With pleasure, we’re introducing you an experienced Italian painter, illustrator and Rebelle Featured Artist Carlo Molinari. This exceptional talent graduated with honors at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bari. Currently based in Santeramo, Italy he’s working as an illustrator, painter, photo editor and graphic. We caught up with him and he was kind enough to answer a few questions about his life and art.
Hello Carlo, after this brief introduction, can you share with us what are some of the projects you’ve done in the past you are most proud of?
I find it very hard to choose the preferred jobs. I liked many of them, each one for a different reason. Just to name a few, I really enjoyed making images for JOHN HENRY and MARY WALKER books. It was a mix of digital pencil and watercolor with the vintage appeal. Another book where I challenged myself was about VIOLA DESMOND. Here I used inks with an interesting distressed textured background. In another completely different style, I made some images for self-promotion in modern vector mood, and so on…:)
You are a very versatile artist. Is this how you’d describe your style?
As you can see my recent works are done solely digitally. I really like paintings rich in dynamic brushstrokes, color and thickness. In the illustration, I like to experiment with different styles. So over the years, I have created images in photographic, pictorial, 3D and vector styles and techniques. However, I also do love painting impressionist images with the use of watercolor, pastels, pencils and digital inks. So yes, I love to experiment with different media. :)
You and Rebelle - how did it all begin? What did impress you the most about it?
I love digital experimentation and I’m always on a lookout for new software to try. In one of these researches, I came across Rebelle, which totally amazed me for the rendering of watercolor and wet media. I was astounded by its ability to blend the pastels which still preserve the texture of the background paper.
It’s also very easy to learn because you don’t have too many control panels to confuse you with, but the essentials are at hand! I think it’s an ideal software for illustrators who are looking for a natural look of traditional media in their drawings and paintings. And the new video tutorials - well done!
Your stunning portrait work with clearly distinguishable style immediately convinced us to name you Rebelle Featured Artist. Would you mind sharing some painting tips for fellow artists?
I really like the portrait genre, especially if it’s interpreted in a dynamic or stylized style. In pictorial and detailed images, the subject is usually only the protagonist. There is no dynamism given by the signs of pencil, brush, the heat or even some imperfection caused by spots of color that make the image more natural, live and warm. Personally, I try to create images in which the subject and the painting technique are divided in the final result on a par. Meaning the images are made with 50% presence of the subject and 50% presence of expression of strokes, stains, pencils signs - the pictorial calligraphy of the artist!
I believe that “pictorial calligraphy” is what distinguishes artist’s work. I like it not to be lost in the finished image.
Any art websites or books that you really enjoy?
I often use Pinterest and Instagram to look for reference images, sources of inspiration and above all artists to enjoy and appreciate!
I am a passionate collector of art books and images. The artists that I like very much these days are Tai Shan Schieremberg, David Downton, Daniel Egneus, Massimo Carnevale, Gigi Cavenago, Drew Struzan, Christian Hook, Alex Kanewsky, just to name a few. I’d definitely recommend checking the works of these art masters to every art lover.
Carlo, for my final question: Can you tell us about your future projects or plans?
I currently have two personal websites with my works, but these are very old and outdated. You can visit it here at www.carlomolinari.it. So for me, the upcoming project is clear – to update them in a timely manner. I would like to make a website where I can sell digital illustrations for home decor made with various styles and subjects. For this project, I can’t wait to use a lot of Rebelle. :)
So fingers crossed! Thank you for your time, Carlo, and take care!
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Visit Carlo Molinari’s recent works on his agent’s website: http://www.advocate-art.com/carlo-molinari
Join Carlo Molinari on Behance: https://www.behance.net/carlomolinari
