The first glimpse I had of UK illustrator Migy’s work was at this year’s Glastonbury festival, with his lanky characters featured on charity posters and guides all over the place. Not a bad place for a bit of exposure. I really like his shapes and colours, but particularly the expression created through his fun illustration style.
I asked Migy some questions about his training, work technique, development of his style, and how he gets round to promoting his work.
Migy studied fine art painting at university, which gave him the freedom to explore his work. ‘What it didn’t give me was any training for fulfilling client briefs. I think I would class my self as 90% self taught.’
His creative process involves an initial rough sketch. I try to keep the sketches loose as Idon’t want to kill the idea. I then paint the outlines using printing inks. I then move into Photoshop and using a bit of computer jiggery pockery, I colour the illustration up to the point where it’s looking lovely.
Migy is currently about to put his work up on the walls of an advertising agency in London. ‘Any thing that gets your work seen is good. Other than that I pester potential clients so they know I am alive.’
Migy explains his style development: ‘I think it took years and years then one day it just formed and that was that.
Years of pain and working in millions of other peoples styles until some how my voice started to come out and assert itself. Now its here I can’t shut it up.’
ⓒ Miguel Ornia-Blanco, 2009
Apart from creating illustrations for various publications and client work for a youth website, Migy is creating a ‘pattern of lots of girls with big bums lying on the beach. I have the song “walking on the beaches looking at the peaches” playing on repeat in my head.’
Thank you Migy and we all look forward to more!
MoonApe: Follow me on Twitter for more updates - I would like to hear what people think of this illustrator and his technique in the comments below
I LOVE the elongation of Migy’s style. I’m so glad his “voice” / style are unable to be bottled up. Everything about the pictures makes me feel happy and curious. They feel like a party! Everyone, even the animals, give the impression that they have movement or were caught in a “freeze frame”. Excellent! More, more, more!
Yes - it’s the expression and the dynamism in the characters that are so good about Migy’s work - this is something I need to work on with my characters!
MoonApe