Please tell us a bit about yourself and your creative background.
I have always been fascinated by drawing since I was a child. Growing up, I put it aside and studied graphic and web design, but when I approached conceptual illustration, I instantly knew it was my way. So I started a journey into the depths of illustration as a self-taught artist, and I’m still going.
What led you to illustration and freelancing?
I worked as a web designer for over a decade, but after several years, I realised that I was moving away from what I loved—I needed less grids and more drawing. So when the company where I used to work started cutting staff, I decided to take advantage of it and took the plunge into becoming a freelancer.
What inspires your work?
For some years, I have been really into photography. My work is influenced by that passion and by a certain vision of many photographers I love, as well as by my graphics studies.
When you create a new illustration, what is your process?
I always start by analysing the essential elements of the story I want to tell, decomposing them into the simplest forms to find aspects that give me the chance of overlapping multiple points of view in order to tell more with fewer elements. The first phase of the process is mostly about drawing in my mind! Then I make sketches, more and more detailed until I arrive at the final version, which I transform into vector. Lastly, I manage the colours.
“I always start by analysing the essential elements of the story I want to tell, decomposing them into the simplest forms to find aspects that give me the chance of overlapping multiple points of view in order to tell more with fewer elements.”
How did you hear about Affinity Designer, and what inspired you to start using it?
I’d been thinking about buying an iPad Pro to change my workflow without being bound to the desk, but working with vectors, I feared I could only use it as an expensive sketchbook! Then I started reading previews about the release of Affinity Designer for iPad, and as soon as it was available, I started using it and immediately felt very comfortable with it.
“I started reading previews about the release of Affinity Designer for iPad, and as soon as it was available, I started using it and immediately felt very comfortable with it.”
Do you have any favourite features?
Definitely the vector clipping masks, they’re so quick and intuitive!
What does a typical working day look like for you?
My studio is at home, so I try to keep a pretty strict routine to separate work from my private life: I try to keep fixed working hours as much as possible, and at the same time exercise on a regular basis. But actually, the moments I love most are when I’ve got no deadlines, especially on Sundays, when I can draw on my couch!
What would you say your career highlight has been so far?
No goal has been more exciting than the first paid commission! Jokes aside, every illustration deserves the same commitment, and I see my career still running and growing, so I’ll wait some more years before taking stock!
If you could illustrate for any publication, which would it be and why?
The New Yorker, of course: it’s the Holy Grail for editorial illustrators!
As for the Italian magazines, I would like to collaborate with Internazionale, which is a magazine that I love very much and has a great quality, both in the graphics aspects and the contents.
What do you think is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an artist?
Due to its own essence, the work of an illustrator is quite solitary (at least, in my experience), so I guess the biggest difficulties are those related to the lack of confrontation: sometimes it’s easy to lose objectivity and to become uncompromising with yourself and your work.
It can be very frustrating, but an essential part of the job is being able to accept these moments as well.
What advice would you give to aspiring illustrators?
Work hard, be curious and don’t forget, the devil is in the details!
“Work hard, be curious and don’t forget, the devil is in the details!”
To see more of Victor’s work, check out his website victorcavazzoni.com and @vcavazzoni on Instagram.