Wearbeard
Madrid, Spain
Wearbeard is a Madrid based illustrator and painter specialized in what he calls conceptual illustration, which means that every image that he draws tries to deliver a home-cooked idea. He mostly works in advertising and editorial, specially in science dissemination, but also in purely artistic endeavors. On his spare time he plays drums with his band and sculpts using ceramics. Also, he is a firm believer in self-teaching.
Beijing RZBook
Super Scholar / Computer programming book for young people / Beijing RZBook
Illustrations: Wearbeard
The exhibition In/Visibility
Wearbeard illustrated, animated and participated in the concept of animation for the exhibition In/Visibility: Arturo Duperier and the Cosmic Rays of the National Museum of Science and Technology of Spain. The film, included in the exhibition, explains what cosmic rays are and how we can detect them using a specific mechanism.
County of Madrid's
Here is a nice series of four brochures with maps named Miguitas for the County of Madrid's Cultural Assets Center, illustrated and designed by Wearbeard. His work is so graphic: we are fans at Colagene.
Management magazine
A series of editorial illustrations by Wearbeard for the French magazine Management. The article deals with the subject: Change your job without changing your job. To reinvent your daily life by consolidating your achievements.
Creative Capsule
Here is our twentieth Creative Capsule. This month, we invite you to meet Wearbeard. A Madrid based illustrator and painter specialized in what he calls conceptual illustration, which means that every image that he draws tries to deliver a home-cooked idea. He mostly works in advertising and editorial, specially in science dissemination, but also in purely artistic endeavors. On his spare time, he plays drums with his band and sculpts using ceramics. Also, he is a firm believer in self-teaching.
Question 1 / Describe your creative lab in a few words?
A little corner filled with a couple of Cintiqs graphic tablets (a small one for travels), the inevitable computer, a couple of hard drives, a lightbox, a lamp, pencils and pens, three rulers, a hanging plant, my almighty paper daybook and an ukulele to unblock inspiration when it does get moody.
Question 2 / In two sentences, how would you describe your work technique?
An absolutely excessive amount of brain work, a lot of sketching and composition (sometimes in my head, sometimes in paper and sometimes directly on the computer) and a final session of getting it done, normally on the Cintiq using vectors. First, I do a kind of broad key line, and after I work up all the thiner and, finally, color. That’s mostly it for commercial projects. Paintings, ceramics or drawings happen more naturally, though the overthinking part tends to be present too.
Question 3 / What is the project of which you are most proud of?
Probably the series I did for El País Semanal illustrating a collection of articles by psychoanalyst Stephen Grosz. But I also really love one of my latest ones, the poster for a music festival called Canela Party.
Question 4 / What are your favorite colors to create?
I really have a thing for pastels. Color is a key element in my work which in fact vertebrates my style in a way. I do have some kind of ´color philosophy´, based on low saturation and the frequent exclusion of certain colors. Actually, for a long time I used to never use black. But I got over that.
Question 5 / Why did you become an artist?
In order to reach a level of self-realization that is just so hard to even match doing anything else. Anything else that you can support yourself by doing it, I mean. I guess I just wanted to try and be happy with every little thing I must do in my day, even a little proud sometimes.
Question 6 / In four words, how would you describe your style of illustration?
I’d say it’s simple, cryptic and kind with a little darkness hidden somewhere at times. I hope that four concepts count as four words.
Question 7 / What is the project of your dreams?
A graphic novel. A reasonably thick comic book. Maybe someday I will find the time.
Question 8 / What does a typical day in the life of Wearbeard?
Shower, breakfast ritual (most important of the day!) eaten while watching comedy, working, fruit stop. Working, grocery shopping stop. Cooking, eating watching comedy, reading, work, kefir bowl stop. Work… and okay, I need some air. On the coolest days, I get to go to a rehearsal space and play some drums, or even to a park to play tennis or basketball.
Question 9 / What inspires you?
The music I am constantly listening to, what I read every day (mostly books by dead people!), the darkly funny way in which the world keeps changing, standup comedy show, walking down random streets paying attention to the puzzle of architecture, my niece and my nephew… also, I love coming up with ideas for concerts, it’s such a mind trip.
Question 10 / What is your favorite blog or website?
Ironically enough, I’m pretty sure it would be allmusic.com. At least the most visited by far. I’ve been using it as my musical catalog reference ever since I was in the University.