www.stillontherun.com
Art Director and Illustrator | NY
Hello Emeric! Tell us a little bit about your background?
I got involved with illustration four years ago. I’m self-taught, I have no degree (or anything close to it), nor any professional training. Things began for me when I started playing around with software. I felt comfortable quite fast with photoshop, and got commissioned mostly by friends to realize small projects like posters and flyers for parties. From that point, the passion for creating images kept growing. I began to work quite seriously and uploaded my first portfolio in 2006 with a very humble collection of early works. I believe I began to get spotted through myspace and a few articles on creative blogs followed. From there things moved fast. Clients began to contact me directly, I created a stronger portfolio and ultimately started working as a full-time freelance illustrator.


Tells us about your most special projects and the reason why it’s so important for you.
Its all about the connection you have with the client and the project. I have a preference for work involving other artists though, It makes the whole process much richer. The personal and human experience matters a lot to me. Also, the confrontation of ideas or strong artistic personalities, forces u to criticize your own vision and adapt your skills. I’ve had a great time collaborating with the french rapper Fisto last year. We discovered we had lots in common in our respective universes, and from our interaction were born a lot of cool ideas. Also, he gave me much freedom and trusted my vision. We became friends. These are the kind of projects I love.
What is your typical design process like?
I am quite chaotic when it comes to start a work. I guess it comes from my non education in this field or maybe it is in my nature to be messy. In all case i find myself having a hard time defining my process. One thing is for sure is that i’m experimenting a lot, trying to find the right balance of the composition, the right light and colors, before I truly build the piece. I’m also goin through different phases of construction and deconstruction, getting rid of elements that could get in the way of the initial approach. I rarely am satisfied with a piece after the first try. It’s a lot of playing around, before the work takes all its dimension.


The work “SYNECHDOCHE” is beautiful! Tell us a little bit more about the creative process.
I’m glad u guys enjoy that work. I must admit the result is pretty unusual when compared to my other works. This was an advanced pitch for a major european media group, it was about creating the look of the annual report. The piece on my portfolio is the main piece of a serie. The brief focused on how the group was leading in bringin all those different service to their customer, whether it is mobile phone, tv, etc…. So I thought, I’d just create this face, physically representing the senses of the customer and play with the elements traducing the different activities of the group.
The deadline was quite rushed, I think I had a couple days to produce 3 pieces…so i must say there is a lot of randomness in the result. We lost the pitch to a more traditionnal approach, but i enjoyed the commission, and had a great time collaborating with the agency that hired me on that.
When did you first realize digital art could be a career for you?
As i said before. I never realised it. It happened. Sometimes I look back, see how design has been taking over my life for those past years… and i mean 90 percent of my time… its wilde, but feels good. it was totally unplanned, totally unexpected, especially seeing myself getting to this level of expertise and collaborating with talented professionals all around the world…. makes me wonder about what the future will be made of.
What attracts you to digital illustration over traditional mediums?
Well I love both. But simply have much better skills when it comes to digital illustration. I’m trying to have a better understanding of traditionnal mediums though, and incorporate a lot of that in my work lately. I observe a lot, painters especially. Makes me much more careful when it comes to my own treatments and compositions.


Do you think the university is important for who is in the beginning of design? And what the message you could say to the young professionals?
I have no design education. I’m personally friend with a few extremely talented designers that have nothing like that either. They are very successful. I believe they spent more time working to develop their skills, and by doing it alone, developped personality in their work, which matters most. I wouldnt give advices regarding whether or not one should go to university. There are some talented people coming from all different backgrounds. Key is they had a strong focus and personal desire to make it.
Your favorite artists?
I could say Gustave Doré, Céline, Kitano, Edward Hopper, Bukowski, Auster… it could be a very long list.
What equipment, software and tools do you use to produce your illustrations?
Lately Ive been moving a lot… i just carry my macbook pro with me, with a version of photoshop CS3… I sometimes use a tablet, but dont absolutely need it.


What is your favorite food?
I blend veggies in a blender and drink very thick green potions that other people find offensively disgustiing. This and sashimis.
What kind of music do you like?
Maria Callas on the rooftop of my brownstone in Brooklyn.
Do you have any hobbies outside of art and computing?
Not much time left when u remove these. I read a lot though. Mostly contemporary stuff.
Any final comments?
U guys r dope. thx for supporting my work. Makes the hours spent working worth it. Thank u. for real.