Christian Mugnai Interview

Name: Christian Mugnai
Hometown: Durban
Favourite colour: Purple

What was your inspiration or the idea behind your Verb design?

My piece is called “Troubling Thoughts”. Our brief was to portray what inspires us as artists and interpret the concept behind Verb’s core beliefs; Inspiration, creation, and action. I wanted to portray that defining moment  where your thoughts come together to create an idea. Like storm clouds invading your head, changing shape as they mould and adapt themselves in a never ending space. Flashing images of objects, smells, feelings and colours, that are subconsciously embedded and stored in your mind from every day life, that may have inspired you with out you even realising it.

Could you briefly explain the process you went through in creating this work?

Every thing I do starts from basic sketching. I will draw a few thumbnails to get a general idea of composition and then start to draw separate elements in more detail. I ink the drawings and scan them, in order for me to trace. From there, in vector, I could clean the entire illustration.

What music were you listening to while you were creating your graphics for the Verb range?

“Spacemonkeyz Versus Gorillaz” album “Laika Come Home”

Did you have any formal art education, or are you self-taught?

I had one year at Red and Yellow, an interesting and awesome experience, not for me though. So I completed a three year graphic design diploma at Natal Technikon, but furthered my studies with a B-tech degree in Illustrations. The rest you learn in the big bad world I guess, don’t know, I’m still learning every day.

What sort of full-time work do you do currently? Are there any other projects you’re involved with at the moment?

At the moment I’m involved with a business, very corporate. But I always keep my freelance work alive with storyboard art, to illustrations, to general design briefs.

What sorts of mediums do you work in and what do you enjoy about it?

I love working in vector, but i try and keep to ink and paper as much and when ever I can. Vectors always give you a perfect finish, as you have complete control over the end piece. But nothing can replace real drawing and painting on different surfaces.

Do you do anything else for fun other than making art?

Playstation, FIFA 2010.

Who are some of the artist’s whose work you enjoy or take inspiration from?

Wow, there are so many. I think now days, with the web you get to see artists work all over the world. To say one artists’ work inspires me would be not be true. I’m constantly online looking at so many artists’ work.

How do you feel about being an artist living and working in South African?

Some times good, sometimes a little frustrated. I think South Africa has great places for artists to flourish. Durban itself, maybe slowly will become an artists haven. It’s a beautiful city.

Do you have any plans for 2011 such as art shows, travels or new styles to explore?

Got some stuff up my sleeve. Time will reveal everything.

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This post was written by weareverb