Curiosity of discovering trends
Interview
Fida Spoke to artist Giulia Balsarin @wiediart
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When did you first get into drawing?
Art has been my lifelong companion, as I started developing my art skills from the time I
was very little. For me, drawing has been the primary form of expression, the initial means
to give voice and shape to my emotions. My parents always humorously remind me that I
learned to draw before I learned to speak.
As I grew up, I honed my skills as a self-taught artist through a lot of practice and
experimentation. I recall that as a teenager, I would train myself by attempting to
reproduce drawings or paintings from various art movements, exploring different
techniques and studying forms and volumes.
Why did you choose to make fashion part of your inspiration?
Around the age of 11, I began collecting my first fashion magazines. As I flipped through
them, I started feeling the curiosity and the need to attempt reproducing the silhouettes
to draw my own clothing. Fashion has always been a passion experienced through
garments and accessories, especially my mother’s silk scarves. However, over the years, I
felt that the curiosity of discovering trends through store windows, magazines, and social
media, was not enough for me. I wanted to put my vision on paper.
Even though the academic path I initially pursued didn't reflect my passion for fashion,
after completing my bachelor's degree in languages, I finally decided to study Fashion
Design & Management. This unconventional path has infused my design aesthetic with a
unique perspective, blending cultural influences into my projects.
What truly excites me is the possibility to combine fashion and art, where I can merge my
two greatest passions.
What is your particular working day as a creative?
My typical day as a creative begins - as a good Italian - with a cup of coffee and a few
pages of an inspirational book. However, I'm not a fan of routine, and my days varied.
Usually, I start by conducting research and gathering inspiration through images, online
articles, but most importantly, by flipping through my ever-growing collection of books. I
make preliminary sketches to put ideas on paper, and then I dive into the heart of the
project, dedicating myself to commissions or personal research.
What tools do you use when creating your images?
In creating my illustrations, I experiment a lot using different mediums. Coloured pencils have always been my companions, useful for both quick illustrations and sketches, as well as for creating realistic drawings. Then, there are markers and acrylic colours, but also watercolours, which I have come to appreciate especially in the last year and a half.
Sometimes, when it comes to customizations, I paint outside of paper, on fabrics, clothes and accessories - often on real leather.
Additionally, I enjoy being able to blend traditional techniques with digital ones to add a final touch to the illustrations, create new textures, or completely reinvent the drawing done on paper.
There are no rules: I follow my instincts and choose the medium based on the characteristics of the project I need to realize each time.
Who and what has influenced you over the years as an artist?
As a teenager, I recall being captivated by two TV personalities whose shows contributed to my passion for the world of fashion, particularly Lauren Conrad and Louise Roe.
During my school years, thanks to the history of Art, I was particularly struck by the use of colours by painters such as Van Gogh and, especially, Vassilj Kandinskij - with his contributions to the study of the correlation between colours and emotions. More recently, some contemporary illustrators, discovered primarily through social media, have rekindled my curiosity for drawing, especially for fashion illustration.
What advice do you have for younger artists looking to be part of this industry?
My advice is to practice a lot, make plenty of mistakes, and explore different techniques.
Be curious and kind to yourself and build a healthy and solid self-confidence in your abilities day by day. Finally, don't be afraid, neither to try nor to fail, and certainly not to face criticism or negative judgments – from which we can always glean new lessons.
What are you drawing today? Music are you listening to? Books that you are reading?
Favourite artist/designer at the moment?
I am working on a series of illustrations for a personal project and simultaneously handling a few commissions. To relax between tasks, I carve out some time to draw flowers... I find it to be rejuvenating.
I don't have a specific genre or favourite artist; much like in art, I experiment with my musical tastes. I often listen to music while working, selecting a playlist based on the level of concentration and my mood!
I love collecting books on fashion, botany, art, and colours. I frequently choose books with images as they help inspire my projects.
Currently, I greatly admire the works of some contemporary illustrators like Zhenya Z, Connie Lim, and Nuno da Costa. In the realm of designers, I cannot overlook Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli and Pier Paolo Piccioli for Valentino – they are among my favourites.