Today’s interview is with Spanish illustrator Charuca.  She’s one of the fews Europeans  that are in the Kawaii Market, market that began to be huge few years ago. Recently, Charuca become a brand and has entered in the licensing world. Be aware! The invasion of Cuties has begun! And if you don’t know what mean kawaii, Charuca is the owner of a blog magazine, which is all about kawaii and cute culture. Can’t speak Spanish? Believe you me, sometimes cuteness doesn’t need words. I love her character designs.  Her licensing brand has its own website.

What does a licensing illustrator actually do?

Actually, I don’t feel myself like a Licensing illustrator, but as an illustrator and designer. In my daily work, I do everything, creating new graphics, product designs, and some advertisement work. I take care of promoting my websites, try to stay in touch with the followers of Charuca. I love my job, but there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything I’d like to do.

What is your background?

I’m self -taught. I always had it inside, I just had to let it out.

How long have you been in the illustration industry and how did you start?

It’s been 4 years since I exclusively work in illustration. I’ve always drawn but as hobby.

How would you define your style?

Cutie

What’s are your influence?

A mix of oriental pop culture and occidental

How do you get inspire? How do you feed your creativity?

I get inspired with the things that I live with everyday. Barcelona is a big city to live inspired. Plus, I think that being happy is a good way to feel inspired and do a good job.

Have you been stuck creatively? What’s your remedy to get past it? When being stuck creatively, I think the best is to stop working and do something fun. In those cases, I try to disconnect and have a good time. Inspiration comes and goes.

How do you work? (the process)

I draw with a pencil. Once the design is done, I scanne it and vectorize and color it with my computer.

Mac or pc? Software used:

Mac. Illustrator and Photoshop

Favorite material to draw:

Technical pencil and sketchbook

Your favourite place to work:

My work table with my favorite music. I don’t like workin out of my space. I like to work in the calm.

What are your current projects?

I just find a nice office to work in there. My current project is to decorate it until I get the look I always dream for my own studio. I’m so thrilled!

Your favourite artists:

Nara, Colonel Moutarde, Anna Chambers, Lilidoll, Leo Espinosa, Helena García, Paula Sanz Caballero…

The kawaii trend is relatively new in Europe compare to Japan, was it difficult to impose your way of drawing?

The fact that the kawaii trend isn’t huge in Europe helps me out in some ways, but in others no. There are less artists in this market therefore there is less competition and more exposure. But on the other hand, less work too, and that is negative part.

You just start licensing the brand Charuca . Are you only going to work as a licensing artist from now on?

I’ll keep on doing the same as ever. A part of time will for professional project and the other part for artistic/personal project. I do not consider myself as a licensing artist.

If you had one tip to give for those who want to work in this industry, what would it be?

Work hard every day. Get a style that stand you out from the crowd. Enjoy your work and everything will come. ^___^

She’s a Canadian photograph living in France. A lot of her work is with children and pregnant women. Her work is beautiful. Look at her website and don’t forget to check out her Flickr

I’m writting this post to inform, that the original, book jacket of the book of Kokomoina Bacar Tabibou, that I talked about in a previous post , has been modified and change without my permission, and although it does put my name as the illustrator, I didn’t do it.   The one on the left is the original that I made, the one on the right was modified - the girl was cut out of the illustration.

How about drawing your own christmas card, this year? Can’t draw? How about learning from Jon Gnagy, one of the best drawing teacher ?

For those who still don’t know it, Loony mag the second issue of the brand new  home decor magazine online is out! And it’s just brillant. I really like the article about the J.Crew, though I’m not sure if what I prefer the in store or the clothes and I loved the picture of Lisa fine’s parisian flat. Oh, and by the way you can view the mag in full screen, so enjoy your reading and have a nice week end!

She is one of the reasons why I decide to give a try to Adobe illustrator. Born in Colombia, living in now in Barcelona, her work is known worldwide. Her illustrations are really colorful, bright and full of life. Check out her website.

Not so long ago, an Ikea opened where I live, so when you talk about Sweden it’s the first name that come out. But there are so much more, so I decide to digg a bit. And I found the duo Susanna Zacke, a stylist and Sania Hedengren an interior decorator.Ijust love how they mix bright color with white.

This is hilarious and cute but sadly so true… (and not only for graphic designer,right?)

Today’s interview is with Sophie Verhills the French children illustrator and softies designer behind Girafette. Her creations are the reflections of herself, sweet and full of life. Although, she does not mention it in the interview, Girafette is a green business, not only her creations are hand made with mostly recicle material, but 3 % of her benefit goes to WWF.

You are a children illustrator and a softies designer. What do you prefer and why?
I think I like both activities in the same way… I’ve began to create softies and other little things when I didnt have enough illustrations contracts, and it became as much as an addiction for me as drawing is.

What is your background?
I passed a BAC Arts Appliqués and a DMA in animated films at l’ESAAT in Roubaix (north of France) and as many young people right after their studies, I needed to work very quickly… So I’ve made a « contrat de qualification » in a local ad agency, and I learned to use softwares like photoshop or illustrator. I fell in love with photoshop, and now it’s my favorite medium (if I can call it a medium )

How long have you been in the illustration industry and how did you start?
I’ve been a children illustrator for 7 years now, and I’ve started at the end of my contract in the ad agency. I was unemployed, and I thought it was the good moment to be my own boss !

How would you define your style?
I think I can say that my work is colorfull, fun and full of happyness !

What’s are your influence?
I like the work of Nadia Berkane and Cécile Hudrisier (they are children illustrators too) I appreciate a lot the comics strip and sense of humour of Margaux Mottin…

I think japanese goodies inspire me too, a lot, all things which are kawaï , for kids, are good for my mind !

How do you get inspire? How do you feed your creativity?
As I’ve just said, I like cutty things, and my office is full of softies, toys, and all little decorative things who make my day !
I like animated films too, and i appreciate childrens tv for that. Programmes are sometimes full of graphic ingeniousness, and makes that I would working more !

Have you been stuck creatively? What’s your remedy to get past it?
Oh yes, all artists are in front of a blanc page sometimes, and it’s horrible ! When I am in this situation, I try to begin to draw, even if it’s not at all good drawings… Or I look after some inspiration in books, or illustrations I like, an this could help a lot !

How do you work? (the process)
Usually I begin my work by searching some documentation in books or on internet. It could help to know how an animal is, for faces expressions, for background too. Then I begin some sketches, and quickly I make a composition with caracters and background. I show my sketches to my customer, and I modify my draws if in case of necessary. After that, I clean my draws and digitize them, and I color them on my computer. Taddaaaaa !!

Mac or pc? Software used:
I love Mac, but pc are less expensive…So I work on pc ! I use Photoshop a lot, but Illustrator too, and Quark Xpress.

Favourite material to draw:
A pencil, a gum, and a lot of tea when I’m not awaked well ! 
Your favourite place to work:
I like to be well installed when I’m drawing, a good armchair is a necessity, with a big table where I can put all my material ! Sometimes I like work on my sofa, but it’s not good for my back…

What are your current projects?
I’m working on a lot of very different things : logos, posters, children magazines, flyers, for a children clothing collection too, and website ! I like this diversity !

Your favourite artists:
Oh, I think I’ve already say it before, no ?

Girafette is got now is own shop and what can you say about it?
Im’ very proud of my new online shop ! This new version is more colorfull and clear, practical too. I just hope customers will feel the same…

And finally, If you had one tip to give for those who want to work in this industry, what would it be?
Ouhlala, it’ so hard to give tips for this ! I think people who wants to do this job need to know that it’s not so easy… You have to be more than an illustrator or a creator, you should be a commercial, an accountant, a secretary, a technician… And sometimes months or years are very long, because it can be long before getting a contract ! But if it’s really a passion, you really have to follow your dream.

and for those who speak french, or would love to, go and check her blog