From Architecture to Illustrations - An Interview with Italian Artist Francesca Tesoriere

 "All art is autobiographical. The pearl is the oyster's autobiography".

- Federico Fellini

Artist Francesca Tesoriere

Tales for Creative Minds: Could you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Francesca Tesoriere, the second of three sisters. I was born in Palermo, Sicily, where I currently work. The choice to do professionally do illustrations did not follow a straight line, but it was very twisty, I'd say! I always had a predisposition for the design but I did not know it could become a trade. In fact, my journey was classical studies – I graduated in Architecture. In all those long years of studying, I felt stifled about something important to me (and I didn't know quite what it was!).  I decided to continue my studies with a course of illustration, in Rome (Istituto Europeo di Design) through which I have finally taken my first steps into the world of illustration.

Tales for Creative Minds: What first drew you to art/illustration? A few years earlier, before arriving in Rome and while studying architecture, I had the good fortune to participate in the student program during which I spent a year in Spain, in Madrid. There, I attended a course in design called "Analysis de formas", that taught to look at forms in space, to draw freehand figures and architectural elements. It was like a lightning! After those wonderful lessons in drawing I haven't stopped learning, looking, and improving myself. 

© Francesca Tesoriere

Tales for Creative Minds: How did you develop your art style? I know only one way to do it and that's to work hard. The rest comes by itself, I would say. Naturally there have been and still have difficult times!

Tales for Creative Minds: What tool/s and medium/s do you prefer to use? I love using traditional techniques, and despite the daily use of computer graphics, I prefer as it's possible, drawing on paper and watercolors, although in the beginning I used acrylics a lot.

Tales for Creative Minds: What challenges have you faced in developing as an artist? Many and they varied. I immediately set my business as a real working activity, almost entrepreneurial, with lots of bumps at the beginning. The hardest thing to understand is that what you do is a job, first of all, even if you do it with passion. As an artist, the first difficulty I had was to find a quiet place, where to work peacefully, like a room, a studio, a house, which I eventually found at the end!

© Francesca Tesoriere

Tales for Creative Minds: What other artists would you say have either inspired or influenced your own work?  There are many, first among all those who I had the good fortune to personally know. Then there are those who feel closer in style or the way they feel – among them Quentin Grèban, Jessie W. Smith, the legendary Hollie Hobbie with which I have literally grown up in the 80s! And lots of other illustrators: Yan Nascimbene or Cicely Mary Barker, to name just a few. But there are so many others, who continue to inspire me, also with a completely different style! I first learned to love the painters of all the ages, showed in art history books, although there are no mentions of Illustrators in those books, and I think it's a mistake.

© Francesca Tesoriere

Tales for Creative Minds: In your view, how does knowledge and experience influence an artists work? I think any creative activity, involves a deep understanding because otherwise you could not think of new creative ideas. It's important first of all, to grow as a person.

Tales for Creative Minds: How important is experimentation with media in developing ones craft? Essential! Try them all! And then choose what you like, or sometimes, simply the most suitable for a particular project. I constantly experiment, even digitally! I know my limits with one technique or another, so it is important to try them all, a little bit!

Tales for Creative Minds: What is your view on the development of an artists style? I think it's possible to do completely different things, while remaining themselves. Basically what characterizes each person is their own way of being, talking, walking, writing, sneezing or laughing! We all have an "own way". The difference is that we illustrators, spend more time with colours... maybe? 

© Francesca Tesoriere

Tales for Creative Minds: What is/was your experience as a freelance? Very hard! But it's worth it, or at least I'm still hoping!

Tales for Creative Minds: What were some of the challenges in selling your work? I tried in the past and still challenge luck with the new technologies! Due to necessity, or to just experiment.  I'm using my computer to establish business contacts, potential opportunities, which sometimes disappear into the thin air. Other times they become concrete realities! Sometimes it's lacking direct human relationships... but in any case even this is a challenge for me!
 

© Francesca Tesoriere

Tales for Creative Minds: Do you have any upcoming projects that you can share with us? Many ideas, some publishing projects. But I prefer to work on specific projects as they occur ... I keep ready and see what happens!  I'm trying to keep updated, more than anything else, while making order among things and thoughts. This is one of those moments!

Francesca's links:


Website: www.francescatesoriere.com
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ftesoriere
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/NLJQ1000
Imagezoo: http://www.imagezoo.com/artist.asp?id=FTE
StudioCreativity: http://www.studiocreativity.com/web/index-content-artistdetails-cat-illustratori-id-251.htm