Rapid Fire Questions:
Pablo Espinosa

“Communicate your ideas clearly, quickly and succinctly. Doesn’t matter if you resort to crude sketches or extravagant hand gestures, just get the idea across.”

Pablo Espinosa creates striking depictions of mystical visions overflowing with psychedelic colours and whimsical characters that delight and assault the senses. We caught up with Pablo to find out what he’s been up to since he featured in Pictoria Volume.1, The Best Contemporary Illustrators Worldwide.

Who are you and what do you do?

Pablo Espinosa, I’m a freelance illustrator and visual designer.

How would you describe your work?

I love to create bold exciting visuals that mesmerise the senses.

How do you go about creating your artwork? Do you prefer to work digitally or with traditional media?

I sketch in paper but all my finished work is done digitally. I think that's probably the most standard method.

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m outfitting a Mexican restaurant in Japan with some funky graphics that combine the Mexican street style with some ukiyo-e influences.

Who or what are the top five inspirations for your work?

The design philosophy on Shigeru Miyamoto, one of the greatest minds in game design. The incredible artwork of Gaston Pacheco. Pixel art and Chiptune. The exciting animation work of Run With The Golden Wolf. The quasi-mystical, always evolving design eye of ILoveDust.

What's one resource every artist, illustrator or designer should know about?

Get some brushes from Kyle T. Webster, they'll change your life.

What is the most valuable lesson you've learned during your time working in the creative industries?

Communicate your ideas clearly, quickly and succinctly. Doesn’t matter if you resort to crude sketches or extravagant hand gestures, just get the idea across.

What is the hardest challenge you have faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?

Learning how to hustle! I'm still figuring it out... but perseverance, patience and timing are key.

What are your professional goals for the next year?

I recently quite my job at a big time digital agency to pursue freelance illustration as a career. I want to find success doing that.