Q: Originally from [where?] what are some of your favorite things about living and working in [your current locale]?

A: I'm originally from Bilbao, a city in the North of Spain. It’s a rainy town but surrounded by beautiful green landscapes. Since 2010 have been moving between different places in Spain: first I lived in Barcelona, then two years ago I moved to Madrid. In Madrid I loved the weather and the people living in my neighborhood. Although Madrid is a big city the relationship with the people seemed close and familiar. That’s what makes it feel like home. 

Q: Do you keep a sketchbook? What is the balance between art you create on paper [or other analog medium] versus in the computer?

A: I’ve always tried to have a sketchbook with me, to draw people on the streets or the things that I see when I travel, but somehow it never works out...because I'm normally a little bit obsessed with my workspace. But in my studio I have a sketchbook and I draw my initial ideas for assignments. After that, I finish most of my work on paper, or on wood, and I only use the computer to scan the image to and make some final tweaks.   

Q: What is the most important item in your studio?

A: My brushes and my oil paints, and all my plants too.

Q: How do you know when the art is finished--or when to stop working on it?

A: I know is finished when there is nothing that I can add to it that makes it a better image.  

Q: What was your favorite book as a child?

A: Probably Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. When I saw for the first time the jungle growing in Max's little room I was impressed, and I think that experience was one of the reasons I decided to become illustrator.

Q: What is the best book you’ve recently read?

A: Sinuhe the Egyptian by Mika Waltari.   

Q: If you had to choose one medium to work in for an entire year, eliminating all others, what medium would you choose?

A: Oil paints, no doubt. I used to paint with this medium most of the time. With it you can try so many different ways to represent anything. And you can’t get the intensity of color in any other medium. 

Q: What elements of daily life exert the most influence on your work practice?

A: I need to take my cup of coffee every morning to start the day and have my workspace clean and organized to be productive.  

Q: What was the strangest/most interesting assignment you've taken that has had an impact on your practice, and what did you learn about yourself through the process?

A: Two years ago I started teaching Illustration Techniques in the IED (European Design Institute). At the beginning I was a little bit nervous, but nowadays I feel very comfortable with it, and I learn a lot through the experience of teaching.

Q: What would be your last supper?

A: A green curry with tofu and rice, spanish omelette, red wine, and a lot of chocolate ice cream! 

David de las Heras (Bilbao 1984, he has a bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of the Basque Country, and graduated in the cycle of Illustration of the Escola Massana, in Barcelona. His work as painter has been exhibited in different countries including Germany and Portugal; as well as in different galleries in many cities of Spain. As an illustrator his work has been  published a lot of books, recently "The Tiger" by Joel Dickër, published in Spain by Penguin/Random House. He has also specialized in book covers, awarded the best cover of 2015 at the Junceda Awards for the book Kalimán en Jericó published by Editorial Bambú. His work has also been published in Spanish newspapers such as El País, in the cultural supplement of ABC, and on several covers for El País Semanal.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_delasheras/
Website: http://www.daviddelasheras.net/en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/David.de.las.heras.ilustrador/
Rep: https://centralillustration.com/illustrators/david-de-las-heras