Oriol Massaguer is a freelance illustrator from Girona, Catalonia. His style is influenced by 3D modeling and animation.
“… like a cook looking for a new recipe. …“
Can you please tell us a bit about your background? Please add at least one random interesting fact about you.
I was born in Girona, Catalonia. I lived with my mother and sister.
In public school, I was a vastly nefarious student, but I always got the highest grade in the subject of the fine arts. This continued to be the case in high school. I remember that time as graffiti and hip-hop.
When I had my first computer at home, I experimented with doing some graphic design, 3D, web, etc. and did courses at the beginning of the internet age.
What inspired you to make art?
Well, I come from the world of graffiti, which helped me to gain a background in terms of color combination, lettering, composition, etc.
It was not a specific thing that introduced me to art, my life was art, whether on the wall, on paper, or on the computer.
I found inspiration from graffiti artists who appeared in magazines such as Daim, Toast, Vino, design studios such as Vasava, Non-Format, Inocuo, and classical artists such as Dalí, Monet, and Rafael.
In fact, I think everything is a source of inspiration, the comics I collected, movies, music, etc.
Did you study at art school(s) or are you self-taught?
I’ve always been very self-taught, but I did take some web design courses at that time, such as HTML5 … I also started a graphic design course that I didn’t finish. I found it boring and uninteresting …
What opened a world for me, was in Madrid when I did an intensive course in 3D modeling and animation. Being able to create objects, being able to rotate them 360 degrees, learning how to interact with lights, materials, textures … It was playing to be God!!!
The work I do today, no matter how small it may seem, is very much nourished by that knowledge.
How did you develop your own art style? Where do you go for inspiration? How do you keep your creativity flowing?
The style is acquired based on experience, trying different techniques, mixing them, experimenting, making mistakes, copying .. anyway, currently, I do have a defined style, but it’s always mutating. I am unable to always do exactly the same thing over and over again. Though I think you can’t make radical changes either … it’s a constant struggle I have with myself and I think it will always be that way.
How did you start making a living as an artist? What was your first paid art job?
I don’t remember exactly the year, but I think it was 2010 or 2011. It was a poster for a Nike ad campaign. I was very inexperienced in the world of advertising, I had a classic style of realistic drawing. The campaign was not published but I was paid for the work, at that time, it was a lot of money.
What do you live from as an artist now? What are your main income streams and what is the approximate % split of each?
I live mainly from commercial projects for magazines, books, and music. And apart from that, I sell my prints through my website. I can’t tell you the % because it depends on each project.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on personal projects, some more prints, a card game, and also studying and preparing to work in streaming.
What do you think are the most important characteristics of an artist?
Difficult question, but apart from style, I would surely say provocation, that is, whether that work conveys or provokes something to the one who looks at it.
What are the art tools and other products and services you can’t live without?
Each artist will have their favorites, I don’t think any of them are indispensable.
I use the computer a lot, the graphics tablet, for the speed and solidity it gives me, but I have a very solid base of working with pencil and paper.
What are your favorite art and other books (fiction, non-fiction)?
I really like the magazines and underground comics of the 70’s, books about plants and photography or sculpture.
I have books from other artists/designers, but they are precisely the ones that are in boxes or dusting on the shelves.
What advice would you give yourself as a beginner artist? Or alternatively please include your favorite quote and the author.
Patience, practice, copy, experiment, mix it all up and get something that will provoke something inside you, beyond aesthetics.
Like a cook looking for a new recipe.
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Get in touch with Oriol
- Website: oriolmassaguer.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/oriolmassaguer
Thank you, Oriol, for joining us today!
All artworks by Oriol Massaguer, used with permission.
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Hi, I am Iva (rhymes with “viva”). I am a full-time self-taught artist behind Art Side of Life® and a Top Teacher on Skillshare. I have 15 years of experience in the creative field as a concept designer, illustrator, art director, and now freelance artist, content creator, and art instructor. My goal is to help you get your creative groove on with Procreate and make awesome art through practical classes, tutorials, Procreate brushes, and guides on art tools, supplies and resources. About me »
