Erwin Aguirre

1. Tell us about your first steps. If you study, what you study, what your path was, if you had any interesting turning points that marked your start as a professional.

Before studying graphic design, I studied Visual Arts and so I was able to mix graphic design, poster design, with the world of art. And along this path in the artistic world, I have connected the analogue with the digital.

2. Where does your style come from? Is there a search?

I can say that my style is born from that ability to be connected with everything. From that desire and from that need. If you look at my works, they usually have a characteristic element. This element is the nose. Why? Because I am a person who for a long time in my life did not have a sense of smell. Because of that, I show that olfactory channel in all my works. They are people with big noses.

I really like working with color, perhaps because of the land I come from. I was born in Maracaibo, Zulia state, a very colorful city.

Apart from the olfactory elements, I was looking to blur the shape and I still feel like I'm still looking for a style, a shape, but if there's something that I'm passionate about, it's organic shapes. Usually, in my work, you won't see geometric shapes, but rather, more than anything, organic ones.

3. What are your inspirations?

I am definitely passionate about organic things, I am passionate about the human figure. One of the ideas that I love to represent is the hug.

I really like the subject of symbolism, but one of the things I love to represent the most is the hug. I would love to live in the hug.

4. What do you like least about drawing?

They are very geometric shapes. I am not usually very square, although I look for compositional elements, symmetry or some elements that have visual weight. I hardly like to represent geometric things.

5. How do you feel about the illustration sector? Do you feel part of a community?

Look, I feel very blessed, I feel like I have great opportunities because I try to move in the world of illustration, both in analog and digital. The community of illustrators is growing every day, there are totally diverse people, so there are many opportunities for everyone.

6. Do you have favorite artists or do you admire anyone in particular?

I think I stayed in the last century perhaps, because one of the artists I love is Gustav Klimp , an artist from Vienna and he worked in erotic art. One of his famous works is The Kiss , also Water Serpents and they are works that I love.

And at the design level there is a designer who is Milton Glaser and obviously he left a mark with his logo or imagotype "I Love NY"

7. What motivated you to participate in FineArt Latin America?

It was their working philosophy. Seeing that they were bringing together different talents of artists and making a more robust community.

8. What is your favorite work (of yours)?

I have two favorite works from my history, my process. One that is in FineArt Latin America called The Island of Wishes that I love. It is one of the first works that I sent, in fact it was one of my first works in that process of transition from analog to digital where it opened another window to another possibility. And as for my works that I love in terms of process and history, it is Amutagua.

9. What is your favorite piece (from the store)?

There is an artist called Youkonejo. He is one of the artists who draws my attention in terms of graphics, form, because he mixes art with a bit of poster art. His work can range from graphic design, illustration, to something pictorial.

And another artist that I like, who is a little more playful, a little even sweeter, which I like a lot, is Catalina Cartagena. I like the work she is doing, I like the playful concept, I like the playfulness and there are even moments when there is a symbolism that connects with the beyond.

Then a round of quick answers:

10. Favorite movie

The House of the Spirits.

11. Favorite food

Arepas and tequeños

12. Favorite drink

Lemon juice

13. Dog or cat

Dog

14. Digital or Analog

Analogous.

15. Color or Black and White

I love color.

16. Photoshop or Procreate (other?)

Procreate.

17. Professional career or self-taught

A mix of both.

Finally Erwin invites them to his shop: