Artist Spotlight: Cristina de Elias
February 26, 2020
Everyone’s work is deeply idiosyncratic: in our regular Spotlight segment we explore artists’ experiences and inspiration to understand what defines and inspires their unique styles.
Concept artist Cristina de Elias draws from literature, movies and modern technology to inspire and create her pieces.
Can you give us a brief background on yourself?
I’m an illustrator and concept artist born and raised in Barcelona, Spain. I manifested my passion for drawing when I was a little child. I knew I wanted this to be my profession the moment I learned you could make a living out of it.
Now that I’ve earned my bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, I’m looking forward to investing all of my efforts into achieving my personal and professional goals as an artist. I’m currently working as an environment and character concept artist at 3D2Entertainment, and I am developing a fantasy video game named Arima.
What kind of influence does your location have on your career?
Many of the big studios I would one day like to work for, such as Disney, Pixar, Laika, Dreamworks, and many more, are located in the U.S. This makes it slightly harder for me to get an opportunity at one of the big studios, and would eventually require me to move there. However, thanks to technology and the internet, I can work on various projects with enterprises from all over the world as a freelance artist. Also, the internet is full of resources and online art schools through which we can compliment our education. As a result of this, the location one lives in definitely has a lower impact in an artist’s career than it did a few decades ago.
What is your greatest source of inspiration?
For me, anything that creates a sensorial stimulation can become a source of inspiration. Some examples of this would be music, literature, movies, other artists' work, a certain smell, a certain place, a color palette, nature. To be more specific, I’m especially moved by traditional tales, fairy tales, celtic folklore, romanticism, gothic literature, Tim Burton, Edwardian era, and Victorian era. Basically anything that incorporates a sense of nostalgia.
Could you pick one piece of art that has made a lasting influence on you, and if so why?
Charlie Bowater has always been one of my greatest influences. I was lucky to find her work on deviantart when I was just starting to get more serious about digital art. I learned a lot by observing and emulating her painting process. That definitely had a noticeable impact on my style. She did this piece called "Declan" back in 2009. I was 13 when I saw it for the first time, and I felt it really resonated with my own imagination and taste. I loved the concept, the composition, and the execution. I simply had a "This is the kind of art that I want to be able to create" moment.
What skills or techniques do you find most useful in your line of work? Do you use primarily traditional or digital methods to create your artwork?
To be an illustrator it is essential to know the fundamentals: anatomy, composition, light, color, etc. If you lack a good foundation you will encounter many obstacles on your way, which can easily lead to frustration because it cuts short your creative process and makes you feel stuck. I’ve learned this the hard way, and I’m still practicing and working towards building a solid base for myself. Mastering these essential skills gives you the ability to successfully replicate the images in your mind, which translates into a wider range of possibilities, more self confidence, and a greater sense freedom. I still draw traditionally from time to time, specifically on my sketchbook, but I mainly use digital methods.
How can people who are interested in discovering more of your work find it?
www.instagram.com/cristinadeelias
and Artstation www.artstation.com/cristinadeelias
accounts.
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