image copyright © Elvee Regine
Elvee Regine recently joined the Zoo and took the time to answer some questions for us. Read on to find out more about her.
How and when did you get your start as an artist?
Because of my background in architecture and architectural rendering, my first job was to do indoor store perspectives for future “point of purchase” posters for a brand new Chicago advertising agency, but I was quickly promoted to layout artist and designer, and eventually became a freelance illustrator.
image copyright © Elvee Regine
What are you working on now?
As usual, there are various projects on my iMac now – a set of several Valentine’s Day illustrations for a marketing company, promotional card and a website for a commercial real estate agent, and at least a dozen profile portraits or silhouettes of women and teen girls for private collectors.
What has been your favorite illustration job so far?
Can’t name just one…Art and design for fashion and beauty is always a blast. I loved painting women celebrities for Playboy Magazine for 4 years in the mid-nineties. More recently I enjoyed creating a long running series of fashion and lifestyle illustrations in varied styles. Three of them, that I sold to a stock agency, ended up as huge posters in gym scenes on a very popular CBS sitcom. And of course I adore every minute working on my latest, more personal project: profile portraits and silhouettes of beautiful models.
image copyright © Elvee Regine
What is your favorite medium to work with?
In the prehistoric times before easy Photoshop, I was working with traditional airbrush and cut paper, both required a skillful and patient usage of an x-acto knife, I love precision! Now it’s all electronic…about 90% vector and some raster format. It’s sad to see so many art supply stores closing, but from the initial circle and square that I drew on my first computer, there was no turning back or regrets. I could not live without “command+Z”!
image copyright © Elvee Regine
Tell us about your creative process.
First of all, I try to learn as much as possible about the subject, from visual references like photos, other artist work and articles. I then do freehand “pencil” sketches on my Intuos tablet until I’m satisfied with the overall design. After that, I translate the particular concept into whatever style that best suits the job. Most of the time I have total creative freedom, I only get a short written description of the assignment, then sometimes I supply a couple of thumbnails, or even completely finished illustration, without any steps in between. Naturally, there are some projects that require many rounds of comps, both direct to the client’s wishes and my own interpretation of the subject.
image copyright © Elvee Regine
Do you ever get creative block and if you do, what do you to get inspired?
Oh, yes, on a regular basis, from little annoying ones lasting for just a few hours to nerve-racking “brain fogs” lasting a couple of days. The best remedy for me is a strong coffee, even if it’s a middle of the night, baby aspirin and a bar of good chocolate! When I get a creative block, I take a few hours off from actually trying to force myself to start drawing and instead I go internet surfing-FREESTYLE!I look for inspiration in the most unexpected, exotic places like “Uzbekistan fashion shows” or “Dubai art glass”. I always find incredibly amazing, compelling images, that are sure to reactivate my flat brain waves.
You mention that you’re influenced by Art Deco artist Erte, Art Nouveau artist A. Mucha and 80s star Patric Nagel. What is it about their styles that you admire?
Very decorative, stylized shapes, rich textures, intricate patterns, sophisticated color palettes…I love how design and figurative elements are masterfully weaved together in simplified forms. They all are irresistible, attention grabbing, iconic images full of very powerful “aesthetic emotions”.
View Elvee’s work on ImageZoo
www.InProfilebyElvee.com
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