Mario Sánchez Nevado is an independent Illustrator and Art Director from Spain. He is currently running his own studio and the studio is focused on bringing digital art to the covers and packaging of music bands and publishing houses all over the world. His labor is to design great things for people who has a story that needs to be told. He said that “This is not a job: It’s a way of life”.
Hi Mario! Proud to have you here!
Can you give us little insight as what goes on in your mind when you create your pieces? Where do your ideas stem from?
Usually I’m not really sure. I just let it flow from the subconscious, with no prior ideas to what I’m going to do. I only plan client work.
Are you more of an illustrator or a digital artist or an art director? Why?
I think most people would tag me as digital artist, considering that my style of illustration is mixed with photography, painting and 3D, and the majority of people, I think, consider illustration just to be drawing or painting.
Who inspires you to become an illustrator?
I never had any family member or friends on this field, and my art education was nonexistent until I started my degree in Fine Arts. But besides that, it’s something that I always wanted… needed to do. It’s vocational. I became interested in digital and album art years later I started my career, with the illustrations of Travis Smith and Dave Mckean.
I noticed that most of your artworks depict dark atmosphere. Can you tell us, why is it so?
I think it’s because sometimes I want to deliver bright messages depicting exactly the opposite. I want to force the viewer to watch and think twice with my pieces.
What is the best and worst thing about working with illustration?
In my case, the best thing is that I’m my own boss and I can select in what I want to work. Since this is a vocation, I cannot imagine a better job to work with. The worse… well, there’s not really a worst part since it’s a dream job, but I’d say that some clients can be very difficult to understand, making some commissions very difficult to complete.
Your artwork are superb. Which of your works is your favorite? Why?
I don’t know if I have a favorite. I guess I’d choose “trust in Me”, since the composition was very complex to complete and the meaning of the piece is very honest and raw for me.
Do you think an illustrator needs a style? If so, can you tell us why?
Obviously, everyone develops their stories in their own way. Also, it’s the only way to get clients. If you’re creating something that’s available elsewhere, there’s no point in hiring you.
Thank you very much for your time, what advice would you love to give to the aspiring artists starting in same field?
To be less shy and have the guts to promote themselves!
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