Somewhere in between

What pieces or projects have you been working on lately?
The end of last year brought me some exciting projects. I was making a series of illustrations for two different collective exhibitions. One of them — “Mexico Stories” — was showcased at the illustration festival (Lustr) in Prague. Lately, I’ve been focusing more on exploration, play, and storytelling. In between client work, I always try to dedicate time to my personal projects; it gives space for thoughts, research, and practice. I’ve been getting back into daily drawing, sketchbook practice, and more spontaneous work.

What did you learn (or unlearn) while working on it?
I’m always learning how to not overthink my ideas and the process of making them. It’s hard, but over time I’ve noticed that usually my favourite pieces come from this light, open, and curious place of play.

After my month-long trip to Mexico, I started drawing “Mexico Stories” in my sketchbook to visualise some local scenes and fleeting moments. I had this idea to develop them into more refined, complex illustrations. But after many trials to remake them, I noticed the lack of that initial expressiveness, looseness, and emotion, which were their core. So I stayed with the initial freehand sketchbook process, and it grew larger from there. I realised I should trust those first takes, my intuition, and instincts.

What words, ideas or emotions were running through your head?
A lot of inspiration for my work comes from the things that I feel, imagine, remember, long for, love doing, or wish I’d be doing more. There’s self-reflection and noticing what’s happening around me. I love immersing myself in new environments, observing nature, local life, people, raw and seemingly ordinary things, so when making the Mexico series I tried to gather and show a little part of these vivid collected moments. I felt this celebration of everyday life there, which is so inspiring and contagious.

Was there any conversation, film, music, or book that found its way into this work?
Music, movies, and books play a big part in my life and spark imagination. Inspiration varies and changes with time. For the Mexico series, I collected my personal visual library — references, photographs, videos that I took while travelling. While drawing, I was listening to Los Mirlos and discovered Ichiko Aoba. Also a constant company that has been with me for maybe more than a decade: Devendra Banhart, Juana Molina, and Mac DeMarco.

What was the most difficult thing you faced this month in your creative process?
Maybe keeping interest and focus on doing one thing at a time. And not getting swallowed by the lack of sun and short days during this long winter.

What is your favourite restaurant and what would you have there?
I’d have to say my home restaurant — I love cooking. The best restaurants when I’m travelling are usually local street food places. I like to take inspiration from different cuisines and bring it back to my home kitchen, so I’d probably improvise and make something from there.

If your life were a movie this month, what would its title be and who would make the soundtrack?
“Somewhere in Between” and the soundtrack… maybe by Yann Tiersen or Alabaster DePlume?

Have you collaborated with any studios, labs, or workshops recently, or would you like to in the future?
Not yet — I am open to collaborations!

Recommend us one or several artists you follow, who inspire you, and tell us what you like most about their work or their way of working.
There are so many from different artistic fields! To name a few contemporary visual storytellers: I like getting lost in every detail of Laura Carlin’s work, in the timeless atmospheres and moods that Beatrice Alemagna creates, wandering in the symbolism of Jesus Cisneros, and discovering raw, playful, mysterious sides in Carson Ellis’ work. I love Japanese artist Mogu Takahashi’s work — it brings so much joy, lightness, and freedom, and reminds me to have more fun and play in my own work. I’m still thinking about David Hockney’s retrospective exhibition I visited in Paris; he keeps reinventing himself. I was mesmerised by his use of colour, formats, and how much energy, liveliness, and character he puts into all of his work.