Robert Tirado - Fashion Illustrator
Who are you and what do you do?
I studied illustration and design in Venezuela (Caracas Design Institute, Caracas) and Spain (Trebol, Valencia).
In the last two years I have paid special attention to the world of fashion illustration and my style has evolved, approaching this current. I dedicate my full time to fashion illustration.
I have been working as a freelance for advertising agencies, bands, magazines and clothing labels. My work has been published and reviewed in various digital and print media and I have participated in several exhibitions in America and Europe.
What kind of mediums do you use?
My work involves a mixture of hand drawing, illustration, graphic design and art. I’m using many different materials for my hand drawings
Among them are: Watercolor and Ink. I prefer Winsor & Newton or Talens.
Also I use Acrylic and Gouache. I use Liquitex and Talens.
I outline some drawings using a very thin Rotring Rapidograph.
The media which I’m working varies often, but I prefer paper for watercolor or pencil like: Fabriano, Guarro or Caballo with various weights. I also work on illustration boards or canvas, when it comes to saturate much support.
When I’m working with dry techniques, I’m using Prismacolor soft crayons or pencils.
What is the inspiration behind your work?
Mainly, I am inspired the female figure and his world. But I’m also influenced by Music in general, although I prefer styles like: dark, electro, post punk, new wave, italo, neo folk and NDW (Hong Kong counterfeit, Venise, Sun the Shan, Petra Flurr, Riviera F, Extrabreit), Fashion Photography and Nudes (by photographs like: Alex Giudice, S. Brunesci, Davolo), Art in general, mainly current and Surrealism (Dali), Impressionism (Degas) and the art nouveau (Mucha), Graphic design Contemporary Bauhaus School and the world of fashion Illustration and design - Coco Pit, Pomme Chan, Raphael Vicenzi, Yoshi Tajima )
I see many images every day and I can get inspiration from my surroundings, the places I visit, my own experiences or visions.
What websites do you use to promote your artwork and why?
I promote my work mostly through my personal website because I think it’s a more formal presentation. However, I have establish contacts with many people through my social networking profiles like Myspace or Facebook.
I’ve recently opened a blog and a Twitter account, and the result has been incredible.
For me, it is very important to use the resources that Internet offers to let you know and explain your work constantly. It is undeniable that through social networks, you can reach so many people watching your stuff every day, plus it is very easy to update your profiles and maintain contact with many people in real time.
What software do you use and for what kind of purposes?
When I illustrate my artwork manual or digital, I use programs like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, as my vector illustrations tend to have elements and / or geometric figures.
Over time, I managed to make my personal digital brushes that simulate almost all manual techniques like: Brushes (Van Gogh, Winsor & Newton), Markers (Pantone, Prismacolor), Crayons (Prismacolor).
But one of the most tools I use, remains the Iwata Digital Airbrush, that allows me to create volumes and gradations which are very fluid, and maintaining a finish similar to a real airbrush.
Phoshop allows me to use lots of spots of paint and textures scanned later turn into brushes or use as support. I usually make my own motives or patterns and for that I also use Photoshop.
In which online fashion communities are you involved and what are the advantages of being part of it?
Currently I belong to several communities like: illustrationmundo.com or Behance.net
In what concerns fashion, I belong to fashion.org
I really think that I need to be involved and have an active participation in these communities and to expose my work and promote it, apart from establishing contacts with many people related to the industry and also professionals whose work I’m inspired: Photographers (Davolo, Cotton Arts, Lara Uster), Graphic designers (Maxime Foulon, Jeremy Ville), Fashion designers (Anays Larive) or Magazine publications such as Kismet, Kurv Magazine, C-Heads Magazine.
What would be some tools that you would love to use but you’re currently not using?
There are manual techniques that I still like a lot, such as oil or spray gun, but no current use because they require much time to work and usually I have to work very fast.
I would like to learn how to use 3D Modeling Program (3D Studio Max) and painter. I would like to include 3D elements into my artwork and some variants of support and greater exploration of the visual sensations that can have a piece of art digital.
Is there anything else that you use to get your work done?
Yes. Besides all the technical details and training, I think it is really important to love what you do and take it to the end. I love the illustration and art as part of my life. In my opinion, all that love and passion can be reflected in the final result and I am rooting for them. I am referring to the emotion in the process.
It is important to analyze, think and have concerns. Some of my main “secret weapons” are research, dynamism and observation. I often read about many things and try to be in a constant evolution of technique and style because I don’t like formulas.
Don't miss out on exciting news and updates about fashion creatives.
