7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #436: Featuring
Up-and-Coming Illustrator, Louis Fratino
June 14th, 2015 by jules
I am breakin’ the 7-Imp rules this weekend and featuring a newly-graduated illustrator just one week after featuring another debut illustrator. (I normally do this the first Sunday of each month.) But, hey, rules are made for breaking.
My guest, Louis Fratino, graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art just under a month ago, majoring in Painting and concentrating in Illustration. He tells me he likes to draw more than anything, though his studio work is mostly oil on canvas.
Below is more from Louis, including some of his artwork. I thank him for visiting. I hope we see his work in (published) books one day.
Drawing made me want to be an illustrator. I have been drawing and telling stories my whole life. It was something I spent enormous amounts of time doing as a child. I would go through reams of printer paper, which really irritated my parents, because I never wanted to draw on the back of an image. I still remember having a nice fat stack of clean paper in front of me, a feeling I think I understand more fully as an adult. I really loved illustration as a child, too, and continued to pay attention to children’s books through adolescence.
I am a painter, primarily, and I use painting as a means to tell stories about myself. I really enjoy illustration as a way to inform my painting practice — and to take a break from it. Since I am a storyteller and a draftsman, illustration excites me.
I love Persian and Indian miniature painting and American folk art. I am influenced by the ancient pattern work of the Etruscans. Painters that I really rely on would be Matisse and Hockney.
Some illustrators that influence me are Marc Boutavant, Enzo Mari, Maira Kalman, and Ben Shahn. I also am amazed at Blexbolex’s use of print and digital media. I love Chuck Groenink, Ignacy Witz, Makoto Kagoshima, Miroslav Šašek, Benjamin Chaud, Laurent Moreau, and Dahlov Ipcar.
This is, unfortunately, an insignificant number of things that I see that become part of the visual soup I am sampling from whenever I am making an image. I have a blog of imagery that I reference that can be seen here, which is maybe the most comprehensive answer!
I recently completed (maybe) a book project called Some Boys [pictured below] … that used colored drawing inks.
I was awarded a Fulbright in Painting and Printmaking to Berlin for 2015-2016. I will be there for a year, continuing my studio practice, which I still am completely speechless about!
All artwork is used by permission of Louis Fratino.
Note for any new readers: 7-Imp’s 7 Kicks is a weekly meeting ground for taking some time to reflect on Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week, whether book-related or not, that happened to you. New kickers are always welcome.
1) A late-night game of family laser tag. Just ’cause.
2) This song, “Little Bigot” by Villagers:
3) A flexible work schedule that allows for hanging out with my girls this summer.
4) Getting galleys in the mail just this week of children’s novels I really wanted to read.
5) I don’t normally get that fired up about book trailers, but this one is really good — and I always like to see anything animated by Christian Robinson:
6) And I’ve seen an early copy of that book, which I really like.
7) Re-discovering an older CD that is pretty much perfect. I mean, you know it’s perfect, but it’s always good to drag it out after years and years and re-discover its perfect-ness.
What are YOUR kicks this week?
Thank you for breaking your rules this morning, Jules. Such fun work.
Jules, a flexible work schedule, so looking forward to that this week as school ends. What CD did you rediscover?
My kicks:
1. Tomorrow Sophie turns 19. She’s in her final days and we are cherishing each one.
2. Summer break starts on Thursday.
3. Our school talent show last week.
4. Farmer’s markets.
5. Pasta from the farmer’s market.
6. Video taping four girls recting my Super Bowl Sunday in English and Spanish.
7. Embracing how emotional the end of the year can be.
Have a great week.
Jone: More hugs to Sophie. And SUMMER! I’m sorry it’s emotional, but I hope you enjoy it and get to read lots and have a blast.
And I was talking about this CD. Ah, so perfect:
Good morning, Imps!
Hello, Louis!
Three cheers for storytellers.
Jules: So glad that your schedule is flexible.
Jone: Happy birthday, Sophie. Every day is precious.
My kicks for the past week:
1) Heard
2) Seen
3) Shared
4) Said
5) Read
6) Preserved
7) Protected
Thanks for sharing your artwork Louis!
Jules – late night laser tag! Sounds like you’re already enjoying your summer with the girls.
Jone – hugs to Sophie, and to you.
LW – love kicks 1 & 2 this week. Sometimes there is nothing better than being heard and seen, truly.
My kicks this week:
1) June is turning out to be super busy workwise, which is great.
2) My tomato plants are flowering, so excited for the tomatoes to come.
3) Women’s World Cup soccer! Go Team USA!
4) Finally read “I Feel Bad About My Neck,” by Nora Ephron. Fun read.
5) Fresh berries.
6) Morning coffee in the garden with Daisy.
7) Making plans.
Have a wonderful week everyone!
LW: I hope you read and sang and danced and shared all good things. (I’ve no doubt you did.)
Rachel: We ARE having a good summer! … I’m regretting not having a tomato and basil garden this summer so that I can have my favorite salad with all FRESH ingredients. So, will you please eat a fresh tomato for me? … Happy plan-making, and hugs to Daisy too.
Love it all!
Wow! Wonderful work, Louis. I love it! Congratulations on the Fulbright!
(Loved “I Feel Bad About My Neck,” Rachel. And I do feel bad about my neck…)
Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!
So happy to have worked with Louis. That kid is super talented, and one to look out for!