Venus In The Sunlight | A photo shoot with Fashion Photographer Jvdas Berra

Jonathan: Hello Jvdas, thanks for taking some time to talk about your latest project. If you can just talk a little about the shoot, the location, talent and anything you found exciting or fun, that would be wonderful.

Jvdas: It was a project between friends. We were in a somewhat dangerous part of the beach as the waves beat hard and were surrounded by poisonous sea urchins, but in the end it was a very fun experience and fruitful. The model, Nohemi Hermosillo was a professional and posed as a whole goddess. Art Direction and Styling were given by Alonso Rivero. It was a pleasure working with him and his magical vision that goes beyond the conventional.

Jonathan: Which shot is you favourite and why?

Jvdas: The first shot. Since I saw it I knew that would be the magic picture. The position of the model, the angle and the ways that the dress was drawing on the water were what captivated me from the moment I frame. It seems that is a painting in oil coming to life and escaping the box. I was very inspired by The Birth Of Venus by Sandro Botticelli.

The Birth Of Venus by Sandro Botticelli.

Photography: Jvdas Berra
Styling and Art Direction: Alonso Rivero

Model: Nohemí Hermosillo @ New Icon Model Management

MUA and Hair: Aracely Zarate

Producer: Monica Jimenez

Assistant: Pascal Díaz, Florencia Speroni, Axel Aguilar 

Video: Heiko Bothe

Production: LOOT

Dress: Arturo Valdez

Location: Ixtapa Zihuatanejo

Special Thanks to Andrés Saavedra and Tara Medina

About Jvdas Berra

International Photographer, was born in Mexico on January 23rd, 1987, he studied film production. At the age of 18 he published his first science fiction book followed by two sequels. Currently has chosen to engage in fashion and advertising photography.

He has worked for multiple designers, modeling agencies, advertising campaigns and national and international journals, obtaining a rapid professional growth, which has earned him recognition as one of most promising talents in Fashion and Fine Art Photography after only three years of career. In his own words "I have no limits, not even the sky is".

He has featured in Vogue, ELLE, Nylon, Marie Claire, InStyle, Image Amplified, Vanidades, Photography Master Class, NatGeo among others.

His fine art work is now exhibited at the prestigious Fine Art Gallery "These Fine Walls" in New York. Also his work is represented by the highly recognized gallery "Art Angels" in Los Angeles, California, alongside the work of Andy Warhol, David Lachapelle Roy Lichtenstein and other world-class artists .

His list of clients includes the names of famous latin american designers and big worldwide brands such as: GIZIA, Jorge Duque, Benito Santos, Rodríguez-Naranjo, Edgar Lozzano, Gustavo Helguera, Mani Maalai, LOOT, Sony, Revlon and more.

Jvdas has just signed with VOGUE and Nikon. (Congrats, Jvdas)

Visit www.jvdasberra.com to see more of his work and follow him on Facebook or Instagram

Tweet

Collage | Interview with Artist Andre Sanchez

About André Sanchez
Born in 1972 in Lesquin, north of France, André grew up near Bordeaux in the
countryside, southwest corner of France. 

André started the illustration as a freelancer about 9 years ago. He is passionate about photography and graphic design, especially of the indie music label scene, in particular by the works of Dave McKean and Vaughan Oliver.

His first work was published for the french newspaper Le Monde, and then
mainly worked for the press and publishing which led him to the fashion and
advertising the likes of Vogue Japan and Sony Music France.

In His Own Words 
"The illustration allows me to express myself rather freely, offering a very rich panel
of possibility. I can play at the same time with the collage, the graphics, the
typography and the diverse associations of ideas. Furthermore, I can work from my
home without having to move. I also like to work on my own projects. Work on the
study of a topic, to make research, to raise sources of inspiration and to make
photos in studio with a team if I need. The photography is essentially the base of my
illustration's works."

– André Sanchez

Jonathan: Hi André, after reading about your career to date, the first thing I wondered was, when did you realize you wanted to be an artist?

André: Quite late in fact, when I arrived in Paris ten years ago. I started doing digital collages a mix of photos, textures  and typography, as Dave McKean and Vaughan Oliver, two fabulous graphic designers, which I appreciated their work through album covers.
I took great pleasure in making these digital collages, and step by step it took more time in my life. I began to have more order of illustrations for magazines and publishing house. Then I made exhibitions and fashion photography. This is the day I got my first agent, I realized that I wanted to an illustrator.

Jonathan: As you were developing artistically in school was there a favorite teacher, friend or mentor that meant a lot to you? Could you tell us a little about them?

André: I was not very good pupil at school, just doing the bare minimum. It is the later that I saw an interest in art. When I was 20, I had a girlfriend who was at the School of Fine Art in Bordeaux (France). She knew me awake at art. I visit art galleries, museums, I was blown away by the Louvre, and step by step to modern art and contemporary art. I think, I could say there was ten year I am interested in art before starting to make myself illustrations. I am self taught, I can not really say I had a mentor, or my best friend who is an incredible art director and know guide me, pushing, shoving me in my work!

Jonathan: Your first job as an Illustrator for the newspaper Le Monde. Could you tell us the story of how that happened?

André: It was a huge surprise. In fact, when I started making collages, I did not imagine it would begin a career in illustration and even less so, to be able to sell it. I put these collages on a blog which luckily was visited by one of the artistic directors of Le Monde. She loved what I was doing and I was asked to do a portrait of a scientist in the style of my collages. It was therefore my first illustration for a magazine.

Jonathan: I often wondered what it be like to work with an agent? How has having representative changed your career?

André: My first agent in France  changed many things for me. It made me to realize the quality of my work. Told me many believed in me, saying that I had a lot of talent. It changed me a lot, because before I had a very amateurish approach to my work. With him, I became a professional. The presentation of my book, my website, my "image"  somehow transformed into a professional. To have omeone who believes in your work, your potential, it changes a lot of things. But do not believe that an agent will do everything for you. You must work and work continually.

My experience with a second agent in France was catastrophic. But it made me realize that I needed to continue my own efforts on the side business and also meet potential clients, art buyers, artistic directors. Continue to do my own marketing... An agent does not do everything for you but for him, so one must continue to rely on oneself as well.

Now, I have an agent for Germany (Caroline Seidler), and everything is perfect. She is doing a very good job and good with her clients and promoting their artists. And I do the same in France, for me!

Jonathan: In working, what is more essential, a good routine or lots of variety?

André: I do not think there can be a routine for an illustrator. At least for me, it is not possible. I always want novelty, discovery, learning new things for me. Imagine an illustration and design it, it will take you on a lot of new paths.  I constantly question myself for progress' sake, to shake myself up, otherwise...  it becomes a form of repetition and routine. This is not something I like. But maybe one day, weariness will set in, and I might fall into a kind of routine. Let's hope not.

Jonathan: In parting, André, I just want to thank you for your time and say how much I enjoyed discovering your work. One last question. What advice would you give to someone starting a career as an illustrator?

André: Work hard, but above all, love what we do. Do not be afraid of criticism, learn to trust yourself. Be surrounded by good people. Work from experience. Be open to learning, always learn, and play sports!

Visit André and see much more of his wonderful
work at his site, www.sanchezandre.com, Facebook,

Tumblr or follow him on Twitter @sanchezandre

Tweet

Photoshop | Hyper Realistic Manga

I was looking for something challenging to try to do the other week, when I stumbled on another book on Advanced Photoshop techniques. Saw this tutorial and had to give it a whirl. 

First thing was to purchase this shot of a model from iStockPhoto.com

Next was to adjust the head to give it a more rounded look.

Followed by shaping the jaw line a little :)

I selected her eyes and on a separate layer, enlarged them to start really changing the look. At this point she is starting to remind me more of a Mark Ryden painting. Which might be a cool post down the road when I think on it.

I apply a similar technique to the nose and mouth and desaturate the lips.

With the use of a layer mask, she gets a new doo and some ribbons. The new look is just about achieved. Time for a cool background. 

I really had a hard at this point settling. It was too much fun and really wanted the piece to be more than just a run through a tute. Something more original. But due to the amount of projects on my plate, I just went with it. The piece was a little dark and wanted to do something a little different, so I added one of Renata's necklaces to her, adjusted the color some and here is the final result.

I am working on an original piece for a friend, author Sam Kirshaw, taking one of her publicity shots and well, I will save the idea for later :)

Any questions on this, I would be happy  to answer, technique-wise.

Tweet