Why did you decide to take up your creative trade?
To be honest, I've never considered anything else but a creative job. As an introverted child, painting and drawing allowed me to express myself and to create a safe place that I could always rely on. However, it took me a while to become an illustrator, as I didn't think I would be able to make a living from it. After working for some years as a graphic designer, I started freelancing and realised that what I was good at and really enjoyed doing were the projects that involved illustration.
How do you get past creative blocks?
I really believe that self-care is still productive, so when I'm feeling stuck with a project, I prefer to take a step back, do something different and take care of myself. Doing things that I enjoy, such as reading a book or going for a walk, usually boosts my inspiration. Also, it really helps me just draw for myself in my sketchbook, with no expectations on how it turns out.
What is your creative process?
Whenever I start a new project, I often spend a lot of time reading the briefing and forming an idea of how I want to approach it. Then I look for references and start sketching, always going back to the briefing now and then, making sure I have all the details in mind. Once I share the sketches with the art director, I can really focus on the colour palette, textures and lighting: this is my favourite part of the process.
Where do you look for inspiration?
I save a lot of stuff on both Pinterest and Instagram. Most of my references are from independent comic artists, such as Miki Yamamoto or Nuria Just, as well as anime and European movies. It's also important for me to draw 'real people', so I usually take inspiration when I travel by taking pictures or urban sketching.
What are you reading or listening to right now?
I'm kind of obsessed with thriller books at the moment, and I've just finished 'Three' by Dror Mishani. I'm also reading a couple of comics at the same time, such as 'Crisis Zone' by Hanselmann and 'Cecil and Jordan in New York' by Gabrielle Bell. Music-wise, I prefer listening to podcasts while working, although I really love Glass Animals and Kali Uchis.
Who inspires you?
I really admire the work of illustrators such as Sebastian Curi, Jose Roda, Tania Yakunova or Miguel Campubrí. Also, watching video vlogs from female artists such as Fran Meneses or Kim Salt has been a huge inspiration to me for pursuing an illustration career, as it took me a while to understand how to make a living from it.
A big thank you to Yvonne Redín for contributing to our series of creative conversations with industry experts.