I’m so excited, folks. For this post, I have an interview with artist/illustrator Julius Camenzind! As you all know, I am simply thrilled to have his wonderful work on the cover of The Worlds Traveler, and I thought it would be nice to have everyone meet him in the lead up to the book’s release. Julius graciously agreed! So, without further ado, I present Julius Camenzind:
M.L.: Hi, Julius. Thank you so much for not only doing this interview, but for your work on the cover for The Worlds Traveler.
Julius: Hi, Maria. Thank you so much for inviting me to participate in this interview. I’m honored and excited to talk with you and answer your questions.
M.L.: Why don’t we go on ahead and jump right in! What’s it like for you to have book covers go up with your work on them?
Julius: It’s truly a great honor. I think for a lot of illustrators and designers, knowing that their work will be a part of the enjoyment of others brings a great sense of satisfaction. I want to thank you for allowing me to do that yet again. It was a great pleasure working with you.
M.L.: How did you first become aware that art was your vocation?
Julius: A lot of artists will tell you that they have been drawing since they were little, and I am no exception. I hadn’t, however, decided that it would be my career until a year or two after university. Luckily, I had been into art that entire time, and eventually began to learn more about the creative industry.
M.L.: In what ways does inspiration come to you, and what do you do when it hits you?
Julius: I get inspired by a lot of things. I think they usually come from sources such as world history, different types of documentaries, cultural references, and science. There is so much inspiration to pull from these and to explore. I also am inspired by great film productions which are usually a culmination of these aspects.
M.L: An author sometimes struggles with that first word. Do you go through a similar struggle when starting a new piece, and what form does it take?
Julius: I think artists call this the “blank canvas”, which can sometimes be imposing. There are several ways to get around this such as pre-planning or visualizing a direction I want to pursue with the illustration, and starting with general hues and values. Another way to get started is by putting down and pushing around different shapes and exploring different ideas until something catches your eye, where you will then use fundamental rules/knowledge to extract the idea for viewers to understand. You can also start with a sketch.
M.L.: What is your process when you are working for a client?
Julius: When on the job, my first order of business is to thoroughly review the client’s briefing, and speak with them to get a good understanding of the content they are looking for. This includes mood, theme, and elements that are essential to their story or project. I then begin to develop several rounds of sketches or rough paintings, exploring different ways of visually expressing what was gathered from the briefing. This allows the client more options to choose a direction which the final piece will progress towards. After that, I’ll increase the size of the sketch for resolution purposes and begin to flush out the painting. I’ll communicate with the client along the way to ensure that the most important aspects of the painting are as required, or changes can be made. This process continues until we arrive at a level of finish that is acceptable to the client’s needs.
M.L.: Do you have a site where we can see some of your work?
Julius: http://juliuscamenzind.blogspot.com
M.L.: What part of the creative process do you enjoy most?
Julius: I think my favorite part of the creative process is the loose “idea generating” phase. I get to explore a variety of shapes, forms, and mood.
M.L.: So, as an artist, are you really good at playing Pictionary?
Julius: I actually haven’t played that game, is that strange? I’m always up for a challenge!
M.L.: Are you available for freelance work? If you are, where can one reach you?
Julius: Yes, I am available to take on freelance work. The best way to reach me is through my email at juliuscamenzind @ aol.com (remove the spaces).
M.L.: Thank you again, Julius, for taking the time to do this interview. It’s been one more great experience on top of a wonderful previous experience working with you.
Julius: Thanks again for inviting me to do this great interview with you, it’s been a great time and pleasure. I wish you the best of luck and great success with the release of your new novel, The Worlds Traveler.