ARTIST: JUSTIN TEODORO
We’re so excited to share an excerpt of an exciting post from Thestyleline.com of our friend and talented illustrator, Justin Teodoro! Be sure to head over to The Style Line to read the post in it’s entirety!
WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR MOST UNEXPECTED FORMS OF CREATIVE INSPIRATION?
I’ve learned over the years to keep your eyes open because anything can inspire you. I’ve found inspiration in the most unexpected places and times. It’s hard because sometimes you can tend to become so specific in what you think that you get tunnel vision. But whenever that happens to me I have to force myself to take a break and go for a walk to look at something differently. And it’s usually in these unexpected moments when that light switches on in my head and I get my most original ideas. David Hockney once said that he sometimes paints with a different paint brush than he’s used to because it forces him to change his direction. So it’s important to not be so linear in your creative thinking but be open to take those turns because sometimes they can be the most eventful changes.
WHY DO YOU THINK FASHION ILLUSTRATION SHOULD BE CELEBRATED AND WHAT ASPECT DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE MOST ABOUT IT?
We really live in an age where we’re constantly being bombarded with imagery. And after awhile the images can just become repetitive. Between blogs and tumblrs, it sometimes feel like we’re all eating out of the same bowl because the constant images start to become all the same and too similar. We’re all capable taking pretty decent photos with our iPhones but creating an illustration is really a skill that only someone’s physical hand and mind can create together. Fashion illustration is then such a unique perspective that it can be just refreshing to see amongst all the too similar images out there.
AS A CREATIVE PERSON WHY DO YOU THINK ART AND CREATIVITY ARE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES?
Creativity is a form of expression and I believe anything that is an expression is a powerful and important aspect of life because it is how we choose to show ourselves as individuals. From how you dress to how I paint, these are all different types of creativity. And without creativity the world would definitely be a lot less fun because we’d all just be the same. Art is a big part of my own character and life. I started drawing when I was 5 and it became second nature as a way to express my ideas. Art has helped me figure out a lot of who I am as a person and I definitely don’t think I would’ve accomplished any of what I’ve done in my life without it.
(READ THE REST OF THE STYLE LINE POST ON JUSTIN HERE!)
Images via Thestyleline.com (Photographed by Joanne Pio)