When I ran into Chiara’s work I was blown away to say the least. Being wildly imaginative and visually alarming they stop you in your tracks. Women with antlers, secret messages to secret lovers (apparently her works are graphic message to a boy named Ilka), and lucha libre ravens. Chiara Bautista is a thrity one year old graphic designer currently living in Arizona. I had the chance to catch up with her via myspace and ask her about her influence and style; here’s what she had to say:
I have lots of influences, I like too many stuff. I really like toys, especially those I couldn’t get as a child ’cause my parents considered that some things [like a transformer robot] were not for girls. (Now that I’m 30 (ok, 31) I have like 4 different versions of starscream, he’s one of my favorite robot cartoon characters and I really like f-15’s, so I just had to avenge myself)
Music. I usually spend half of my day with my headphones on. I work in a big office full of people so if we want to listen to music, we have to use headphones. I really like anime’s graphic style; so clean and detailed at the same time. I admire lots of artists and illustrators. I’ve been working as an illustrator for printed publications for almost 9 years, and the “graphics staff” has always been kind of reduced (two people, and sometimes just me), so we have to work with lots of different styles, that way the publication would look balanced and “fresh”. That way I’ve been influenced by the work of many people.
My main influences are stories. I love to read and I really enjoy watching a movie with an original and unexpected plot. At the end, the main influence for my illustrations are dozens of great short stories Ilka used to write for me. All my illustrations are graphic reply to Ilka’s stories-like a conversation.
I’m kind of a messy person when I work. I’ve never been able to start with a final sketch. I usually draw the main “object” of the composition on paper, and then, I scan that … and then I add all the other elements as I work on that image on the computer. It’s like a puzzle made of sketches. For me it’s easier that way, ’cause there’s no line to follow and I can change as many things as I want until it ends being what I wanted to say. It’s like playing with clay.I use Adobe Photoshop, and Freehand Macromedia. I know, Illustrator is a way better program, but freehand has the blessed paste-inside tool 🙂
For more of Chiara’s work click here
Previous Post: Jon Phenom – The Hay Fam Show
Next Post: A Moment of Clairty – Mimi Cook
ShareThis
Tags: Art · Design · illustratrtion5 Comments
5 responses so far ↓
I get proud for having the same blood running through my veins.
you’re fucking awesome
:B
damn… great stuff. I like how each piece is it’s own little story. Complete enough to give you closure, but vague enough to keep you staring.
it’s like princess mononoke meets moulin rouge, then is podcasted in another dimension by shepard fairy. sick. this girl needs to be ridiculously famous.
[…] that picture in her minds eye. I’ll post the return message, if I get one. 😛 DUN, DUN, DUN… This link might help. It’s how I found her Myspace page. __________________ Fe/Fi 36.9/37.7 Ne/Ni 34.9/25.8 Se/Si […]
Honestly, I think Chiara’s art is incredibly beautiful. To me, Hunting Ilka symbolizes a dichotomy of chasing love. On one hand, the proverbial bird on the shoulder saying the consequences, but on the other the hunter (or pursuer) saying that she knows damn well the consequences. That it’s a passion that is self damning but at the same time completely in the hands of the final victim, the lover herself. That she will do whatever it takes, even if it means going against the voice of reason.