Simona Candini graduated from the Academy Of Fine Arts University of Bologna and she is currently based in Italy. Her work embodies a beautiful yet sometimes dark world inhabited by big eyed girls.
How long have you been illustrating and what made you start?
I've been into illustrations since I was in school, actually I created my first comics when I was in elementary school :) But I started working professionally as an artist back in 2010.
Where do you get your inspiration?
My artworks take inspiration from the pop surrealist movement, but also from fantasy art, manga and anime, Pullip/Blythe dolls and even from the old masters. Music, movies and nature are also a big source of inspiration, as well as my personal life. I love to create creepy cute characters. Baroque and rococo frames are my favourite and I usually customise and hand paint them to match the artwork inside.
Where is your favourite place to illustrate?
My studio is my little Heaven and I love to spend most of my time there. Lately I've been organising it and doing my best to keep it tidy and I see that it's easier to work in well organised space.
What are your illustrating/colouring material essentials?
I love to use oil colours the most. I usually use oil on canvas, butI also create illustrations on paper and in this case I mostly use acrylics, watercolours and coloured pencils. My favourite brands are Michael Harding, Golden and Prismacolors at the moment.
What’s the piece of work that you’re most proud of or enjoyed doing the most?
I consider all my artworks like children so it's a difficult question to answer! I did love a lot to paint Alice in the Ocean of Tears and Mermalice in the Ocean of Tea...because I have a soft spot for this pastel color scheme and I love sweets (and Alice of course!!).
To my colourists friends I would say don't be afraid to mix different techniques! Use different media to achieve the result that you want. The importance is that the support that you use is suitable for these media. If you are starting now colouring for the first time, just do it and don't compare yourself to others. Have fun and with time you will get better and better I promise.
