Stylized Magazine Spreads

Featured Artists Winner of the Young Guns X Award The up and coming artist from Madrid The multi-talented artist cheering up NYC The American Modernist artist who started it all The artist that has worked with virtually every major national agency

November 2012  styl ized  15

blanca gomez the up and coming illustrator from Madrid

16  stylized  November 2012

b

lanca Gómez lives and works in Madrid, Spain.

She is an illustrator and graphic designer. Her

website is called "cosas mínimas,” which means "tiny things" in Spanish. Simple things inspire her and her work, which has been described as "colourful” and "whimsical.” She works on projects ranging from editorial comissions, interior design, stationery, books and advertising.

November 2012 styl ized 17

Q&A

blanca gomez WITH

Where are you from originally?

I am originally from Madrid and that is where I currently reside. I am always saying that I’d like to move somewhere else for at least a while, but here I am. I suppose underneath it all Madrid isn’t so bad.

Tell us a bit about your art/design background. Where did you study?

When I was little I would draw all day long like many kids do and my parents enrolled me in a painting academy. I would always say that I wanted to be a painter, but as I grew older I didn’t

raphy and film through my fourth year,

but well worth it in the end. One month

see it as a feasible option and the idea

which I spent in Milan. It was in Milan

after finishing college and my design

faded. When it was time to head to col-

that I became interested in graphic

coursework I began working for a small

lege I wasn’t clear what I wanted to do

design. I remember attending an eye-

graphic design studio that was mainly

with my life. I had always considered drawing a hobby, but never imagined it as one that

“I suppose that everything that surrounds me and everything that I like inspires me inevitably.”

could earn me a living. Instead I chose

opening exhibition of Milton Glaser’s

to study Publicity because I thought

work and somehow finally figuring out

it would lend itself to creativity and

what I should do. When I returned to

aide in my professional development,

Madrid I enrolled in evening classes at

but I soon realized that Publicity was

a design school while I wrapped up my

not for me. I continued my studies, but

publicity studies. I was in classes all day

explored other alternatives like photog-

until 11 P.M. and it was very exhausting

18 stylized November 2012

dedicated to the production of busi-

issue and now I fear I won’t see it again.

ness literature. That is where I learned

The best part is that my work was on

to work in a very rigorous and precise

the cover of a fantastic magazine, but

manner. I’ve been working for graphic

I feel honored more than proud. On

design studios for seven years now.

another note, I’ve just finished a series of greeting cards for Carrie and Hal of

When did Cosas Minimas begin?

Red Cap (they’re lovely people). They

Cosas Minimas got its start several

asked to use existing works, but when

years ago in a very curious way. I was

I proposed new illustrations for them

working for another graphic design

they accepted and gave me free reign

studio at the time and was in the habit

when it came time to work. I think this

of constantly drawing on post-its. Most

will be obvious when you see the final

of the drawings ended up in my waste-

results. I am very happy with the final

basket and my boss would tell me that I

product and recently had a chance to

should do something with those draw-

Having a site dedicated to my per-

ings, but I never paid much attention.

sonal projects forced me to learn more

One day he simply told me that he had

and more. As time went on I began

chosen a name for my website and pur-

dedicating more time and effort into

chased it for me. So it just naturally

Cosas Minimas. That is how my first

morphed out of what was once merely

commissions and collaborations came

a hobby at work.

about, always via the web, until finally

view some samples. They left a great

my hobby became my primary job. It’s How has Cosas Minimas grown?

not like I had a plan or predetermined

What was initially meant to be a per-

objective, it just happened. These days

sonal project gradually and naturally

Cosas Minimas continues on its unde-

turned into a professional project.

fined path; dividing my time between personal projects, the store, and commercial commissions. impression and I can’t wait to see the Can you tells us about any projects

real thing. Generally I feel most proud

you’ve been involved in that you’re

of my personal projects. over my com-

particularly proud of?

mercial projects.

It’s not a project in the strictest sense, but I was very flattered that

What inspires you most?

Janine Vangool chose an illustration

To be sincere, I’m not too certain what

of mine for the cover of the first issue

inspires me. I suppose that everything

of Uppercase Magazine . I had never

that surrounds me and everything that

before seen my work featured on the

I like inspires me inevitably. I’m a huge

cover of a magazine much less the first

collector of objects and books.

November 2012 styl ized 19

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the multi-talented artist cheering up NYC

Julia Rothman is a illustrator and pattern designer located in Brooklyn New York. You can find her designs on various products for Urban Outfitters Artist Series, on stationery for Hello!

Lucky, and on a new line of wallpapers for Hygge & West. Her illustrations have appeared in The New York Times, Details magazine and on a line of puzzles for Kid O. She is also part of an award winning three person design company called Also. For fun she has a blog about art books called Book by its Cover.

November 2012  styl ized  21

Q&A

JULIA ROTHMAN WITH

How and when did you first become

kool, even Transformers. Jess wanted

Icon page. Every issue they wrote the

me to check out Surtex (Surface tex-

history of a different NY icon. After I

tile trade show) one year with her to

did that first illustration and it worked

see the trends in the market and I saw

out well, it became a regular job. For

individual designers selling patterns

about 5 years I continued illustrating

they made. It gave me the idea to try

that back page.

making patterns with my own drawings and selling them to companies.

interested in art and illustration?

You recently completed The Exquisite Book, which is a contemporary

I always liked to draw since I as far back

What was your first illustration gig?

take on a Surrealist game. What

as I can remember. I used to win a lot of

I interned at City magazine the summer

inspired you to create this book?

drawing contests in elementary school.

before my junior year at RISD. They

Jenny, Matt and I played the exquisite

It was never the thing I was going to do

gave me my first real illustration job,

corpse game all through art school. I

with my life, but it was always some-

which was a full-page drawing of a NYC

was visiting them in Chicago and we

thing I was good at. In high school, I

coffee cup. It was for the back page of

were sitting in a coffee shop, as usual,

didn’t take art class until senior year

the magazine, which they called the

trying to think of an interactive project

because of my schedule. I only applied to one art school, RISD, after someone suggested it to me. When I got in, I took it more seriously and decided that was what I wanted.

What attracted and inspired you to designing patterns?

After graduating school I got hired to work on the style guide for My Little Pony. The art director, who is now one of my close friends- Jess Rosenkranzwanted me to try making patterns for the guide for licensing applications. It sort of came naturally and I made many more than she asked for just because it was so fun. At the time I was just using the computer and drawing in Illustrator. I started making patterns for many of the other Hasbro guides as well, The Littlest Pet Shop, Plays22 stylized November 2012

for my blog. That’s when we thought

Do you prefer hand drawn or digital

Who or what has had the greatest

it would be fun to play a variation of

since your work uses both?

influence on your work?

the exquisite corpse game. Once the

The digital vector style is kind of like

I had the whole Sweet Pickle Books

idea got more fleshed out, it seemed

leftovers. I graduated school doing that

series as a kid. The style uses thin line

like it would be better as a book than

style and worked in it for many years

drawings and flat color, super whim-

as an online project so we casually

never really loving it. The hand drawn

sically drawn. Looking through those

approached Chronicle about it. They

style was developing in my more per-

pages now I realized these might have

loved the idea.

sonal work. Finally, when I was con-

had a huge influence on how I draw.

fident, I started working in the hand One hundred artists participated in

drawn style more professionally.

the making of The Exquisite Book.

How did you find most of the artists?

What illustrators do you admire?

The internet has made it so easy to

I love art that looks like it’s for kids but

learn about new artists. We are con-

it’s really for adults. All my very favorite

stantly bookmarking artists we like.

artists can fit in that category — Marcel

Plus I had developed relationships with

Dzama, Maira Kalman, Keiko Minami.

artists because of my book blog, Book

There’s hundreds more. Luckily I got

By Its Cover, so it has made it easier

to work with so many of them on The

to approach them about participating.

Exquisite Book.

November 2012 styl ized 23

CHARLEYHARPER The American Modernist Artist that changed it all.

PHOTO CREDIT: BOB SMITH

C

harley Harper's unique minimalist aproach is unmistakeable. From his groundbreaking

mid-century illustrations for Ford Times Magazine and Golden Books, his impeccably composed posters for the National Parks and other wildlife organizations, and to his whimsical serigraph and giclée prints, Charley Harper's art is a beloved treasure and an inspiration to an entire generation of artists and designers.

November 2012 styl ized 25

Q&A

with

CHARLEY HARPER What is your process in creating

or two to the process. I tried so hard

bird watcher. That’s my dirty little

each painting?

to make this painting the best thing

secret. I do all my bird watching in

I start with a sketch. For the Lab’s

I’ve ever done, which is a measure of

bird guides. Usually, before I start

painting, I cut out a lot of bird

how important it is to me.

painting I look at how everyone else has interpreted birds. If I can, I do

shapes and pushed them around until I was sure they were where I

Your works portray the essence of

look at birds. (I will even stoop to do

wanted them to be. This let me try

birds well. Are you a bird watcher?

that sometimes!) I have trouble seeing

different combinations and different

Over time I have developed an

how birds look from below, so I also

compositions very easily, and then,

enjoyment of birds. After I found

use study skins.

when I finally decided where to put

out what a feeding station was, I got

In the early ‘60s I was asked by

them, I stuck them down with rubber

one and started drawing birds. But

Golden Press to illustrate the Golden

cement. That gave me the basis for the

they wouldn’t sit still. I found a bird

Book of Biology, which was published

painting. The problem is that I kept

guide by Don Eckelberry and realized

in 1961, followed by The Animal

wanting to make changes and every

that was all I needed--those birds

Kingdom, published in 1968. This

time I did that it added another hour

didn’t move. I’m the world’s worst

was my first education in nature, and it’s gone on from there. Now I read about birds and watch them around my house.

I love the unique and entertaining essays accompanying each work.

When did you develop this style?

I started doing captions when I was working for the Ford Times magazine in the 1950s. The first one or two groups of birds--backyard birds and maybe the next one--were written

by E. B. White. He didn’t want to do them anymore, so they asked if I would like to. I took off from his style,

FORD TIMES FEATURE 1975

26 stylized November 2012

then added my own awful puns, too.

CARDINAL WITH BERRIES 1954

They loved them. And that’s how it came about that I was a writer.

I’ve always enjoyed puns--they are the purest form of creativity. Taking two words never connected, and making a new creation--that equals creation at its purest. I’m constantly thinking of puns all the time. If it’s a good pun, I’ll make a picture for it. Sometimes I will wake

“

I’ve always enjoyed puns they are the purest form of creativity.”

TUFTED TITMOUSE 1954

up at 3:00 a.m. with an idea for a pun and write it down. Later, I may turn that pun into a painting.

If you could sum up your artwork in one sentence, what would you say?

I don’t count the feathers in the wings, I just count the number of wings.

Charley Harper passed away at the age of 84 on June 10, 2007. He will be greatly missed.

November 2012 styl ized 27