Cristiano Siqueira Interview

Chapter XXXII: Temple

  Posted by Justin Maller  \  - @justinmaller   - justinmaller.com — on November 24, 2007

Justin Maller (ekud)

This pack's featured artist is Brazilian designer and illustrator, and long term depthCORE member Cristiano Siqueira of crisvector.com. Give us a little background bio on yourself Cris.

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

Hi Justin. First I must say that I'm honored to be the featured artist for Temple, this pack just rocks! Well, back to the question... Similar to many of us, I started my drawing life very young. When I was 6 years old, I was already playing with carbon paper, copying comic books and coloring them. My school notebooks were filled with sketches and caricatures of my friends and teachers. When I got a bit older, I saw that I could make some money from my childhood obsession, so I started a technical course where I learned a great deal of traditional illustration techniques, and also received guidance on how to go about launching my career.

My first job was in an editorial and graphic design studio. My basic daily task was to cut images out in Photoshop using the pen tool so they could be reused in compositions and book designs. Maybe this is the reason of my proficiency with the pen tool in Illustrator!

Gaining a little more knowledge, I started to work in projects of CD covers and Print Design. Some years later I left this job to start working with package design as a Art Director. I worked on lots of toys package projects where I could start using my illustration stuff professionally. The feedback I got for my illustrations was so far more positive than my design stuff, so I though it would be the moment to start working just with illustrations. After promoting my illustration work to many clients I opened my small "home" office, where I am right now; after 3 years of activity, I spend most of my time producing illustrations for editorial, packages, advertising and web design.

Justin Maller (ekud)

How much of your creative process takes place using traditional methods? Walk us through the creation of a typical artwork.

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

All of my creative process starts with traditional methodology. I have a sketchbook where I play every time I have a rough idea in mind. Of course my sketches aren't detailed or finished like a comic artist for example, they are just ugly lines, words or thoughts that come to me whilst I'm on a phone call or listening music.

When I need to create an illustration, I do a small search of concepts, histories or images, anything to give me a point to start thinking about. After this I leave the computer for a while and I go to do other things not related to design, walk a little, take a shower, go to the market... just something to let my brain work without pressure. Once I get a concept in mind I start to translate this concept to a paper, sketching the elements, composition, light source... all of the technical elements of the illustration. With a solid definition of the image I'm searching for, I start to find the best way to finish the work... This is the moment when I decide things such as whether the work will be a vector or a digital painting, for example. After many hours of work I get the final piece. Few things from the original concept change in this process, but I usually do lots of changes and corrections to colors, lines until I get a satisfactory result.

Justin Maller (ekud)

Your favourite artist is Salvador Dali; how do you think his work has influenced your own? Are there any other painters or designers who have had a large impact on you?

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

My first contact with Dali's works was in school. The surrealistic mood always had a big impact on me. I "ate" all Dali works trying to be like him, trying to find the point where he started, the way to get those ideas, that technique. I think the bigger influence was the surrealistic way to elaborate a concept, considering dreams and create a new order of the things. I worked with surrealism for some good time in school. After Dali I had the work of H.R. Giger and Dave McKean as a strong influence. Other artists that have influenced me are: Kankinsky, Toulouse Lautred, Francis Bacon, Audrey Beardsley, Bill Sienkiewicz, among others.

Justin Maller (ekud)

Which digital artists do you see as being the leaders of the new generation of illustrators?

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

It's a hard question to answer, everything changes so fast nowadays... I can tell you a bunch of names, my heroes, but it's impossible to point them as the leaders of a new generation, at least to me. This is about the whole design community and I don't want be unfair. The next super hero can be somebody I still don't know. The next super hero can be born today and die tomorrow. I usually take as references those designers with a consistent and identifiable work, with a good performance in the industry. They have the keys of success and we can learn lots of things from them.

Justin Maller (ekud)

How important do you think design communities and collectives are? How do they play a role in your creative process?

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

I think it's very important. Communities and collectives are a good way to share experience and ideas with people from different countries and cultures. This is a good use of the Internet, because so many of these people could live and leave this world without ever knowing their artistic partners, living so far from each other. Personally, the collectives and communities were the only way I could find to get my work exposed without being reliant on a club, institution or promoters that have their own interests at heart. The unique private community experience I got as a member of depthCORE helped me to develop my work and find new influences, encouraged me to review and refine my creative process, as well as enabling me to learn a little more about other designers participating in the collective.

Justin Maller (ekud)

You have completed a Technical Course of Communication Design; how important was your tertiary education in regards to developing your current skillset? Do you think attending University is an important step for an aspiring professional creative these days? What advice do you have for young people considering illustration as a profession?

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

My tertiary education was the moment I decided to be a professional. I discovered an industry behind the art and I saw opportunities to have a descent life working with art. I learned a variety of techniques that helped me to survive in a competitive industry and develop my own work. My goal was be able to do any request, and any illustration style. I though it could protect me from the fluctuations of the market and keep me producing.

Justin Maller (ekud)

All intellectual stimulation is highly recommendable for any designer. I believe that a good designer must be connected with the world, and look upon it with a critical eye as they translate their impressions into images. I feel that University and higher degrees are verging on essential as an intellectual exercise of creativity.

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

For young people the best advice I have is to love what you do and keep yourself informed. Loving your work enables you to break all barriers of creativity; you can study full time to be a better designer and to be successful in the industry. Nowadays we have lots of ways to learn and grow up as a professional that are not restricted to formal Institutes of learning. If you are not attending a University, you can still learn by yourself, be self-taught. My advice is to never stop studying. Information is power.:)

Justin Maller (ekud)

You're currently freelancing fulltime; do you enjoy this lifestyle? What are the pros and cons of freelancing versus studio work from your perspective?

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

Before starting my fulltime freelance, I worked in a formal design company. The biggest pro of working at my own office is the ability to make my own worktime, without being forced to be creative within pre-established timeframes. I believe that creativity does not respect what hour the clock displays. You can have a good idea in the middle of a rainy Sunday and you can have a damned mind block in the middle of the working week. Setting my own worktime means I have the freedom to pursue ideas naturally when they come to me.

The biggest con is the inconsistent amount of work you get. It seems that you have an inconsistent amount of money too. If you don't have your finances under control, you can drive yourself to crazy in low moments. The first year of freelancing I was in trouble, lots of bills to pay and little work coming in. The second year was way etter. With the experience I could control my expenses and hold a reserve of money for critical moments.

Justin Maller (ekud)

What impact has being in depthCORE had on you? What does being a dC member mean to you personally? What direction would you like to see the group head in?

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

Being in depthCORE makes me think more about my work. My own personal work. It is a motivation to keep producing a personal line of work even if I don't use them for clients. The high quality of depthCORE members makes me want be like them; the shared experience, suggestions, critiques and comments help me to improve my work. This is like a study group, like scientists working together. And this is good for all. I'm proud to be part of depthCORE.

I see a strong potential for depthCORE to emerge as a "decision maker" of the avant-garde design production. The addition of musicians and motion designers helps to reinforce the multidisciplinary nature of the group, creating new tendencies. I still hope that depthCORE will fly out of the internet sphere, becoming a design magazine or a design agency...Why not?

Justin Maller (ekud)

What was your favourite dC pack theme ever?

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

I tend to like themes with some relation to society. Themes where our images can talk with the viewing public and make them think a little about their lives. At first sight I wasn't sure about the theme of the current pack: Temple. I had a limited vision about this concept, making just the obvious religious connotation. But after some suggestions I opened my mind to a larger amount of possibilities and started to get some nice ideas; Temple then became my favourite theme. I also liked the Series of Untitled Dreams for the same reason I liked Temple, the possibility to talk straight to the people's soul, giving them some insights about their own lives instead of just showing off eye candy techniques.

Justin Maller (ekud)

Outside of art life, what does the mighty CrisVector do to relax? What recharges your batteries and inspires you to create?

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

I like to be with my wife, I like to walk. I like to see people in the streets, look at the people's behavior. This is not a hard thing to do, living in Sao Paulo, there are lots of different people around here and I have a large variety of material to analyze... I like to play games too, any kind of game, from the classic Solitaire to first person shooting online games. Sometimes I play some old Atari games in a emulator, I always get impressed with the powerful symbolism in the limited graphics of Atari games. A square can be everything, from a ball to a spaceship. I'm not currently into sports, but I love to play football (soccer) when I have opportunity. I also love table tennis and snooker.

Justin Maller (ekud)

If you could have a dinner party with any three people, living or dead, who would they be, and what question would you ask each of them?

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

First I would like to meet Jesus and ask him two things: Did you exist? What do you think of the things that people have done in your name?

So, I would to meet Einstein and ask: Do you believe that the humanity was ready for your theories?

And finally I would like to meet Neil Armstrong and ask: Did you really walk in the moon?

Justin Maller (ekud)

What will you be doing in five years time? What goals do you have for yourself?

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

Well in five years I hope to be in a better apartment with more consistent work and clients. I hope to be working with illustration, but selling only my own style of work.

I usually don't draw a goal panel to follow. Maybe I can commence University in the next 2 years too, I still don't know what course I want to start. I want to visit other countries form Europe, Americas, Asia, Australia. I want to fly to space too.

Justin Maller (ekud)

What is your favourite piece of artwork (and why?)

1/ Of your own?

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

Colombina (http://CrisVector.deviantart.com/art/Colombina-47094055) This is my wife, what can I say more?

2/ In depthCORE history?

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

Nereid from Jerico Santander (from Empire). Do you know the feeling when you see something you ever wanted to do? I had this feeling when I saw Nereid. Actually I have this feeling every time I see it.

3/ Ever?

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

Premonition of Civil War (Salvador Dali). This was the first work of Salvador Dali I saw. I was a child with 7 years old. I never forget it.

Justin Maller (ekud)

Cris, thanks heaps for taking the time to complete this interview, and congratulations on being the featured member for TEMPLE!

Cristiano Siqueira (crisvector)

Thanks Justin, and congrats on your wonderful work as the depthCORE leader :)

Justin Maller (ekud)

Aww, shucks..

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