Ana Frois

Ana is an Architect and an Illustrator based in Coimbra, Portugal. She loves water color, and I’m totally fond of her work. There is something really fresh and really playful in it. Basically, her art just put a smile on my face.

ice cream _final KM

KALTBLUT: Hi Ana, how did you start to do illustration?

Ana: I started more seriously about an year ago. I’ve always been interested in art and illustration. As a kid, used to draw a lot. I have a degree in architecture and since I graduated, I’ve always worked as an architect. About an year ago, I found myself in a sort of deadlock. I just wasn’t happy with my job anymore. So, I felt this desire to do some drawings, simple drawings, with felts pens. Trees and plants. Things like that. Something I could do easily and I could enjoy. It all started like that. But, much to my surprise couldn’t stop thinking about new things to draw. The whole time I was thinking about new drawings. So, it became clear to me that I wanted to continue. And I just kept on doing it. In an year a lot has changed. I’ve done some interesting commissions and I tried to develop my personal work.

things organized_KM

KALTBLUT: Your drawings seems to be “very simple”.  What inspires you when you’re drawing?

Ana: I think nature, architecture and memories are my the main influences in my work. Memory plays a big role in my illustrations: memories of places I’ve been to, but also my memories as a child, and the way I saw things back then. Due to my academic background, I’m often inspired by architecture related subjects: buildings, cities and houses and maps, but also by architectural drawings and its power to depict things in an abstract way.
Books that enjoyed reading and music are also importante to me. I also love children drawings. I’m attracted to their readiness and also to their ‘weird’ sense of scale. The way everything goes well together, no matter what.
I try to simplify everything while I am drawing, I don’t know why, it just have to be like that. I like leaving some white space on the drawings. No always, but most of the time.

London calling_KM

KALTBLUT: You draw houses, plants, flowers. All your drawings feels comforting. How do choose the “subject” of your illustrations?

Ana: Sometimes a sentence from a book I loved, or a title of a song resonates in my head for a week or so. Them, I decide to do some drawings about it. Other times is something I saw while taking a walk. I do a lot of lists of things that interested me. At times lists of words, sometimes lists of small drawings with words. It can be a list of places, trees I like, songs. So, I make these lists of things, and I start from that.

KALTBLUT: What is your favorite medium to use?

Ana: When I first started doing illustration, I worked really quickly because I wanted something done. So, I mostly used pencils and felt pens. Now, I tend to work a little slower and enjoy the process. I’ve started working mainly with watercolors, liquid watercolor and occasionally acrylic. I like the water “effect”. It has an element of surprise in it. Now and then, I use the computer to work on layers, like a sort of screen printing or on final stages of an illustration.

sea battle_KM

KALTBLUT: Do you have any mentor, artist that inspires you?

Ana: I don’t really have a mentor. I try to be always under the spell of something. I try to see as many different things as can. I see the work of many different contemporary illustrators, with different ways of doing things. I try to learn as much as can, as my background is not illustration. Also, I enjoy the work of artists like Matisse, Albers, Hanne Borchgrevink and Louise Bourgeois, for instance.  Due my architectural background, I am interested in the work of artists such Gordon Matta-Clark and Rachel Whiteread, whose work has a strong connection to architecture. Nevertheless, I don’t think that shows in my illustration work.

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KALTBLUT: When you’re not drawing, what are you doing?

Ana: Well, I like taking walks (I like walks, both in countryside or in town) and reading books. But most of the time, I am busy taking care of my 4 and half year twins!

A winter walk in the park_KM

KALTBLUT: What you are working on at the moment?

Ana: I’m working a lot of different things. I tend to have many things on my desk, so I can I switch from one to another, when feel like. I am working on a 2015 Calendar and also doing some X-mas Cards. I am always doing some personal work. It is very important to me to have some personal projects going on, so I can test new ideas and develop my work.

Interview by Nicolas Simoneau

deer_KM
Contact:

www.anafrois.com
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