Tell me a little bit about yourself, about your life? Where did you go to school, and what classes did you study (if any)? What helped prepare you to become the artist that you are today?
I grew up in a small village near Crema, in the north of Italy. I studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Brescia and obtained a master’s degree in Illustration at the Ars In Fabula school in Macerata. I have always drawn but only 5-6 years ago I approached the world of illustration (especially illustration for children). The thing that helped me the most in my path was the continuous curiosity and the desire to always improve. I immersed myself completely in this world and, through school and book fairs, I met a lot of illustrators who helped me to grow.
How do you go about designing a new piece of art, and what goes through your mind, from start to end?
Each time the process may be different. Sometimes the idea for a new design comes to me before I sleep or while I’m in the shower, other times I spend hours looking for images on Pinterest to find the right inspiration. The most difficult part is at the beginning, when I have to think of the right composition or idea, then the rest of the process is all more fun.
What is a typical day for you, and who are the people you work with?
At the moment I have returned to live in my village and therefore I have my own studio. I prefer to be alone while I work, with the radio company or an audiobook. I wake up around 9 a.m. and spend the morning organizing my day at work. I am not a very active person in the morning so (when I don’t have an imminent deadline) I prefer to draw only an hour or so. I spend the rest of the day drawing until late at night. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I also go out with my friends and my boyfriend. But just to let you know how much I love being locked in my studio, he calls me “mole”.
What are some of the things that you have worked on?
I published 4 books in Italy. My last work is “Se riesco io puoi farcela anche tu” with the publishing house Carthusia. Other works will be released in the next months.
Is there a character or illustration you have done that you are most happy with?
This is a tricky question because, even though I’m fond with my works, I usually don’t like them anymore after a few weeks. At the moment the last work I did, which is not yet published, I like it very much. We’ll see in a few months though ahah
What projects are you working on now? (if you can tell us)
I can’t say anything at the moment, only that I’m working on projects that will come out in the next months.
Who are some of your favorite artists out there?
Some random names among the great masters of illustration that I love and other more contemporary illustrators: Quentin Blake, Benjamin Chaud, Tomi Hungerer, Lisbeth Zwerger, Wolf Erlbruch, Beatrice Alemagna, Kitty Crowther, Manuele Fior, Mariachiara Di Giorgio, Veronica Ruffato and many more.
Could you talk about your process in creating your art, as well as the types of tools or media that you use?
I always start with the sketches in my sketchbook. Sometimes I also like to fix the sketches with the iPad, to make them a little more defined and to do some digital color tests. Then I move on to the final illustration. Lately I really like to illustrate with watercolors.
What part of designing is most fun and easy, and what is most difficult?
The most fun part is to draw the small details, character expressions and in general create the universe in which your characters live. The difficult part is everything else.
What are some of the things that you do to keep yourself creative?
I don’t know, I don’t have a precise answer beyond the usual: watching movies, reading books and comics. I also don’t even remember the last day without drawing. So drawing itself for me is a means to keep my creative side active.
What are some of your favorite characters from other creators that you enjoy?
I answer with two picturebooks: “Duck, Death and the Tulip” by Wolf Erlbruch “Up the Mountain” by Marianne Dubuc
What is your most favorite subject to draw? And why?
I like to draw funny, clumsy characters. I like the idea that the spectator can recognize himself in my characters. Because, at the end of the day, we are all a bit weird in our own way.
What inspired you to become an Artist?
My parents are great book-lovers and since I was a child I have always been surrounded by picturebooks. All I know is that since I started drawing I have never stopped.
What are some of the neat things you have learned from other artists that you have worked with or seen?
I learned basically the whole working process from masters and illustrator friends. For example, in the beginning I was always very focused on the final result, but I learned that the process of study and research is the most important. Focusing on that I improved a lot.
What wisdom could you give us, about being an Artist? Do you have any tips you could give?
The work of the illustrator is both beautiful and extremely frustrating. It’s beautiful when you are satisfied with the work but it’s very tiring because sometimes months go by without real breaks and always with your head immersed in the work, even when you sleep.
If people would like to contact you, how would you like to be contacted?
on my email: lorenzovoltaire@gmail.com (or on my instagram @lorenzosangio)
Finally, do you have any of your art work for sale (sketchbook, prints, or anything) for people that like your work can know where and when to buy it?
I don’t have an online shop at the moment, my site is still a work in progress (I hope to finish it soon). At the moment if anyone is interested he can contact me in private on instagram.
MabsArts 