Featured Artist for the Week – Francis Vallejo

please tell us a brief info about yourself.

I was born in Farmington, NM 1985. I moved to Detroit Rock City when I was 3 and was raised there through high school. I was big into sports and hip hop, which both are large influences in my work.

When did you first realized that you wanted to be an artist?

A funny story is when I was 7 or 8 my aunts and uncles would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I always replied I wanted to draw comic books. This summer I’m going to devote a majority of my time to a six issue comic book. So that kind of worked out..haha. But I was always the kid that liked to draw throughout my time growing up. I really became serious my junior year of high school when I realized that the cartoons of my teachers that I drew all over my notebooks could end up making me money in the future. After that I enrolled in Ringling College of Art + Design and that leads me to right now; wrapping up my junior year as an Illustration major.

What are your tools of the trade: mouse, tablet, brush or pen and ink or pencil? and why?

I’m at an interesting point in my journey right now. I used to do a majority of my work on the computer but I am really trying to use the computer much less and do the majority traditionally. My favorite mediums are oil and charcoal/pencil. The more I look at the great artists before us I see the sacredness in those mediums. The life that those tools can get is humbling. You can’t go wrong with ink too..

Who or what gives you inspiration?

O man, you’d need a much longer interview to hold all my influences and inspirations. But a few of my biggest influences are: Norman Rockwell, Dean Cornwell, N.C.Wyeth, James Jean, Daniel Adel, Nicolas Uribe, Al Parker, Nicolai Fechin, John S. Sargent, and Velasquez. As far as an artist whom I would like my work to be most like (hopefully), that would be Dean Cornwell…..that guy was a monster. He was so passionate about his art. He practically gave up an extremely lucrative illustration career to work on murals so he could feel like he made his mark on art history. I respect that. As far as other avenues…music is immensely important in my work. I do much better work if I have music that can mirror the project I’m working on. I constantly have on: the Roots, Foreign Exchange, Nas, Eminem, AZ, Binary Star, and artists that have something to say. I hope I can change the notion that hip hop is represented by the trash currently in the mainstream. I can’t blame our older generation for criticizing hip-hop because all they hear is garbage. But if we can expose the truly original, passionate artists then maybe we can fix the negative image of hip-hop….Also, my peers and fellow artists are huge inspirations!!

Is your artistic background self-taught or did you go to college to study?

Well growing up my dad played a large part in my artistic development. He would always stress the importance of staying in the lines of my coloring book. And he entered me in every art/coloring contest K-Mart ever offered. From there I had a teacher in high school called Mr. Beins that really lit a fire in artwork. Then he left and a terrible art teacher replaced him and he discouraged my art, so I’ve been pretty much working so hard to prove him wrong..haha. But I enrolled into Ringling College in Sarasota, FL in 2004. I was originally a computer animation major but switched majors a week before my senior thesis. I’m really happy with that decision, although I’m a junior for a second time. Hopefully, once I graduate, next summer I will attend one out of a possible two ateliers in Florence, Italy.

How do you keep “fresh” within your industry?

Well I try to watch a lot of Fresh Prince…..no but I really like to look at what other artists are doing. And whenever I’m stuck I ask “what would Norman Rockwell do” and that usually points me in the right direction.

What are some of your current projects?

Like I mentioned I’m about to begin working full time on a comic with writer Adam Beason. I’m also real excited and honored to be working on a project in association with Pixar Studios and other illustrators. I’m working with Joe Bluhm on a “art of” book. I’m taking my time on it, but hopefully I’ll have it out by the end of the year. I’m attending the Illustration Academy this summer which I’m real stoked for.And of course, I’m stalking (I mean politely inquiring) magazines for freelance work.

Which of your works are you the most proud of? And why?

I still don’t think I’ve finished a picture that fulfills what I’ve had in my mind, but the billboard piece I did has probably come the closest. I also hope the statement that I’m trying to make comes across also.

Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?

I really want to goof around with gouache. I really like the flat colors that I got digitally, so if I could do that with gouache that would be ace. I’d also like to learn silk-screening for the same reason. As far as projects, I’d love to do some work for National Geographic, Rolling Stone, and Marvel/DC.

What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?

If I can find a really good cd to jam too, that always helps. Nothings worse than listening to bad music and trying to work. I was painting the other day and this dude was playing some Webbie (really bad rap) and I probably made some of the worst marks of my life. I also like to think that are probably a million other artists out there that are working harder and getting better than me, so I better try and keep up. Traveling also really helps. Actually, I think that is the best thing to do if possible.

When you’re not in front of your canvas or monitor, how do you spend most of your free time?

You mean there is supposed to be times when I’m not in front of my art table??? haha….But when I do have a little time I like to make stupid jokes, spit really bad freestyles (hopefully not too many people have heard these), work out, and talk to my lady.

and finally, What advices/tips can you give to the novice designers/ illustrators out there?

I think the best advice I can give is that no matter how good your work is, if you don’t get it out there no one will ever see it, or hire you to make more. As artists, especially as illustrators, we have a product and we have to sell and promote it. There are a million other artists out there with a similar product so we have to prove why someone would want ours. That means promoting through the internet, in person, through mail, etc. I get a rush out of that challenge, but it’s not for everyone. Freelancing is hard. The alternative is working for a studio where you can count on the steady check, at least for pre-determined amounts of time. Also my girlfriend is a med student, but all the successful artists work just as much or more than medical students (with all due respect to them). I think art is the only occupation where we do art when we aren’t supposed to. You know you’re an artist when you bring your sketchbook to parties. I’d like to end with that..

For commission works & other information, please contact him at:

website: http://francisvallejo.carbonmade.com/
http://www.francisvallejo.blogspot.com/

wanna be a featured artist?
email me at: mcedesigns@gmail.com
with the subject: interview request