Nature itself, the largest and best architect of the universe
I’m totally self-taught. It wasn’t up to the beginning of my adolescence when I met Adobe tools, and that moment was when practically started everything, creating images for tapes we exchanged between friends, from this the link between graphic arts and music started. Years later, friends of mine had a music band and asked me for creating the artwork for their first CD. This was before I met Teresa, who today is my wife and Procesonegro art Studio mate. She has academic formation in design. Together we started to created works that inspired us certain songs, situations and texts, and this was the origin of Procesonegro Art Studio. As far as our technique, it can be described as ‘mixed media’, we use almost anything to create our works. From a draft, paint stain or texture we photographed and scan afterwards, to pics and some from picture library, going through digital painting. We don’t any boundaries beyond our own liking or self-satisfaction.
It is always interesting that a band gives you their view about their music, but we’re against bands tell us exactly what they want, with many details and specifications. We usually ask for songs, lyrics or concepts surrounding their album, but we need to show our vision about what we feel in their music and what it transmits us. Apart from that, We like having a relationship with the people we work, we’re not robots and we like interacting with them, as much as possible, and to have a good relation further than the work itself.
There is nothing more important than the complacency facing a job. If you don’t believe in your own work, we’re going nowhere. We try to be the most honest possible with the people we work, and of course, with ourselves. We couldn’t work with bands or musicians who don’t transmit anything, how much money they offered us. Money flies in a couple of bills, but the empty feeling never disappears. We try to immerse ourselves as much as we can in the songs.
We are big eaters of occult imagery, movies and especially music. Me, (Manuel) personally, I am a lover of silent films of the 20s, alchemy, science fiction, ancient cultures and a multitude of graphic artists, painters, illustrators, architects, sculptors, photographers and typographers, and of course, nature itself, the largest and best architect of the universe. We are really touched by the vision that others may have regarding common issues, we like to interact with creative people and establish a close relationship, we believe that really feeds our intellect.
My main inspirations come from those who today, are great teachers for me, in graphic scope, it can be said I really love the work of artists like Dave McKean, Travis Smith, Niklas Sundin Alex Eckman-Lawn, Lars Henkel, Truls Spedal, Stephen Kasner, Dehn Sora, Jesse Draxler, Paul W Ruiz, Spiros Antoniu, Costin Chioreanu, Samuel Araya, Dan Seagrave, Orion Landau, Gustavo Sazes, Patrycja Podkościelny, Michal Karcz, Denis Forkas, Scott Shellhamer, David S. Herrerias, Ilan Wolff … among many others.
Always observe, study, listen and above all failing. Nothing teaches much and as well as the mistake itself. So I learned what I know up today, which isn’t enough. Perhaps, if he had studied certain regulated formations, technically, it would be better applying them today, but I think he would not have developed my creativity in the same way. We are always learning and we love doing it from other artists, their techniques, visions or opinions regarding issues that, principally, would have nothing to do with art. I am a lover of the interviews which deepen beyond simple primary objectives of the interviews, which delve into a more personal and deeper level. Each and every one of us are totally different from each other, since no one has lived the same circumstances as the person next to you, and being illustrated in them is always rewarding.
Today we are not in any group or organization, there is no particular reason, although I try to be in contact with other artists and friends with whom I share ideas or opinions. Anyway, in Spain it’s not too common the existence of this type of organizations, but It wouldn’t be bad, and to some extent it would be interesting, that such groups exist to exchange opinions, ideas or collaborative projects.
I do not have excessively high ambitions, beyond keep doing what I like and how I like, although that would be helpful for this, to spend 100% of my time, except that obviously requires my life staff outside art, to develop myself and constantly be improving, continue working with bands anywhere in the world and meet great artists I really admire. In early 2015 we were invited to make a small exhibition in Vitoria, in the Basque Country, where there was also some musical performance too, with bands like Vallenfyre and Foscor.
www.procesonegroartstudio.tumblr.com
Interview by Alex Milazzo – Copyright 2016 © Heavy Music Artwork. All rights reserved.
