When did you first get into drawing?
I have been drawing since I can remember.

I recall coming home from kindergarten and sketching long haired princesses with beautiful and improbably- voluminous over-wide-long dresses covered in flowers and ribbons.
In my teens I though I would have become a Fashion Designer but then I realised that Fashion Design was not just about drawing ,but a much more complex and different process.I let my illustrative and artistic side to take over and I drifted into Illustration and Graphic Design. I attended Art College in Savona and Graphic Design and Illustration in Milan. I studied Fashion Illustration for a year in London at CSM and I got a BTEC in Motion Graphics from WEAS.

If I look back itʼs a lot of learning and I have never really stopped since.

Why did you choose to make fashion part of your inspiration?
What is your particular working day as a creative?

Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of staying to a routine. I have many different commitments and collaborations, my teaching schedules for ones.
But when I can, I like early mornings or late nights.

No one to disturb me, no thoughts to cross my path, It is almost a meditation state, I just drift away into my drawings.

I love it...

What tools do you use when creating your images?
As illustrator I have a traditional background (pencils, gauche, watercolour, even oil painting). It took me two years to give-in to an IPadPro, at first I did not know what to do with it, but lately Iʼve moved from my black and white pencil drawings to full colour, and the IPadPro has eased the process greatly. Now it is a consistent tool in my creative process that I can carry everywhere.. I always sketch every drawing on paper first, that I cannot change.
On the IPadPro I use the very well-known Procreate but also, InfinitePainter which I like very much.

Who are what has influenced you over the years as an artist?

I have always liked John William Waterhouse and Lucian Freud.
But I would like to add that I am very fortunate because I get to work as a teacher every week with groups of young creative students from all over the world. I get to share ideas with them and artistically direct them through different projects. I also get to use different mediums such as animations, video as well as traditional illustrations. This gives me access to a constant creative flow and inspiration.

What advice do you have for younger artists looking to be part of this industry?
To draw and keep drawing.
To create a social media channel preferably IG or Pinterest to get the work around.
To collaborate with Project such as Fida and others that we know, that are opening doors to many interesting col-labs, contests and mentorships that can really make a big difference in an artist career. I think that all of those working in this direction have a contribution to this New Illustration Renaissance.
We are now in a much more open and fast visual community where your work can get to a very vast audience in seconds.

I remember when we had to get appointment with illustration Agencies.It seems a century ago... well right, it is.

What are you drawing today?

I am busy with a new project called Paraguay Ilustrado. It is a portfolio of mostly botanical illustrations direct to the South American market, I am collaborating with different companies mostly Interior Design and Textile Design.

I am very happy because is going very well beyond every expectation. To be specific I am drawing a white Orquidea Selvaje.

Music are you listening to?

Everything according to my mood really.

Books that your are reading?

It is an Audio book.The Source by Dr Tara Swart

Favourite artist/designer at the moment?

Virgil Abloh and Divine Savage

View Simona's work

https://www.instagram.com/simona_murialdo_sanchez

https://www.instagram.com/paraguay_ilustrado