Website: www.CrisVector.com
Cristiano Siqueira, or as he’s more commonly known, CrisVector, is a digital illustrator from Brazil who fuses vectors, 3-D and Photoshop together to create his distinct pictures. Having worked for various Brazilian and international clients over the last eight years, Cris puts his experience in design, illustration and animation to the test on a daily basis. We caught up with him and asked him a few questions for Illustrophile…
Hi Cris! How are you today?
Hi Charlene, I’m fine; a bit busy and worried. But right now I’m trying to forget the work and enjoy answering this interview.
You’ve worked as a graphic designer before becoming an illustrator. Why did you decide to change profession?
I always wanted to be an Illustrator, actually. I tried working in illustration right after my studies, but I had two frustrating experiences working as Cenography Assistant and Cleaner—in an animated film. After that, I felt my intentions to start in the illustration field were too ambitious, and I wasn’t ready to become a professional illustrator yet.
Instead, I found a job in a graphic design studio, starting as an assistant. My work was basically photo retouching, logo redesign and other small things, but I got the first opportunity to illustrate something when the studio got a request for a character design. I was the only graphic designer with skills in Illustration, so I got the job and I did it well. It was a big surprise for the people there and afterwards I became the “official” illustrator for that place.
Even after working with small illustration projects I didn’t feel ready to work just with illustration, as a genuine Professional Illustrator. I had to work five more years to get more acknowledgment, clients and skills before deciding to change my profession. And it wasn’t an abrupt change. I worked at both activities for one year before changing totally to illustration.
As an illustrator, what the best and worst part about your profession?
The best part is the illustration itself. I simply love to draw, paint and turn ideas and texts to images. Being an illustrator has been a dream for me, since my early years!
The worst part is the business stuff, unilateral contracts, late payments and the daily war to get some respect for myself as a professional.
Tell us a bit about how your normal work day…
I have a flexible time of work. I try to work how many hours I can, by day. Right now I’m starting my work day early, at 7:00 AM. I used to work overnight, but my body started demanding some care and I tried to be nicer to it. So, I start my day checking e-mails and the internet communities I’m into. I answer some messages and close all Internet applications to start working in the illustrations. Usually I work for three hours straight before stopping for a while to check e-mails again, drink some water, walk a little. I do these stops each three hours to not be so tired in a short time. Of course during in these stops, I have my lunch I go to bank, mail service and other errands. Being self employed, I usually have to do other things besides illustration work. 
I do them in the intervals, but I try to relax too. The end of my work day comes after 14 hours, answering the latest e-mails or sending the production of the day to clients.
What tools or programs do you use for your illustrations?
It depends of the request. Usually I use [Adobe] Illustrator to do most of my illustrations. I go to Photoshop when I have to do something more either more realistic or artistic in look or style and I use Poser as a base for realistic human figures too.
You live in Brazil, the country synonymous with soccer and samba. Has this influenced your work at all?
I’m a football lover, but I’m not a samba guy..:) So I don’t think these stereotypes can influence my work. The Brazilian culture is much more than football and samba. There’s the colors, the variety of people and styles of life in the same country, the popular and traditional culture, a lot of religions practicing in the same space, the art of food… Actually, I’m influenced by the environment I’m in, maybe I would be influenced by the Asian culture if I lived in Japan, for example. Working in illustration I have to be in contact with the collective thinking, to produce images that can say something to the people and catch their attention.
Most of your clients are Brazilian as well. Do you prefer to work with local clients, and if so, why?
I don’t have any preference. I like to work with clients from every place in the world. What keeps me working with local clients are the contacts I made here and the more convenient payment facilities. If any client from any country in the world contacts me with an interesting proposal, there’s no reason to say no..:)
When you are not working on projects, do you still draw or paint? Or do you prefer to do something else?
The only drawings I do nowadays are sketches. I used to do oil painting and watercolors some time ago, but I left them because I simply don’t have a good workspace to do paintings. When I’m not working, sketching or drawing something for me, I play some video games to refresh my mind and I try to get out a little with my wife Glaucia, visiting exhibitions, watching a movie… normal things.
If you could choose 3 ‘dream’ clients, who would these be and why?
The perfect client to me is the one that know what he is looking for, the one that has a project in mind before contact the right illustrator. So it’s possible to contribute with something more to grow with the project and this is really enjoyable. And if this client could pay very well without problems too…:) We all need some money to live don’t we?
Have you any advice for new and aspiring illustrators?
Well, maybe the best advice is, “Don’t forget to watch the world, this is the most important thing for any illustrator.” We work with people and for people, you need to know about people to touch their hearts.
If you were an illustration, you would be….
A vector-based illustration. So I could keep my main characteristics forever!
Other links:
