The DART Q&A: Fernanda Cohen
Q: Originally from Buenos Aires what are some of your favorite things about living and working there?
A: I lived in New York for almost 12 years, pretty much my entire adult life, so I learned how to work and deal with people, situations and such in the U.S.
I moved to Buenos Aires 4 years ago, and I really enjoy now being able to combine the informalities and warmth of Argentine culture with the discipline and structure I learned in New York. I should also mention having my family around is certainly priceless.
Q: Do you keep a sketchbook? What is the balance between the art you create on paper versus in the computer?
A: No. I feel awful saying this, especially after all those years at SVA, where teachers went way out of their way to get us into the habit of keeping one. However, I do keep ideas flowing in my head constantly, and I come up with at least one personal series every year, as opposed to commissioned work.
I do 95% of my work by hand, although I feel really comfortable using Photoshop for scanning, re-touching and backgrounds. I just don’t enjoy the process of building an entire image digitally.
Coca-Cola Light Campaign
(South America) 2013
Q: What do you like best about your workspace?
A: I like working at home, having access to everything all the time. And since my daughter Nina was born, it’s been much easier to know when to stop, so it doesn’t take over my personal life.
Q: Do you think it needs improvement, if so, what would you change?
A: Oh yeah! I’d like for it to be bigger, with a larger desk! I also have a drawing table, but it’s packed with all the drawings I’m still working on and/or I just finished and need to keep around. But oh well, I guess that’s the price I have to pay for having it at home, so it’s alright.
Q: How do you organize an assignment before you start drawing? Do you make lists and thumbnails?
A: Doing the research and organizing myself is key. I read everything the client sends me as many times as necessary to be able to edit all the information I’m given. Then I do my research and take notes using keywords. Once I understand the goal of the assignment, I need silence, concentration and time to come up with my approach. I often use post-it notes on the wall in front of me to remind myself what the client wants while I’m working, because Isometimes lose track if I’m too focused. I rarely do thumbnails, I rather go straight to the actual composition and line work that will end up being the final.
Alcorta Shopping Mall Fashion Installation (Buenos Aires) 2014
Q: How do you know when the art is finished?
A: For the most part, I just know. Backgrounds can get tricky for me sometimes, so when that happens I have the client decide.
Q: What was the strangest or most unusual assignment you’ve taken?
A: Actually, there are quite a few. I was hired by BBDO to do quick drawings of Té Casan shoes at the premiere of Sex and the City: The Movie. The catch was that the ink I used—which was illegal!—disappeared within 2 hours, as did the limited editions of the shoes.
This week, I was one of 6 artists hired by Disney to paint a Star Wars, Stormtrooper helmet, live, to celebrate Star Wars Day: May the 4th Be With You, at Abasto Shopping. It was the fans who made the event awesome, dressing up in costumes approved by Lucas Films itself and parading around the artists.
Q: What was your favorite book as a child?
A: I really enjoyed Barbapapa.
Q: What is the best book you’ve recently read?
A: Honestly, with a 2-year-old it’s pretty hard to find the time to read, though I’ve been trying to finish the Saul Steinberg bio by Deirdre Bair.
Q: If you had to choose one medium to work in for an entire year, eliminating all others, what medium would you choose?
A: Pen and ink.
Monoblock Central Park Notebook (ongoing)
Q: If you could time travel to any era, any place, where would you go?
A: Early 70s, when my grandmother was very extravagant, my mom was a teen and my uncle—who I didn’t get to meet—was alive. And I also happen to like that era.
Q: What are some of your favorite places/books/blogs/websites for inspiration?
A: The street, the shower and that moment right before I fall asleep. The Internet doesn’t inspire me; it helps me, yes, but it otherwise clutters my mind.
Q: What was the painting or drawing or film that most affected your approach to art? [the Thunderbolt]
A: Understanding Saul Steinberg’s approach to communicating a message through line, and philosophy, really shaped my vision while I was still in school. Also, my SVA teacher, the late Jack Potter, some great conversations with Tom Woodruff, and an exhibition by Argentine fine artist Liliana Porter, who happens to live in NY.
Q: What advice would you give a young artist about applying to an art school or college?
A: To understand how much passion, discipline, dedication, love, social skills and vision it takes to make yourself into someone in the arts—besides talent. Although if you really thought about it too much you’d never go for it. So, that’s part of my advice too.
Q: What would be your last supper?
A: Baked butternut squash and apple crumble for dessert.
MAMA, from solo exhibition, Elsi del Río Gallery, Buenos Aires, 2014
Fernanda Cohen is a multiple award-winning illustrator
who splits her time between New York & Buenos Aires. She graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 2004. Some of her high-profile projects ever since include illustrating a bottle for Coca-Cola,
a series of murals for American Express, designer T-shirts for The Gap, the cover of the New York Times Magazine and editorial pieces for The New Yorker, Fast
Company and Time among many others. She’s a longtime contributor to DART and has
also been writing an illustration column for Argentine magazine 90+10 since 2008.
I have a children’s book coming out later this year, titled Sopa de Piedra (Soup of Stone), published by the Ministry of Culture of Argentina as part of a social program to educate people in need.
I was recently hired by The Walt Disney Company to paint a Star Wars, Stormtrooper helmet to celebrate Star Wars Day: May the 4th Be With You. It will be exhibited at Abasto Shopping through May 10th, then at Dot, May 17th, 2015. This year marks the 8th volume of American Illustration in which my work is included.
Twitter: @fernandacohen Instagram: @fernandacohen13
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fernanda-Cohen/79803034560
