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Transcript of Cris De Lara
The Art OfCompiled byDjF du Marais
My name is :Cristina de LaraStockler ,artistically Cris De Lara.
I have worked for fouryears in comic bookindustry as colorist,some of my works were:Advent Rising, Serenity,Banzai Girl, Thundersaurs, etc. Nowadays I am wellknown as one of the best contemporary pinup artistaccording to specialized publications. Just google myname and you will see a lot of my works: Tutorials,interviews, workshops, posters,forums, etc.http://www.crisdelara.com
http://www.crisdelarapinups.com
http://CrisdeLara.itsartmag.com
http://crisdelara04.deviantart.com/
http://crisdelaraimages.blogspot.com
http://crisdelara2007.cgsociety.org/gallery/
Internet Links
Beyond that, I am afemale brazilianIllustrator and digitalpainter, owner (with myhusband) of ArtepixelIllustration and DigitalPainting. in which I have
been working insome areas like:Graphic design,publishing,concept art,illustration,painting/coloring,2D animation,teaching/training,games andconsultancy.
What am I doinghere?
well, I still lovedrawing comic bookcharacter and doingcommissions is thebest way of showingmy artwork for fans,collector andpublishers.
IT'S ART : Cris de Lara, Can you tell me a biography of
yourself
Cris de Lara : I started painting at school; I used to study art
at a catholic school, when I was nine years old, oil paintings
classes up to 12 years, when I decided to draw, because I
wanted to paint my own images instead of painting other
images that my teachers offered. From age twelve up to
sixteen I took several other courses to improve my drawing
skills but I was young and influenced by my friends, who
persuaded me not to continue studying art.
At university I took business administration, and from the
age of eighteen to 26 I had no drawings or paintings. At age
26 I felt the call back into artistry. In 1995 I marked this
return by founding my own graphic design company. In 1997
my partner and I decided to change our approach to work
more with illustration, digital painting, training, and
consulting. From 1998 up to 2001 we ran a small printing
house. Clients would come to our store where I would
design logos, and illustrations. My partner or some of the
employees did the “desktop publishing” and we printed
everything right there: folders, banners, periodicals,
business cards, flyers, invitations, and letters.
In 2002 we changed our approach again. We shut down the
printing activities and I came back to my SOHO activities
working as a freelance illustrator and painter for some
clients as well as a comic colorist for an American company.
In 2006 I quit my comic colorist job but continued to work as
a freelancer. My partner and I had an important conversation
about what to do as an artist; to produce something
attractive to the audience or to create a product to sell and
to be recognized as unique. We thought about producing
pinups. In 2008 I moved from Brazil to Canada where I
continue doing the same as before. From here, we continue
working in the Brazilian market. I am the illustrator and the
responsible for artistic things in my company and my partner
is the responsible for all “non artistic” things.
I.A: How would you classify your style / work if
you had to?
CDL : Clients say I am a versatile artist
because I do a variety of drawings and
paintings, children’s illustrations, fan art, comic
books, cartoon, portraits, caricatures, manga,
and pinups. Sometimes I look at the things I’ve done and guess I have no defined style yet. I like
doing Pinups, no matter if they are manga, comic, classic, “chase cake” styles. This is something
that I really love to do.
I draw and paint my own images, and while I’m painting
them I mix the styles; a little using traditional technique
(though it is done using computer) and a little using
vectors to mark and define the details of the pictures.
If you compare my images, you will see they are different
from other traditional artist’s paintings. I guess it’s is the
comic’s influence on my job. You notice in comics the art
line often appears in the images. The boundaries
between one area and another are clear.
If I had to qualify my style I would say I am an artist who
prefers making realistic drawings and paintings, mixing a
comic/vector style in my work.
I.A : Lots of people are depicting creatures, fantasy
scene, etc using CG tools and it's good sometimes to
meet some people like you using CG for a refreshing
work. Can you tell me who're the other artists who've
influenced you and why you've choosen to express
yourself with cg tools?
CDL : Hmmmm, This is a long diverse list. I would say I
‘ve been influenced not only by artists, illustrators and
painters, but also by writers. Actually some of them were
introduced to me by my partner.... old artists, especially
from comics and cartoons but I have some current ones
that are a sort of reference to me. For pinups, classics and fantasy images: Joseph Leyendecker,
Norman Rockewell, Gil Elvgren, Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell, Caravaggio,
Michelangelo, Rembrandt, William-Adolphe Bouguereau.
For other styles I would say: Will Eisner, Carl Barks,
Albert Uderzo, Hergé (Georges Remi), René Goscinny,
Morris (Maurice De Bevere) Adam Hughes, Alex Ross,
Frank Cho, John Buscema, John Romita, Mike Wieringo,
Dave Stevens, Hermes Tadeu, The Hildebrandt Brothers,
Alan Lee, John Howe, Jo Chen, Mike Deodato Jr., Steve
Rude, Olivia de Bernardis, Kim Hyung Tae, Jeong Juno.
Wow, I think the list is long enough.
Expressing myself using CG tools, was, I suppose, a
natural condition of my work. I painted and drew in the
traditional way but not as a profession. When I founded
my company with my partner 13 years ago I started doing
graphic design and drawings for advertising. I used to
work with Corel Draw and progressively I became more
confident with digital technology.
Later I studied Photoshop and Painter,
and was amazed by the things I was able
to do using those softwares...
Although, everything has changed since we bought our
first tablet, It was not until then that I was able to do
something like true painting. Today, using CG tool it is
faster and easier to produce my images and I am free to
try lot of different styles that I’m unable to produce in
the traditional way. It can be done but it takes a long
time. Drawing and Painting, especially paintings, in
traditional way an artist can produce some hundreds of
pieces during her/his time life, however through digital
means we can easily achieve a thousand pieces and the
images can reach almost the entire world through the
Internet. I think the versatility, the possibilities and the
faster production are the main reasons why I have
chosen the CG tools to express myself, although I still
love to paint.
I.A :What's are the other outside influences ?
Are you really sure about asking me that after hearing my
last list, hahahaha
Well, let's see.
Books: Tolkien's books, J.K. Rowling's books, J. J.
Benitez books, Art books especially the ones
with images from Caravaggio,
Michelangelo, Rembrandt. I like reading
Mythology', actually my sons and my
husband have the habit of doing
reading sessions at night. While I work I
listen to them to gather information and
ideas for my pinups and images.
I also like, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller,
Straczinsky and I read graphic novels, especially Will
Eisner's novels, they’re fantastic.
Movies and Series: LOR, Harry Potter, Star Wars,
Indiana Jones, Star Trek, X-Files, Smallville,
Supernatural. Music: Original Soundtracks; these songs
really inspire me. Sometimes I need to draw a warrior, so
I listen to Conan's soundtrack, for instance. I also like
and hear a lot of: Enya, Amy Whinehouse, The Police,
various Anime music. I have a playlist on my computer
organized according to genre to inspire me. When I am
painting on canvas I like to hear the classic ones.
I.A. : Can you speak about your creative
process; the flow from the initial idea to the
final sketch?
CDL : I have a schedule with my partner
which includes dates like, Mothers day,
Christmas, Halloween, Earth Day, etc.
We work together creating a situation, telling a short story
about that theme and trying to make a sketch about that
brainstorm. After that we make a list about the scenes that
I will draw for each date/theme He does the description,
and does the initial research; content, reference images,
elements, etc.
I do the initial sketches and we discuss
the composition for the image. When
the sketch is approved I start doing a
better sketch to be scanned.
Sometimes, when I am involved in
other projects he does the flat color
process and I work on rendering colors.
Otherwise, I do all the coloring.
I like to draw and paint my own images because I am
free to change whatever I want, that sometimes
generates discussions, between my partner and I, about
changing the things agreed in the sketch, but the end the
result is OK.
If we are doing a more classical image
like Aphrodite's Belt, he usually does all
the research about the characters and
elements related to them, that helps us
a lot in the creative process. Until the
final penciled sketch, I often redo a lot
of drawing; thinking of the scene's
composition, and drawing different
elements on a separate sheet or file,
combining them later. I prefer using only
penciled sketches in the beginning of
my work instead of doing them digitally.
I.A :What is the criteria that lets you know a picture is
done?
CDL : If I am working for my company portfolio the criteria
are the final sketch and the list of elements in the image,
for instance, my Mothers Days 2009 image, I had the final
sketch and also a list of elements to be used in the
background, some tattoos for the girl, the chain, the tattoo
machine, her short texture, the big guy shoelace that
reminds a skeleton hand (after all his mother has died in
the story).
Sometimes, at the end we add
something more trying to
improve the image but without
changing it too much.
If I am working for client, things
are different; there are clients
and clients. I try to do exactly
what was asked as to the
specifications of the sketch just
to make things easier. Because
of some previous bad
experiences in projects, we
have developed a way of
working that does what is
written and agreed by us and
the client.
Unfortunately it is too risky
when we want to improve an
image for a client,
because every improvement done generates other
updates and at the end if I was commissioned to work 14
hours in a project,
I could easily work 20 hours because of the updates and
the client may not want to pay more than was agreed. On
the other hand there are some clients that leave us free to
create, they’re more confident, they make the project
more pleasant and pay for the extra time to have a better
job, so the job becomes more attractive for both of us
especially if the image were distributed over a variety of
media.Every artist likes to do a good job, like a
masterpiece, if she has freedom to work. If the artist feels
tied-up for so many requirements or changes from the
client, the final result will not be as good as it could be.
CDL : Yes, for sure. I am always trying new things,
studying subjects related to somehow to improve my
knowledge: photography, composition, animation,
storytelling, design, traditional drawing and painting. I like
a lot oil painting so I study and practice at home. I did not
study in a traditional art school.
Actually almost everything I
learned was self taught. I am
not a graduate of a school of
art, so I push myself every time
when I am doing a job. I have
to produce better images every
time.
Trying different techniques is
something I am always doing. I
will try to change my painting
method to simulate more oil
painting style when doing my
pinups. Another thing I will do is
produce more penciled original
art using a different technique
as if they were finished in
charcoal, so I think my
commissions will be more
attractive and I hope sell them
more.
IIt is a very interesting project. I ‘m not allowed to give
more details about it, but the client said that probably in
July she will release something to the press and I will be
allowed to post some of images in my website and
portfolio.
The last project I worked took me
nine months in which I could not
produce the images I wanted. Now I
have to work faster to save time. I
can say for sure during the next few
months you will see more pinups
than before and I hope all of you
enjoy them a lot.
I.A : Wha's the most difficult picture
you've made? Why?
CDL : The most difficult pictures I
have made was my last job, a
children book project that according
to my client will be released in
September or October of this year.
The entire job took from September
2008 until May 2009. It was hard
work, I did all the illustrations and
paintings and also model sheets for
other purposes.
I can talk about my second most difficult image though,
Rockstar. While I was doing it, I decided with my partner
to produce pin-ups and post them in as many forums as
possible to show people what we could do and how we
work.
Before that I used to do commission
for clients, cartoons, children
illustrations (which I loved), and
comic book coloring. We decided to
stop doing things that did not make
us happy and invest in our own
product: Pin-ups. Those images
would be the first ones: the one to
show our product to the audience.
We thought about a theme that
would catch people's attention and
came up with a rock show. As
women are much more appealing to
pin-ups we came up with the idea of
drawing a sexy girl playing guitar.
CDL : My favourite picture is Jolly Halloween 2007
(Abgail) that I decided to use it at my logo.
We decided some points about the
picture: the girl should have tattoos,
there are reasons why those tattoos
are there, why she has a tiger and a
dragon on her legs, a red rose on her
arm. Originally the red rose tattoo
was in a different arm, I have
changed it later in the painting
process. The perspective was a
challenge, the color's study too. I
chose strong and energetic colors
without making the image annoying
to our eyes, so while doing the lights
and shadows were very difficult too.
Fortunately, I guess I got a good
result and we were very happy and
proud of it.
I.A : What's your favorite? Why ?
After posting both images in the forums I have a surprise that
Marie Antoinette received an award while Jolly Halloween had
many good comments. I did not expect awards but in my
opinion Jolly Halloween was more attractive than Marie
Antoinette.
She is one of our characters
developed for a future projects.
It was a special occasion when
I did it, we were thinking about
a monster, funny, sexy girl,
something like a mummy, when
I had an insight about a sexy
witch. I did the sketch and sent
to my partner who liked it
although it was very different
than what we had agreed.
I do not know how to explain,
but the work flew so nice and I
had so many pleasure
searching and choosing
patterns, adding details to the
image… when I finished it I was
very happy an motivated that in
the same week I also did Marie
Antoinette’s Revenge image.
Maybe the world has a sort of prejudice about women
doing art, thinking we, women, produce only “cute”
drawings, fairies, children illustrations, babies, and so on.
I.A. : Do you think that the fact you're
a girl impacts your style and/or your
vision of the CG world?
CDL : Wow, this is a tough question.
I do not think being a girl is
something that affects my style within
CG world. We have excellent female
artists in every area of CG,
illustration, painting, design,
animation even 3D. Just take a look
at Its Art Galleries and you find
dozens of amazing images done by
girls. I prefer doing my pinups with
women and humour, trying to tell a
story behind the image, lot of
elements and details inside them that
are related to the conception; it
doesn’t matter if the main character
is a cute little girl or a sexy woman.
and help me to produce better drawings and paintings; you can
see through my images the way I work, I keep the basic idea of
concept art: humour, attractive composition, color scheme,
interesting characters, details and elements that complement
the image, etc.
One thing I can say; the female
figure is more attractive than
male figure, and women know
very well how to draw women
as well as men. Score one for
the girls, hahahaha.
I.A : In what way do you think
you're producing art, and what's
your own definition of this
word?
CDL : Hmmmmm. I love doing
pinups, creating my own
images, with a story behind
them. I am always seeking
something new, different, new
version even for some well
known images from other
artists that inspire me. I am
always looking for new
knowledge to improve my skills
Art you just feel it you should not have to critique it. A
piece of art that is beautiful for one person may be not
nice for another.
I try to show not only the final result
but also the sketches, references
and some steps during my work, so
people can see and have an idea
about how I did the job. There
is an entire researching time
and dedication that go
beyond the final result.
This is producing art in my
opinion. I hope my images
can reach as many people as
possible and they can make
people laugh, think, admire,
being motivated and inspired
in somehow as I feel when I
see an image that inspires
me.
This is one definition of art to
me. Something that inspires
you, motivates you, touches
your senses.
CDL : I am a Leyendecker’s fan, so if I had to redraw some
image I would like to choose one of his amazing jobs, its title is
Easter, 1923.
I.A : If you'd to reinterpret a
favorite piece of art what would
be your choice? why?The link, just in case. I
think this piece of art has
unique touch of humour
and the idea, conception,
is brilliant. Probably, I
would spend hours and
hours thinking what I could
do in this image. Of
course, as a fan of him my
main concerns were how
to make it to honour him.
I.A : What would be your
advice to a new cg artist to
find it's own style and
way?
on your new knowledge in a positive way. You will see
errors that you didn’t see before. This is part of the
learning process. You will avoid former errors and will do
better pieces next time.
CDL : Hmmmmm. As I have said
before, an artist, in my opinion, has
to have knowledge about art, real old
fashion art, not only about software
or hardware. They are tools, the
artist is you. You have to control
your tools not be a slave of them.
For sure, digital art, CG, other
forms and Medias where we can
express our art are important and
have their own value and we
have to explore them to reach as
many people as it is possible.
Look for other artist’s art pieces,
read about them, search for
information in reliable sites and
try, always try without fear.
Do your art, continue studying
and some time later come back
to see it again and judge it based
I.A : Anything else?
CDL : I would like to thank Its Art for this wonderful opportunity. For any artist, having the chance to
talk about her/his work is something very important, especially in such notorious site as “Its Art.”
This opportunity is unique. I hope all your readers enjoy the answers and I would like to apologize in
advance for my English. I am still learning.
Thank you all. Cheers.
Exciting feeling
Catwoman's shower Oil - July 2007
Aviator Pinup Autralian girl
Curupira
Ms Santa Rock Star
Angel Kyrla
3
Untitle
Girl
3
Portrait
Red Warior
Ms Santa Rock Star
Angel Kyrla
3
Autralian girl
Razor
Ms Santa Rock Star
Angel Kyrla
3
Aviator Pinup Autralian girl
Curupira
Ms Santa Rock Star
Angel Kyrla
3
Aviator Pinup Autralian girl
Curupira
Ms Santa Rock Star
Angel Kyrla
3
Aviator Pinup Autralian girl
Curupira
Ms Santa Rock Star
Angel Kyrla
3
Aviator Pinup Autralian girl
Curupira
Ms Santa Rock Star
Angel Kyrla
3
Aviator Pinup Autralian girl
Curupira
Ms Santa Rock Star
Angel Kyrla
3
Aviator Pinup Autralian girl
Curupira
Ms Santa details
3
Nadja, the mystery of EastJune 2009
Aviator Pinup Autralian girl
Curupira
Ms Santa Rock Star
Angel Kyrla
3
Aviator Pinup Autralian girl
Curupira
Ms Santa Rock Star
Angel Kyrla
3
Aviator Pinup Autralian girl
Curupira
Ms Santa Rock Star
Angel Kyrla
3
Aviator Pinup Autralian girl
Curupira
Ms Santa Rock Star
Angel Kyrla
3
Aviator Pinup Autralian girl
Curupira
Ms Santa Rock Star
Angel Kyrla
3
Aviator Pinup Autralian girl
Curupira
Ms Santa Rock Star
Angel Kyrla
3
Marvel Comic'sCris de Lara in her studio
Black Cat Conquest
Black Cat Conquest
Adriano Sonja
Wonder Woman
Daredevil and Elektra - October 2006
Super-Heroines - November 2007
Daredevil and Elektra - October 2006
Red Sonja
Catwoman's shower - July 2007
Vampirella perfum - June 2007
Catwoman's shower lineart - July 2007
Red Sonja
Xena
Princess Manga Criscolor - July 2006
Elektra
Cat Woman
Medusa - 2008
Warrior - June 2007
Medusa draw - July 2008
Blood Rayne
Harley Party - June 2007
Bag
Harley Joker draw
Tough choice- May 2010
Robot feelings - August 2007Ipanema's GirlL- May 2010
Poison Ivy - June 2007
La Voyeus
Poison Ivy pencil – June 2007
La Voyeuse - September 2009
Jolly Halloween - October 2007
Tricking Spells - November 2009
Witch Halloween
Jolly Halloween - October 2009
Jolly Halloween – October 2008
Aphrodite's belt - May 2008
Jolly Halloween draw - October 2008
Curupira's girl - July 2007
POPWATER - January 2010
Marie Antoinette's Revenge - October 2007
Aphrodite's belt - May 2008
Photos for M.A.R - October 2007
Zatanna cover - March 2008
Rockstar - July 2007
Zatana draw
Discovering the new - September 2007
Pixel Cover - 2009
Sweet Whispers - February 2010
Dangerous Girl Portrait - June 2008
Shahrazad - December 2007
Shoes - January 2010
No Snow White No ! - June 2009
Coffe
Angels and demons - November 2009
Morgan Freeman Portrait - October 2009
Super-Heroines - November 2007
Gandalf « Lord of The Ring »
Michael Jackson always alive - June 2009
Cover « The Daughter In Law »
Manga warrior - July 2007
Catwoman's shower lineart - July 2007
Manga warrior draw - July 2007
Mother Day - 2009
Santa Claus gift - December 2007
Baby Vader - June 2007
Sci-Fi Crossover - March 2008
Baby Vader lineart - July 2007
Balloon – May 2009
Baby Alice - August 2007
Balloon scheth
Baby Alice scheth
Fairy meeting - June 2007
My angel - July 2007
Fairy meeting scheth
My angel - July 2007
October 2007
Morgan Freeman art in progress
Catwoman's shower lineart - July 2007
Continuig Education - May 2009
Waiting for her - January 2008
What are friends for ? - February 2008
Turtle - January 2008
Photos and work for : What are friends for ?
Wonder Wooman, Jungle Girl, Zatana andFairy
Mother Day sketch, Stargir and Zatana
Kyrla
Criss de Lara studioMary Jane, Sonja and Black Cat
Caricature Angelina Joulie