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