For this article in the international artist series, we turn to Spain, featuring four illustrators and designers who create fantastic work, from lettering to character design and more! I asked each artist how their country and culture inspired their work, and they delivered fantastic answers. Enjoy!
Baimu Studio
Baimu Studio focuses on Art Direction and lettering in Barcelona, Spain. Their work, which you can check out at their portfolio, is fun and filled with movement. Check out a few selections below!
OFFF & Showusyourtype
“Ever since I have had use of reason I’ve felt like a citizen of the world, with no strings or boundaries. And especially nowadays, we are all connected, social networks and the internet break the last frontier, in my opinion.
Yorokobu—Chocolate Tune
“On the other hand I think the passion I feel about my work is connected with my culture. As a Spanish-Mediterranean guy I have warm blood. I don’t conceive of designs or illustrations as a flat process, so I look at every project excited to discover what is going to happen.
Cupcake Lettering
“‘Lettering is connecting the emotional side of letters with illustration’
“I understand lettering as a visual dialogue with the observer, and it is essential to transmit on an emotional level what we communicate.
JUNGIBLE. Lettering for “DeadWords” Project
Fresh Mind—Drop Lettering
“I love to get involved and put my heart and soul in every project, for me this is more than my profession: it’s my passion. And I love to show and transmit those feelings in my work.”
Jorge Lawerta
Jorge is an illustrator in Valencia, Spain. His work, which you can catch in his portfolio, focuses on strong character design with a great sense of typographic design and composition. Check out a selection of his work below!
Polo Jugando al Polo
“Well, I think it´s obvious that your surroundings influence you. So my city, my country, my neighborhood influences me. The houses I see on the street, the people I say, ‘Hi’ to every day… Those are the things I see and those are the thing I have in my mind when I draw.
Falla Sant Torquat
“I wouldn´t say that the flag, the national anthem, or the folklore influence me, but on the other hand living here with the culture we have, the traditions, even the weather makes us different than countries like Sweden or Russia.
Miller Lite Summerfest Milwaukee 2015
“People in Spain are very social; we love to party. We’re also big fans of humor, so I would say all those things inspire and influence my work.”
That Look
Meetizer
Squid&Pig
Squid&Pig are an illustration and design duo in Valencia, Spain. Their work, which you can check out at their portfolio, is utterly adorable and fun. Check out a small selection of their work below!
Little Bear—LOVE SAVOR’s Kawaii Mascot Design
“The truth is that we have a ‘kawaii’ style, and it’s influenced by Japan. In our country, this style is not as common as a form of communication; it’s interpreted as something specifically aimed at a young audience. This limits us a little from time to time in our work, and that’s why 90% of our clients are international.
Supergato Stickers for MunkeeApps
“The ‘kawaii’ style is simple and usually pretty static. Our culture gives expression to our characters. We often make exaggerated and joyful characters, sometimes in excess.
Viber’s Kawaii Food Stickers
“The European style has influenced us to add light and shadow to our designs, sometimes even textures, which are not usually as common in the Japanese style.”
La Mocaorà—9th October Fest Tribute
Chuck the T-Rex Stickers for Indoona
Jordi Villaverde
Jordi is an illustrator and character designer in Barcelona, Spain. His work, which you can see more of in his portfolio, is character-driven and full of life. Check out a selection of it below!
Forest Tiki
“I think my country didn’t influenced my work too much, but maybe the city where I live, Barcelona, influenced me to love the arts, music, and culture in general because Barcelona is one of the most multicultural cities in the world.
La Forêt Oubliée Project Cover
“About the culture of my country, I think the Catalan people have a different culture as the other countries in Spain. We have our own culture and our own language, and maybe that has set us apart from the other Spanish people.
Arale Chan!
“I am influenced, like the others artists of my generation, by the anime series we watched in our childhood, like Dr Slump, Dragon Ball or Ranma, and the movies we watched in those years of our lives.”
Mad Max: Fury Road Fan Art
Mr Sun
Many thanks to the wonderful artists featured above. You can follow them further around the web at the following links: