Get To Know Illustrator – Enrique Vignolo

Enrique Vignolo is a very talented and prolific artist. That’s him, right there in the middle of the picture above, playing the blue guitar. Enrique has illustrated several books for me and for our mutual author friend, Sandi Johnson, as well as lots of other authors. I got a chance to ask him some questions about his illustrator career and wanted to share his answers with you here.

1. What is your favorite drawing or painting in your portfolio and why?

Enrique: One I did a few years ago for a Japanese publisher, “Buz Goes To Space”

2. What techniques and resources did you use to design your last few pieces?

Enrique: I use pencil, then I put it in ink, then I use a tool called scanner (it is associated with the use of a pc) and finally I paint it in a program on my computer called Photoshop.

3. How do you get inspired to produce a piece of artwork?

Enrique: Usually I don’t need inspiration, the people who hire me as an illustrator have enough! So I follow the script they send me and illustrate according to the text.

What do you like best about the entire illustrating process?

Enrique: What I like the most is painting, but in general I like the whole process.

What is one thing you hope people notice about your artwork?

Enrique: I hope the humor that I sometimes try to reflect in some drawings catches your attention a bit.

Do you use social media? If yes, how do you feel about the role social media plays in your artistic life?

Enrique: I use them, yes. Although not so much to communicate in an artistic way. Networks are more fun than anything else.

What book made the strongest impression on you as a child?

Enrique: 20.000 leagues under the sea, by Jules Verne. It comes with illustrations and I still have it! It was given to me by a very dear aunt of mine who wanted to stimulate the pleasure of reading (and she succeeded)

Did you always want to be an artist? And how did you enter the children’s book world?

Enrique: Since I was 3 years old, I remember drawing on the floor of my mother’s kitchen, when I was older I studied at an art school, when I left there I started working in an advertising agency and later joined a subsidiary of Hanna- Barbera here, in Argentina. Then a friend recommended that I start drawing for children’s editorials and many years later, here I am!

Do you have favorite music to listen to when you work?

Enrique: I listen to a lot of music when I draw, especially rock and roll, but I also usually listen to Jazz or classical music. (I’m a huge fan of The Beatles)

What are you working on now?

Enrique: A book for Sandi Johnson about a caveman.

Is there anything that you would like to say to your fans?

Enrique: Keep reading and imagining! The best thing that human beings have is the ability to create music, and art in general.

Thank you Enrique!!! As I said, Enrique is a prolific illustrator. Here are just a few of the books that contain his artwork. Get all of these at Amazon.

If you are interested in hiring Enrique for your next project, message him on his art website and let him know you found out about him at Sybrina’s Book Blog.

Follow his Pinterest page, too.