we couldn’t feature more! Not only will you find some of our favorite painters & illustrators in this issue, but also, loads of fun, art-themed photography editorials! Enjoy!!!
- Shannon Phelps
mod Artist
Spotlight <<
Moises Ramirez Meet one of our favorite artists, Moises Ramirez - Painter, makeup artist, & visionary! Currently residing in New York City, this talented artist is constantly inspired by the fashion & beauty industries.
MOD: Tell us about where you grew up. Moises: I grew up in Sedona AZ. Sedona is a small and
very spiritual town. I was surrounded by nature and the most beautiful and breathtaking Red Rock formations. Now that I call NYC home, I appreciate it more.
MOD: When did you first discover your passion for art?
artists & why?
Moises: This is a hard question, there are so many. I love
Frida Kahlo’s abilityto bare her soul in her work. Also, Lucian Freud for his exquisite use of color and texture.
MOD: Describe your artistic process. What medium(s) do you use & why?
What inspired you to become the artist you are today? Moises: I have always loved color, even when I was very young. I started to draw in elementary school, but my life changed when I was introduced to painting in high school. I am continually inspired by my daily surroundings. I believe environments change and affect you somehow, both as a person and as the artist.
Moises: It is easier for me to focus when I work on mul-
MOD: Who are some of your favorite
Moises: Even though personally I don’t think I have a
tiple pieces or projects at once. I bounce back and forth, sometimes working on up to more than five at once. I tend to use all types of mediums. I don’t really limit myself.
MOD: How would you describe your aesthetic or artistic style?
style, people say they can recognize my work. I think my work has a subtle feel of a beauty or fashion illustration. Working in the beauty industry has definitely influenced my artwork. I mainly paint portraits. I try to capture a mood or feeling in every face using a certain color palette, choice of medium, textures and size. I feel now my art is moving towards a deconstructed version of beauty.
MOD: What is your favorite piece that you’ve ever created & why?
“
The day you fall in love with your work, you have failed as an artist.
”
Moises: Right now I don’t have a favor-
ite, most portraits I’ve painted have been my favorite at some point in time.
MOD: What has been the biggest highlight of your artistic career so far, and why? Moises: The realization that art can be my career. MOD: What are some of your goals?
Where would you like to see yourself & your art?
Moises: My main goal is to paint every single day. It is extremely hard to do so, but I continue to try even if it’s just one single stroke in a single color. I have been working as a full-time makeup artist for the past nine years. Even though I have approached makeup as an art medium, my new goal is to be an artist fulltime and start showing again. MOD: Tell us a fun fact about yourself. Moises: My partner and I adopted a
Boston Terrier puppy last summer! We
named him Charlie. MOD: What advice would you give to someone aspiring to become an artist? Moises: Some great advice one of my art teachers told me was “The day you fall in love with your work, you have failed as an artist.” At first I did not understand what he meant, but now I do. It’s perfectly okay to be your worst critic. Paint for personal fulfillment and not for fame. Do what you love daily. I suppose, I always continue to work on all of the above.
MOD: What is the best way for fans of your work to connect with you? Where can they find your work? Moises: I’ve been really trying to stay up on social media, I think as an artist you have to. I have a blog: moisesartnyc.tumblr.com as well as my site: moisesramirezart.com and Twitter/Instagram: @moisesartnyc. I hope to start showing again this year. I will be posting updates and details to highlight shows on my sites.
mother, whilst finishing her MA at Academy of Fine Arts, was pregnant with me. Naturally, after that, I went to study at the same academy. She was my inspiration.
MOD: Who are some of your favorite artists & why?
Sonia: I love many artists, usually extreme
in nature and working within myriad artistic forms. I admire Pierre Gagnaire, the three michelin starred French chef for his unconventional inventiveness. Musically, I listen to a lot of Esham, who is a pioneering and experimental rapper from Detroit. Within film, I am eternally inspired by Ridley Scottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blade Runner and as far as well known painters, I am very interested in Heironymous Bosch.
MOD: Describe your artistic process. What medium(s) do you use & why?
Sonia: I work mainly by hand using pencil or
inks and then finish using a computer. I work
sonia
hensler Sonia Hensler has found a great balance between simple & abstract. She totally draws you in, with her modern & edgy fashion illustrations! OD: Tell us about where you grew up.
Sonia: I grew up in
the South of Poland, in an old and lovely town called Bielsko-Biala, surrounded by mountains and lakes.
MOD: When did you first discover your
passion for art? What inspired you to become the artist you are today? Sonia: It was always in there. My dear
like this to keep a lot of the rough edges from my drawings whilst introducing contrasting elements created using digital means. I think this produces an interesting juxtaposition between modern and traditional.
MOD: How would you describe your aesthetic or artistic style?
Sonia: Slightly dark, quirky, playful, edgy, vic-
torianised, feminine, luxurious, indulgent, and sexy.
MOD: What is your favorite piece that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever created & why?
Sonia: Every piece I have created is the best for
me at the time. I am bored quickly and every new commission is exciting and challenging. One of the projects I was most happy with was for the Bionda Castana FW 13 campaign.
MOD: What has been the biggest highlight of your artistic career so far, and why?
mod Artist
Spotlight <<
Sonia: I like porn.
Sonia: I really enjoyed working on the interior
of Kensington Olympia for Pure Womenswear at London Fashion Week. It was amazing for me to see my work on huge banners and billboards.
MOD: What are some of your goals? Where would you like to see yourself & your art?
Sonia: I like to work large and I am also a great
interior design enthusiast. Recently, I have been producing bespoke wallpapers, murals and work on other unlikely formats such as chair covers and a private bar design. This is something I would be very excited to pursue in the future.
MOD: Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
“
be yourself, trust yourself and love yourself
”
MOD: What advice would you give to someone aspiring to become an artist?
Sonia: Be yourself, trust yourself and love
yourself. I am still working on it, hehe, it’s not easy!
MOD: What is the best way for fans of your
work to connect with you? Where can they find your work? Sonia: My website: www.soniahensler.com or some of my work is on my Facebook page. Limited editions of my prints can be bought here: www.artelimited. com/artists/sonia-hensler
mod Artist
Spotlight <<
brian
dean
We love artists who can create masterpieces with any given medium - & Brian Dean is certainly one of those artists! Using “The Lighting Concept,” Dean creates portaits on transparent Triplex Glass. How awesome is that?!
MOD: Tell us about where you grew up. Brian: I was born and brought up in Mauritius, an island
touch with simplicity in her creative editorials. Street Art: Bansky - I like how he uses humor and sarcasm to show real life facts.
MOD: When did you first discover your passion for art?
MOD: Describe your artistic process. What medium(s) do you use & why? Brian: I usually work with everything and anything as long as it’s not common. I hate reproductive art, or using common medium. I feel that my creativity comes with a trial and error process with new mediums. For example, I do black and white photography with a Nikon FM10 (35mm film) and print on 2mm hard PVC Sheets which change the entire feeling and texture of the photographs. Those trials lead me to create my own concept, The Lighting Concept. The idea was to use the primary elements of photography, i.e Light. Minimized car lights are used as puzzle and patterns with varying transparencies and shadows in different fashion photos as well as portraits, thus resulting in an image with embedded pattern of colorful lights. A mosaic
about 2000km east of the South African coast.
What inspired you to become the artist you are today? Brian: I’ve studied art since my school time, but had never thought of becoming an artist or evolving in the creative field until one day I got interested in Advertising. More precisely, the creation of adverts, how specific colors or text could play on the reader’s mind - that attracted me and pushed me to sketch again and add hidden messages in my doodles.
MOD: Who are some of your favorite artists & why? Brian: Oh, I have several favorite artists, depending on
the category. Photography wise, Hedi Slimane - He captures the essence of the model with a neat black & white shade Creativity: Grace Coddington - A fine and luxury
mod Artist
>> Spotlight
medium possible.
MOD: What is your favorite piece that you’ve ever created & why? Brian: Marilyn Monroe’s Portrait in a lighting concept, because of her smile. MOD: What has been the biggest high-
light of your artistic career so far, and why? Brian: I’m a freelance Art Director, I create advertising concepts for corporates and also create and develop new artistic concepts. People recognizing my creativity and asking me to develop new concepts for them is the highlight of my career.
MOD: What are some of your goals?
Where would you like to see yourself & your art?
has “aeveryone creative &
artistic mind, it’s just the way we use it that’s different
”
Brian: I would like to be Creative Di-
rector for a leading fashion magazine, spreading my art through my concepts, creating art awareness in people and adding colors to the actual monotonous society.
portrait made up of tiny car lights. My additional creative touch was to print them on Transparent Triplex Glass, thus, allowing any source of light at the back of the artworks to go through and give a color projection of the portraits. Also, according to the light shades passing through, the artworks get interactive and start changing colors. A blue printed artwork with a red light going through will make it look purple, or a red printed artwork with yellow light will make it look orange.
MOD: How would you describe your
aesthetic or artistic style? Brian: I’m a creative artist, my artistic style will be how to make new artworks with the weirdest and most uncommon
MOD: Tell us a fun fact about yourself. Brian: Haha, what to say? I’m basically
a French speaker, so when I talk in English a lot of my friends and colleagues usually make fun of my accent.
MOD: What advice would you give to someone aspiring to become an artist? Brian: I think that everyone has a creative and artistic mind, it’s just the way we use it that is different. So, “Break the rules!” MOD: What is the best way for fans of your work to connect with you? Where can they find your work? Brian: Contact me by Mail: Brian.Dean@ mail.com and/or Facebook: www.facebook.com/Brian.Dean1002
mod Artist
>> Spotlight
MOD chats with 20-year-old, self-taught illustrator, Katarzyna Jagielnicka. Having mastered both traditional & digital illustration at such a young age, the futureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s certainly bright for this talented Polish artist!
Katarzyna
Jagiel nicka
“Barbara Palvin”
“Let’s Play”
m
mod Artist
OD: Tell us about where up.
you
grew
Spotlight <<
Katarzyna: I grew
up in Wroclaw, in Poland, with my parents and older brother.
MOD: When did you first discover your
passion for art? What inspired you to become the artist you are today? Katarzyna: Quite frankly, I was always somehow passionate about art. There is no particular reason for the direction in which my passions and interests have developed. Although, I do admit that it has all partially begun with my family, especially with my mother, who is an architect, and was always encouraging me to express myself both artistically and personally.
“les fleurs du mal”
“Vanitas”
MOD: Who are some of your favorite artists & why?
Katarzyna: Currently, I’m inspired by
a really wide range of artists, mostly including fashion illustrators like Dawid Downton, Laura Laine, Kelly Smith, Danny Roberts or illustrators like Audrey Kawasaki. In general, I appreciate all art that is beautiful and mesmerizing, simultaneously remaining elegant and subtle.
MOD: Describe your artistic process. What medium(s) do you use & why?
Katarzyna: I usually start off my works using traditional tools, mostly pencils and ink, and then I scan them and apply fur-
style “ismymostly
influenced with minimalistic fashion aesthetics
”
ther editing in Photoshop, for instance I add some colors, textures and so on. I prefer this mixture of both traditional and digital mediums mainly because of its practicality, although it also gives me far broader spectrum in terms of style choice.
MOD: How would you describe your
aesthetic or artistic style? Katarzyna: My style is mostly influenced with minimalistic fashion aesthetics, I use a quite narrow scope of colors and forms. I try to keep it as classy and simple as possible.
MOD: What is your favorite piece that you’ve ever created & why? Katarzyna: It’s rather hard to pick any favorite from my works, but as for the recent ones I’d choose work called “Sweetheart”. I cannot think of an exact reason why I especially like this piece, but I do. MOD: What has been the biggest highlight of your artistic career so far, and why? Katarzyna: So far my biggest highlight would be an exhibition in London Underground that took place few years ago. I was the youngest artist that has ever exhibited in this particular venue, and for that I still feel extremely proud of myself.
mod Artist
MOD: What are some of your goals? Where
>> Spotlight
would you like to see yourself & your art?
Katarzyna: It’s very hard for me to clearly
establish my goals and hopes for the future, as I work and study in different areas and fields, not only the artistic ones. For sure I’d love to combine all of my passions, and have the ability to pursue my career in regard of all my interests. As for the purely artistic ambitions, I’d love to become a creative director someday.
MOD: Tell us a fun fact about yourself. Katarzyna: That’s a hard one, but I guess I could mention that I don’t like chocolate.
MOD: What advice would you give to someone aspiring to become an artist? Katarzyna: My advice would be very simple: If you truly love it, just never stop trying. MOD: What is the best way for fans of your work to connect with you?
Katarzyna: My works are spread all over
the internet, including social media like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, but they can also be found on various artistic sites. For more direct contact the best way is reaching me through my private Facebook account, or via email.
“on fire”
“Violet”
if you “truly love
it, just never stop trying
“let it go”
”
“Sweetheart”
mod Artist
>> Spotlight
kadir
Nelson
California-based artist/author, Kadir Nelson is well-known for his intensely expressive illustrations, which interweave images of African American history. Painting for stars like Drake and Michael Jackson (for his posthumous “MICHAEL” album cover) with works included in the collections of the U.S. House of Representatives and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, it seems, Nelson has done it all! Find out what’s next for this incredible talent in our brief one-on-one, below!
OD: Tell us about where you grew up.
Kadir: I was born in Silver Spring,
upon seeing the brilliant artwork of a talented classmate and fellow basketball teammate, I made the decision to pursue what I loved most—painting.
MD, but grew up in Atlantic City, NJ and San Diego, CA. I’ve always been surrounded by a very loving and supportive family. Most of my family is on the east coast, so we were pretty much on our own when we moved to California. I returned to the east coast every so often to visit family and study art from my uncle Michael Morris, an artist and a teacher.
DaVinci, Michelangelo, Klimt, and Gauguin. I’m also a fan of Sargent, Eakins, Barnes, Tanner, Cornwell, the Wyeths, Rockwell, Zorn, Lipking, and many others. I’m a great fan of craftsmanship, controlled palette, subtlety, and attention to detail.
MOD: When did you first discover your passion for
MOD: Describe your artistic process. What medium(s)
art? What inspired you to become the artist you are today? Kadir: I can’t remember not loving art. Both of my parents had drawing talent and I drew everyday. My studies with my uncle motivated me to become very serious about pursuing a career in art. Although I had plenty of support, I initially chose to study architecture in college—mostly out of the fear of becoming a starving artist. However, after one semester of architecture and
MOD: Who are some of your favorite artists & why? Kadir: I love the work of great European artists like
do you use & why?
Kadir: My process is very straightforward. I create
sketches, compile research and find or create supporting visual reference, create an under painting, go to finish, and then refine. I sometimes use models, but usually, I will serve as the model. I paint with oils primarily. It’s a very versatile medium and the slow drying time is great for my process.
MOD: How would you describe your aesthetic or artistic style? Kadir: I describe my artistic style as figurative and emotional. MOD: What is your favorite piece that
• Josh Gibson and Mighty Josh • Nothing Was the Same • Richard Wright • La Madona I love the way these paintings make me feel when I look at them. I feel peaceful.
Kadir: I have a few favorites. I usually
MOD: What has been the biggest high-
you’ve ever created & why?
say my next painting is my favorite, but if I had to choose, I’ll name a few: • Marvin Gaye • A Hole in the Roof
light of your artistic career so far, and why? Kadir: I have a few of these as well. Unveiling the Shirley Chisholm portrait at
the Capitol Building; meeting and getting to know Ernie Barnes, speaking to Michael Jackson on the phone, having dinner with Hank Aaron and his family, everything about the We Are the Ship experience, receiving awards, having paintings acquired by museums, etc. But mostly, my biggest highlight is that my work is not a job and I love it.
playing basketball.
MOD: What are some of your goals?
Where would you like to see yourself & your art? Kadir: I’d like to expand my base of collectors worldwide, and continue exhibiting in galleries and museums across the globe.
MOD: Tell us a fun fact about yourself. Kadir: I’m a Scrabble addict and love
MOD: What advice would you give to someone aspiring to become an artist?
Kadir: I’d advise aspiring artists to
busy themselves with the act of learning and honing their craft. Aspire to excellence and mastery. Draw and paint what you love, and never stop being creative. It’s the key to happiness.
MOD: What is the best way for fans of
your work to connect with you? Where can they find your work? Kadir: www.kadinrnelson.com or social media (facebook, instagram, twitter, etc.), of course. You can also find my work at Hearne Fine Art in April (www. hearnefineart.com) RJD Galleries in Sag Harbor, NY in July (www.rjdgallery. com).
mod Artist
>> Spotlight
Learn more about Mona Mohammadpoor, the creative genius behind the edgy design brand, MHMP!
mhmp
m
OD: Tell us about
where you grew up. Mona: I grew up in the northern part of Sweden, a small town called SkellefteĂĽ. I enjoyed every second I had with my friends, family and the piece of mind I had for this city. Everyone knew everyone. But when I turned 19, I felt I wanted to do something different in my life than just stand still at the same place and not have gotten anywhere. I was very stressed already in that age and wanted to be something. So I moved to another city and began to study art. This was very difficult, it was not until now I would think about who I was and what I wanted to do. The only thing I had in my mind was that I wanted to discover the world and I really did. I have been away f r o m
home for 7 years now.
MOD: When did you first discover your passion for art? What inspired you to become the artist you are today? Mona: I started drawing at a very early age and it was really fun, but also peaceful. When I met my grandmother for the first time, we sat down and drew together, She was so talented. She inspired me and I wanted to be as good as she was. So I practiced and practiced. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where I got my motivation from, I was only 5-6 years old. MOD: Who are some of your
favorite artists & why? Mona: I find my inspiration from a variety of artists, photographers, graphic designers, & fashion magazines - but I also look much on interior design. My favorite artists are Cassandra Rhodin and Stina Persson. T h e s e Swedi s h
mod Artist
women inspire me and motivate me to continue making art. Powerful works that have a feminine element, which I really love.
>> Spotlight
MOD: How would you describe your aesthetic or artistic style?
Mona: I would describe my de-
sign aesthetic as calm, structured, but also a little chaotic - Just like me! My style has recently become more and more feminine and modern. I’m trying to create fashionable prints.
MOD: What is your favorite piece that you’ve ever created & why?
Mona: What I am most proud of is
the two perfume bottles Elie Saab and Flowerbomb by Victor & Rolf. These illustrations were the most difficult, but also the most fun I have illustrated. Would I make a new perfume bottle? No, I do not think so haha, it takes too much time and I’m a very stressful person.
I would “describe my
design aesthetic as calm, structured, but also a little chaotic - Just like me!
”
you can do “whatever you want as long as you are passionate about it
”
MOD: What has been the biggest highlight of your artistic career so far, and why? Mona: I have illustrated for a few years but it is only now that I have given 100%. Two months ago, I started instagramming, mostly for my own sake, but also to see if there was someone who liked my illustrations. Now I’m here and I sell my paintings in an interior design store. I do collaborations with fashion designers and, in two months, I will have my own exhibition opening where I will be selling my paintings. My vernissage is the biggest thing that has happened to me and has always been a dream, and now it will come true. MOD:
What are some of your goals? Where would you like to see yourself & your art? Mona: My goal is of course to enable me to support myself on my art, but also to spread my art to more stores, have my own webshop
and maybe create my own clothing line with my prints.
MOD: Tell us a fun fact about yourself. Mona: I am a sucker for candy, I basi-
cally eat candy every day and sometimes I even eat candy for breakfast or dinner. Could live on just candy - and sushi of course!
MOD: What advice would you give to someone aspiring to become an artist?
Mona: I know it sounds cliché, but you
can do whatever you want as long as you are passionate about it. There is a time for everything and right now this is my time. It’s been a long road but you should never give up!
MOD: What is the best way for fans of your work to connect with you?
Mona: Right now, I exist on instagram
@designbymhmp where I am active and give my followers inspiration. If you want to only see my prints, you can check out my website: www.mhmp.se.
mod Artist
>> Spotlight
Gino Eraña This young fashion illustrator is certainly one to watch! “Gino Sunscreen” has developed an incredibly intriguing & unique style. Draping his muses in Snicker’s wrappers & Chanel bottles, we can only wonder what he’ll draw up next!
OD: Tell us about
where you grew up. Gino: I grew up in Manila, Philippines. My family has a modest but comfortable home. I live in close proximity with a lot of my friends. I would describe my life as comfortable, but not to an excess.
MOD: When did you first discover your passion for art? What inspired you to become the artist you are today? Gino: I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. Illustration has served as a personal escape from my conventional lifestyle. At an early age, it was quite clear to me that art was going to be an integral part of my life.Fashion and design have always been such an accessible reference for me. It was so easy for me to take and apply inspiration into my own art. These catalysts have been instrumental in my
personal and artistic development.
MOD: Who are some of your favorite artists and why?
Gino: I enjoy the art of surrealists such
as Salvador Dali, Marcel Duchamp, and Max Ernst. I’ve obviously been influenced by them based on my illustrations. In fashion illustration, I tend to favor artists with very a distinct style and aesthetic. The most notable and contemporary example I can think of is Hayden Williams. His illustrations clearly have their own identity. He has greatly influenced the image of fashion illustration in social media. I’ve also encountered a lot of relatively undiscovered talented fashion illustrators on Instagram such as Matthew Antony Cooper, Sylvia Wah, Eli San Juan, Pinodesk, and Marko Obradovic, to name a few.
MOD: Describe your artistic process.
What medium(s) do you use and why? Gino: My design process relies heavily on conceptualization. I prefer to sketch when I have a very clear and fluid image of my inspiration. Luckily, I find that I get inspired by pretty much any random thing I encounter throughout my day. I also like to draw inspiration from my childhood which explains my tendency to incorporate a lot of 90s cartoons in my illustrations. My drawing process is fairly casual. I just draw on paper with designer markers and colored pencils much like a designer would. I take a picture of the drawing with my camera phone and minimally post-process with an app. I like to keep my process simple and my drawing time short.
MOD: How would you describe your aesthetic or style?
Gino: My drawing style is geared to-
wards design illustration rather than
pure artwork. My drawings always attempt to communicate more of the concept and design of a garment. Visually, I prefer a hand-drawn appearance to my illustrations. I also tend to somewhat stylize and exaggerate them. I like to cycle between humorous and dark, moody themes.
MOD: What is your favorite piece that
you’ve ever created and why? Gino: I don’t really have any particular favorites. If pressed, I’d have to answer with my bridal illustrations. There’s something about fantasy wedding scenarios that just enthrall me.
MOD: What has been the biggest high-
light of your artistic career so far and why? Gino: The highlight of my young career has definitely been the recognition I’ve received from renowned people I’ve
drawn such as Tyra Banks, Hayden Williams, and Lisa Eldridge. I love to illustrate individuals who inspire me. It’s fulfilling to know that I was able to connect and share a piece of myself with these people in my own way.
MOD: What are some of your goals?
Where would you like to see yourself and your art? Gino: I’ve achieved my goal of creating an outlet for myself to express my ideas. I find fulfillment when I inspire, spark interest, or simply make people laugh or feel something through my work. Hopefully I’ll be able to achieve a more substantial platform to keep sharing my concepts.
MOD: Tell us a fun fact about yourself. Gino: A lot of people ask why my user-
name is “ginosunscreen”. I’m simply a pale boy who loves to collect sunscreens
for skin protection. I like to use a variety of formulations to battle the tropical Philippine weather. I’m very much into skincare as well.
MOD: What advice would you give to
someone aspiring to become an artist? Gino: Don’t follow trends. Draw what you want to draw and keep going at it. You can watch all the tutorials you want, but if you don’t put in the time to practice and develop yourself, you can’t really expect much. Post your work for others to see. What is your art if it isn’t seen?
MOD: What is the best way for fans of
your work to connect with you? Where can they find your artwork? Gino: I post my work on Instagram and Tumblr under the username “ginosunscreen”. I’ve put up my e-mail address as well.