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WHEN I CAME TO GALICIA I LEARNT A LOT OF THINGS. HOW? ASKING.
I MET INCREDIBLE PEOPLE WITH INCREDIBLE LIVES. THEN I THOUGHT: WHY NOT MAKING INTERVIES TO SOME OF THEM? I FOUND SOME FUNNY JOBS, NOT AS USUAL AS OTHERS, AND THEN I DECIDED TO TALK TO THEM, TO MAKE INTERVIEWS TO THEM. IN TOWN I MET AN ENGRAVER, AND ALSO AN ILLUSTRATOR. I WENT TO THEM, AND THEY TOLD ME WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT THEIR PROFESSIONS AND THEIR LIVES. |
AN INTERVIEW TO JOSÉ VALENTÍN, ENGRAVER
Hello, José
Valentín. How are you?
Fine, very happy to help you.
When did you start practising engraving?
When I was sisty. I discovered it a bit late, but now I use all my time an energy to it.
How often do you work on it?
Every day. I have a studio where I keep all the machinery, papers, ink, and so on.
What is the most difficult thing to do when yo print a work?
Well, first you have to design the image. You draw it on a paper, and then you look for textures. I usually walk to the forest and look for things that can be useful: dry leaves, some seed, etc. And then I use other, not so natural: plastic bags with bubbles, cables, etc. Everything may be interesting to create a new sensation and texture.
You use a press, don’t you?
Yes. It is a machine that presses (obviously) a plank onto the paper. We first make the drawing or design on a plank. Then it is pushed (by the press) onto the paper, and the desing goes from the plank to the paper. It is called an impression.
What do you prefer, big or small desings?
I love big ones, because I can do more things on them.
How did you learn to engrave?
I attended courses, and then I observed a lot from professionals. I also worked at an Engraving school, and there I saw many good artists do their work. I always had my notebook with me, and then I learnt how to do it.
Is is true that artists have ideas even when they are sleeping?
Yes, totally. I am sometimes sleeping, and then I wake up. An idea!! The worst thing is that I have to get out of bed and go to my notebook, to write it dow. If not, I may forget in the morning, ha ha.
Well, and do you use many tools?
Yes, we use ones to carve on different surfaces. They are a bit dangerous for a little boy, but if you handle them with care, there is no problem. They we also use rolls, to extend the ind, paintbrushes, etc. My job is a bit intellectual, yes, but also very manual, which I love. I have to manipulate all the time.
An talking about your style, and your preferences. What do you like most?
I love curves, circles, round shapes. They provide the idea of peace, softness, and eternal return. And in colours, I like contrasts. I like to use colours to transmit emotions, because my work is usually abstract. So I have to communicate with lines, colours, textures, etc.
Well, José, thank you very much for your time and your ideas.
Thank you. It’s been a pleasure.
Fine, very happy to help you.
When did you start practising engraving?
When I was sisty. I discovered it a bit late, but now I use all my time an energy to it.
How often do you work on it?
Every day. I have a studio where I keep all the machinery, papers, ink, and so on.
What is the most difficult thing to do when yo print a work?
Well, first you have to design the image. You draw it on a paper, and then you look for textures. I usually walk to the forest and look for things that can be useful: dry leaves, some seed, etc. And then I use other, not so natural: plastic bags with bubbles, cables, etc. Everything may be interesting to create a new sensation and texture.
You use a press, don’t you?
Yes. It is a machine that presses (obviously) a plank onto the paper. We first make the drawing or design on a plank. Then it is pushed (by the press) onto the paper, and the desing goes from the plank to the paper. It is called an impression.
What do you prefer, big or small desings?
I love big ones, because I can do more things on them.
How did you learn to engrave?
I attended courses, and then I observed a lot from professionals. I also worked at an Engraving school, and there I saw many good artists do their work. I always had my notebook with me, and then I learnt how to do it.
Is is true that artists have ideas even when they are sleeping?
Yes, totally. I am sometimes sleeping, and then I wake up. An idea!! The worst thing is that I have to get out of bed and go to my notebook, to write it dow. If not, I may forget in the morning, ha ha.
Well, and do you use many tools?
Yes, we use ones to carve on different surfaces. They are a bit dangerous for a little boy, but if you handle them with care, there is no problem. They we also use rolls, to extend the ind, paintbrushes, etc. My job is a bit intellectual, yes, but also very manual, which I love. I have to manipulate all the time.
An talking about your style, and your preferences. What do you like most?
I love curves, circles, round shapes. They provide the idea of peace, softness, and eternal return. And in colours, I like contrasts. I like to use colours to transmit emotions, because my work is usually abstract. So I have to communicate with lines, colours, textures, etc.
Well, José, thank you very much for your time and your ideas.
Thank you. It’s been a pleasure.
INTERVIEW TO XOSÉ TOMÁS,
ILLUSTRATOR AND TEACHER
ILLUSTRATOR AND TEACHER
Hello,
Tomás, nice to meet you.
Well, it’s a pleasure.
When did you start drawing?
Uff, when I was 4 years old, I think. My mom used to tell me I was always drawing animals playing musical instruments.
And then, how did you become an illustrator?
I went on drawing, at school, at secondary school, at university. And then I decided to send materials, works, to publishers. Some of them liked them, and then I started illustrating books.
What do you prefer, illustrating for children or for adults?
I like both. But I love children, because I am also a teacher, and I think education is very important. In general I like communicating, and doing it with children I fantastic. Drawing for children is very demanding, because they are a very respectful public.
Have you got any favourite book?
Well, I illustrated many, and in some of them I spent a lot of energy, sometimes personal. I dre one about robots that took me a long time, and now I love it.
Is illustration similar to comic?
They are similar, but different. Illustration has to do with a text. Comic is a whole language, a comination of lots of things: literary texts, cinematographic shots, designing characters, the plot, etc. For me comic is exhausting, while illustration is a bit mor “relaxing”.
What dos it mean to illustrate?
For me illustration is creating again. You read a text, and then you begin your own work. It must walk alongside with the text, but always trying to create new worlds, new possibilities. To enrich the text.
You also teach illustration to kids and adults, don’t you?
Yes, because I think it is important to transmit it, and to estimulate creativity in children. They need to think differently, to learn differently, and to link different kinds of knowledge: drawing and history; drawing and music; drawing and science, …
Any advice for children who want to become professional illustrators?
Well, follow your instinct. Draw all the time, even if other people tell you not to. Persevere. And then, trust yourself, go on, send things to publishers. Believe in yourself. And ask professionals for help.
Well, it’s a pleasure.
When did you start drawing?
Uff, when I was 4 years old, I think. My mom used to tell me I was always drawing animals playing musical instruments.
And then, how did you become an illustrator?
I went on drawing, at school, at secondary school, at university. And then I decided to send materials, works, to publishers. Some of them liked them, and then I started illustrating books.
What do you prefer, illustrating for children or for adults?
I like both. But I love children, because I am also a teacher, and I think education is very important. In general I like communicating, and doing it with children I fantastic. Drawing for children is very demanding, because they are a very respectful public.
Have you got any favourite book?
Well, I illustrated many, and in some of them I spent a lot of energy, sometimes personal. I dre one about robots that took me a long time, and now I love it.
Is illustration similar to comic?
They are similar, but different. Illustration has to do with a text. Comic is a whole language, a comination of lots of things: literary texts, cinematographic shots, designing characters, the plot, etc. For me comic is exhausting, while illustration is a bit mor “relaxing”.
What dos it mean to illustrate?
For me illustration is creating again. You read a text, and then you begin your own work. It must walk alongside with the text, but always trying to create new worlds, new possibilities. To enrich the text.
You also teach illustration to kids and adults, don’t you?
Yes, because I think it is important to transmit it, and to estimulate creativity in children. They need to think differently, to learn differently, and to link different kinds of knowledge: drawing and history; drawing and music; drawing and science, …
Any advice for children who want to become professional illustrators?
Well, follow your instinct. Draw all the time, even if other people tell you not to. Persevere. And then, trust yourself, go on, send things to publishers. Believe in yourself. And ask professionals for help.
NOW IT'S YOUR TURN
It is very interesting to discover things about other people's professions. Different timetables, different work places, different routines. Here is a list of possibilities, different people with different jobs. Would you dare interview some of them?
It is very interesting to discover things about other people's professions. Different timetables, different work places, different routines. Here is a list of possibilities, different people with different jobs. Would you dare interview some of them?
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