Cris De Lara

The Art OfCompiled byDjF du Marais

My name is :Cristina de LaraStockler ,artistically Cris De Lara.

I have worked for fouryears in comic bookindustry as colorist,some of my works were:Advent Rising, Serenity,Banzai Girl, Thundersaurs, etc. Nowadays I am wellknown as one of the best contemporary pinup artistaccording to specialized publications. Just google myname and you will see a lot of my works: Tutorials,interviews, workshops, posters,forums, etc.http://www.crisdelara.com

http://www.crisdelarapinups.com

http://CrisdeLara.itsartmag.com

http://crisdelara04.deviantart.com/

http://crisdelaraimages.blogspot.com

http://crisdelara2007.cgsociety.org/gallery/

Internet Links

Beyond that, I am afemale brazilianIllustrator and digitalpainter, owner (with myhusband) of ArtepixelIllustration and DigitalPainting. in which I have

been working insome areas like:Graphic design,publishing,concept art,illustration,painting/coloring,2D animation,teaching/training,games andconsultancy.

What am I doinghere?

well, I still lovedrawing comic bookcharacter and doingcommissions is thebest way of showingmy artwork for fans,collector andpublishers.

IT'S ART : Cris de Lara, Can you tell me a biography of

yourself

Cris de Lara : I started painting at school; I used to study art

at a catholic school, when I was nine years old, oil paintings

classes up to 12 years, when I decided to draw, because I

wanted to paint my own images instead of painting other

images that my teachers offered. From age twelve up to

sixteen I took several other courses to improve my drawing

skills but I was young and influenced by my friends, who

persuaded me not to continue studying art.

At university I took business administration, and from the

age of eighteen to 26 I had no drawings or paintings. At age

26 I felt the call back into artistry. In 1995 I marked this

return by founding my own graphic design company. In 1997

my partner and I decided to change our approach to work

more with illustration, digital painting, training, and

consulting. From 1998 up to 2001 we ran a small printing

house. Clients would come to our store where I would

design logos, and illustrations. My partner or some of the

employees did the “desktop publishing” and we printed

everything right there: folders, banners, periodicals,

business cards, flyers, invitations, and letters.

In 2002 we changed our approach again. We shut down the

printing activities and I came back to my SOHO activities

working as a freelance illustrator and painter for some

clients as well as a comic colorist for an American company.

In 2006 I quit my comic colorist job but continued to work as

a freelancer. My partner and I had an important conversation

about what to do as an artist; to produce something

attractive to the audience or to create a product to sell and

to be recognized as unique. We thought about producing

pinups. In 2008 I moved from Brazil to Canada where I

continue doing the same as before. From here, we continue

working in the Brazilian market. I am the illustrator and the

responsible for artistic things in my company and my partner

is the responsible for all “non artistic” things.

I.A: How would you classify your style / work if

you had to?

CDL : Clients say I am a versatile artist

because I do a variety of drawings and

paintings, children’s illustrations, fan art, comic

books, cartoon, portraits, caricatures, manga,

and pinups. Sometimes I look at the things I’ve done and guess I have no defined style yet. I like

doing Pinups, no matter if they are manga, comic, classic, “chase cake” styles. This is something

that I really love to do.

I draw and paint my own images, and while I’m painting

them I mix the styles; a little using traditional technique

(though it is done using computer) and a little using

vectors to mark and define the details of the pictures.

If you compare my images, you will see they are different

from other traditional artist’s paintings. I guess it’s is the

comic’s influence on my job. You notice in comics the art

line often appears in the images. The boundaries

between one area and another are clear.

If I had to qualify my style I would say I am an artist who

prefers making realistic drawings and paintings, mixing a

comic/vector style in my work.

I.A : Lots of people are depicting creatures, fantasy

scene, etc using CG tools and it's good sometimes to

meet some people like you using CG for a refreshing

work. Can you tell me who're the other artists who've

influenced you and why you've choosen to express

yourself with cg tools?

CDL : Hmmmm, This is a long diverse list. I would say I

‘ve been influenced not only by artists, illustrators and

painters, but also by writers. Actually some of them were

introduced to me by my partner.... old artists, especially

from comics and cartoons but I have some current ones

that are a sort of reference to me. For pinups, classics and fantasy images: Joseph Leyendecker,

Norman Rockewell, Gil Elvgren, Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell, Caravaggio,

Michelangelo, Rembrandt, William-Adolphe Bouguereau.

For other styles I would say: Will Eisner, Carl Barks,

Albert Uderzo, Hergé (Georges Remi), René Goscinny,

Morris (Maurice De Bevere) Adam Hughes, Alex Ross,

Frank Cho, John Buscema, John Romita, Mike Wieringo,

Dave Stevens, Hermes Tadeu, The Hildebrandt Brothers,

Alan Lee, John Howe, Jo Chen, Mike Deodato Jr., Steve

Rude, Olivia de Bernardis, Kim Hyung Tae, Jeong Juno.

Wow, I think the list is long enough.

Expressing myself using CG tools, was, I suppose, a

natural condition of my work. I painted and drew in the

traditional way but not as a profession. When I founded

my company with my partner 13 years ago I started doing

graphic design and drawings for advertising. I used to

work with Corel Draw and progressively I became more

confident with digital technology.

Later I studied Photoshop and Painter,

and was amazed by the things I was able

to do using those softwares...

Although, everything has changed since we bought our

first tablet, It was not until then that I was able to do

something like true painting. Today, using CG tool it is

faster and easier to produce my images and I am free to

try lot of different styles that I’m unable to produce in

the traditional way. It can be done but it takes a long

time. Drawing and Painting, especially paintings, in

traditional way an artist can produce some hundreds of

pieces during her/his time life, however through digital

means we can easily achieve a thousand pieces and the

images can reach almost the entire world through the

Internet. I think the versatility, the possibilities and the

faster production are the main reasons why I have

chosen the CG tools to express myself, although I still

love to paint.

I.A :What's are the other outside influences ?

Are you really sure about asking me that after hearing my

last list, hahahaha

Well, let's see.

Books: Tolkien's books, J.K. Rowling's books, J. J.

Benitez books, Art books especially the ones

with images from Caravaggio,

Michelangelo, Rembrandt. I like reading

Mythology', actually my sons and my

husband have the habit of doing

reading sessions at night. While I work I

listen to them to gather information and

ideas for my pinups and images.

I also like, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller,

Straczinsky and I read graphic novels, especially Will

Eisner's novels, they’re fantastic.

Movies and Series: LOR, Harry Potter, Star Wars,

Indiana Jones, Star Trek, X-Files, Smallville,

Supernatural. Music: Original Soundtracks; these songs

really inspire me. Sometimes I need to draw a warrior, so

I listen to Conan's soundtrack, for instance. I also like

and hear a lot of: Enya, Amy Whinehouse, The Police,

various Anime music. I have a playlist on my computer

organized according to genre to inspire me. When I am

painting on canvas I like to hear the classic ones.

I.A. : Can you speak about your creative

process; the flow from the initial idea to the

final sketch?

CDL : I have a schedule with my partner

which includes dates like, Mothers day,

Christmas, Halloween, Earth Day, etc.

We work together creating a situation, telling a short story

about that theme and trying to make a sketch about that

brainstorm. After that we make a list about the scenes that

I will draw for each date/theme He does the description,

and does the initial research; content, reference images,

elements, etc.

I do the initial sketches and we discuss

the composition for the image. When

the sketch is approved I start doing a

better sketch to be scanned.

Sometimes, when I am involved in

other projects he does the flat color

process and I work on rendering colors.

Otherwise, I do all the coloring.

I like to draw and paint my own images because I am

free to change whatever I want, that sometimes

generates discussions, between my partner and I, about

changing the things agreed in the sketch, but the end the

result is OK.

If we are doing a more classical image

like Aphrodite's Belt, he usually does all

the research about the characters and

elements related to them, that helps us

a lot in the creative process. Until the

final penciled sketch, I often redo a lot

of drawing; thinking of the scene's

composition, and drawing different

elements on a separate sheet or file,

combining them later. I prefer using only

penciled sketches in the beginning of

my work instead of doing them digitally.

I.A :What is the criteria that lets you know a picture is

done?

CDL : If I am working for my company portfolio the criteria

are the final sketch and the list of elements in the image,

for instance, my Mothers Days 2009 image, I had the final

sketch and also a list of elements to be used in the

background, some tattoos for the girl, the chain, the tattoo

machine, her short texture, the big guy shoelace that

reminds a skeleton hand (after all his mother has died in

the story).

Sometimes, at the end we add

something more trying to

improve the image but without

changing it too much.

If I am working for client, things

are different; there are clients

and clients. I try to do exactly

what was asked as to the

specifications of the sketch just

to make things easier. Because

of some previous bad

experiences in projects, we

have developed a way of

working that does what is

written and agreed by us and

the client.

Unfortunately it is too risky

when we want to improve an

image for a client,

because every improvement done generates other

updates and at the end if I was commissioned to work 14

hours in a project,

I could easily work 20 hours because of the updates and

the client may not want to pay more than was agreed. On

the other hand there are some clients that leave us free to

create, they’re more confident, they make the project

more pleasant and pay for the extra time to have a better

job, so the job becomes more attractive for both of us

especially if the image were distributed over a variety of

media.Every artist likes to do a good job, like a

masterpiece, if she has freedom to work. If the artist feels

tied-up for so many requirements or changes from the

client, the final result will not be as good as it could be.

CDL : Yes, for sure. I am always trying new things,

studying subjects related to somehow to improve my

knowledge: photography, composition, animation,

storytelling, design, traditional drawing and painting. I like

a lot oil painting so I study and practice at home. I did not

study in a traditional art school.

Actually almost everything I

learned was self taught. I am

not a graduate of a school of

art, so I push myself every time

when I am doing a job. I have

to produce better images every

time.

Trying different techniques is

something I am always doing. I

will try to change my painting

method to simulate more oil

painting style when doing my

pinups. Another thing I will do is

produce more penciled original

art using a different technique

as if they were finished in

charcoal, so I think my

commissions will be more

attractive and I hope sell them

more.

IIt is a very interesting project. I ‘m not allowed to give

more details about it, but the client said that probably in

July she will release something to the press and I will be

allowed to post some of images in my website and

portfolio.

The last project I worked took me

nine months in which I could not

produce the images I wanted. Now I

have to work faster to save time. I

can say for sure during the next few

months you will see more pinups

than before and I hope all of you

enjoy them a lot.

I.A : Wha's the most difficult picture

you've made? Why?

CDL : The most difficult pictures I

have made was my last job, a

children book project that according

to my client will be released in

September or October of this year.

The entire job took from September

2008 until May 2009. It was hard

work, I did all the illustrations and

paintings and also model sheets for

other purposes.

I can talk about my second most difficult image though,

Rockstar. While I was doing it, I decided with my partner

to produce pin-ups and post them in as many forums as

possible to show people what we could do and how we

work.

Before that I used to do commission

for clients, cartoons, children

illustrations (which I loved), and

comic book coloring. We decided to

stop doing things that did not make

us happy and invest in our own

product: Pin-ups. Those images

would be the first ones: the one to

show our product to the audience.

We thought about a theme that

would catch people's attention and

came up with a rock show. As

women are much more appealing to

pin-ups we came up with the idea of

drawing a sexy girl playing guitar.

CDL : My favourite picture is Jolly Halloween 2007

(Abgail) that I decided to use it at my logo.

We decided some points about the

picture: the girl should have tattoos,

there are reasons why those tattoos

are there, why she has a tiger and a

dragon on her legs, a red rose on her

arm. Originally the red rose tattoo

was in a different arm, I have

changed it later in the painting

process. The perspective was a

challenge, the color's study too. I

chose strong and energetic colors

without making the image annoying

to our eyes, so while doing the lights

and shadows were very difficult too.

Fortunately, I guess I got a good

result and we were very happy and

proud of it.

I.A : What's your favorite? Why ?

After posting both images in the forums I have a surprise that

Marie Antoinette received an award while Jolly Halloween had

many good comments. I did not expect awards but in my

opinion Jolly Halloween was more attractive than Marie

Antoinette.

She is one of our characters

developed for a future projects.

It was a special occasion when

I did it, we were thinking about

a monster, funny, sexy girl,

something like a mummy, when

I had an insight about a sexy

witch. I did the sketch and sent

to my partner who liked it

although it was very different

than what we had agreed.

I do not know how to explain,

but the work flew so nice and I

had so many pleasure

searching and choosing

patterns, adding details to the

image… when I finished it I was

very happy an motivated that in

the same week I also did Marie

Antoinette’s Revenge image.

Maybe the world has a sort of prejudice about women

doing art, thinking we, women, produce only “cute”

drawings, fairies, children illustrations, babies, and so on.

I.A. : Do you think that the fact you're

a girl impacts your style and/or your

vision of the CG world?

CDL : Wow, this is a tough question.

I do not think being a girl is

something that affects my style within

CG world. We have excellent female

artists in every area of CG,

illustration, painting, design,

animation even 3D. Just take a look

at Its Art Galleries and you find

dozens of amazing images done by

girls. I prefer doing my pinups with

women and humour, trying to tell a

story behind the image, lot of

elements and details inside them that

are related to the conception; it

doesn’t matter if the main character

is a cute little girl or a sexy woman.

and help me to produce better drawings and paintings; you can

see through my images the way I work, I keep the basic idea of

concept art: humour, attractive composition, color scheme,

interesting characters, details and elements that complement

the image, etc.

One thing I can say; the female

figure is more attractive than

male figure, and women know

very well how to draw women

as well as men. Score one for

the girls, hahahaha.

I.A : In what way do you think

you're producing art, and what's

your own definition of this

word?

CDL : Hmmmmm. I love doing

pinups, creating my own

images, with a story behind

them. I am always seeking

something new, different, new

version even for some well

known images from other

artists that inspire me. I am

always looking for new

knowledge to improve my skills

Art you just feel it you should not have to critique it. A

piece of art that is beautiful for one person may be not

nice for another.

I try to show not only the final result

but also the sketches, references

and some steps during my work, so

people can see and have an idea

about how I did the job. There

is an entire researching time

and dedication that go

beyond the final result.

This is producing art in my

opinion. I hope my images

can reach as many people as

possible and they can make

people laugh, think, admire,

being motivated and inspired

in somehow as I feel when I

see an image that inspires

me.

This is one definition of art to

me. Something that inspires

you, motivates you, touches

your senses.

CDL : I am a Leyendecker’s fan, so if I had to redraw some

image I would like to choose one of his amazing jobs, its title is

Easter, 1923.

I.A : If you'd to reinterpret a

favorite piece of art what would

be your choice? why?The link, just in case. I

think this piece of art has

unique touch of humour

and the idea, conception,

is brilliant. Probably, I

would spend hours and

hours thinking what I could

do in this image. Of

course, as a fan of him my

main concerns were how

to make it to honour him.

I.A : What would be your

advice to a new cg artist to

find it's own style and

way?

on your new knowledge in a positive way. You will see

errors that you didn’t see before. This is part of the

learning process. You will avoid former errors and will do

better pieces next time.

CDL : Hmmmmm. As I have said

before, an artist, in my opinion, has

to have knowledge about art, real old

fashion art, not only about software

or hardware. They are tools, the

artist is you. You have to control

your tools not be a slave of them.

For sure, digital art, CG, other

forms and Medias where we can

express our art are important and

have their own value and we

have to explore them to reach as

many people as it is possible.

Look for other artist’s art pieces,

read about them, search for

information in reliable sites and

try, always try without fear.

Do your art, continue studying

and some time later come back

to see it again and judge it based

I.A : Anything else?

CDL : I would like to thank Its Art for this wonderful opportunity. For any artist, having the chance to

talk about her/his work is something very important, especially in such notorious site as “Its Art.”

This opportunity is unique. I hope all your readers enjoy the answers and I would like to apologize in

advance for my English. I am still learning.

Thank you all. Cheers.

Exciting feeling

Catwoman's shower Oil - July 2007

Aviator Pinup Autralian girl

Curupira

Ms Santa Rock Star

Angel Kyrla

3

Untitle

Girl

3

Portrait

Red Warior

Ms Santa Rock Star

Angel Kyrla

3

Autralian girl

Razor

Ms Santa Rock Star

Angel Kyrla

3


Curupira

Ms Santa Rock Star

Angel Kyrla

3


Curupira

Ms Santa details

3

Nadja, the mystery of EastJune 2009


Curupira

Ms Santa Rock Star

Angel Kyrla

3

Marvel Comic'sCris de Lara in her studio

Black Cat Conquest

Black Cat Conquest

Adriano Sonja

Wonder Woman

Daredevil and Elektra - October 2006

Super-Heroines - November 2007

Daredevil and Elektra - October 2006

Red Sonja

Catwoman's shower - July 2007

Vampirella perfum - June 2007

Catwoman's shower lineart - July 2007

Red Sonja

Xena

Princess Manga Criscolor - July 2006

Elektra

Cat Woman

Medusa - 2008

Warrior - June 2007

Medusa draw - July 2008

Blood Rayne

Harley Party - June 2007

Bag

Harley Joker draw

Tough choice- May 2010

Robot feelings - August 2007Ipanema's GirlL- May 2010

Poison Ivy - June 2007

La Voyeus

Poison Ivy pencil – June 2007

La Voyeuse - September 2009

Jolly Halloween - October 2007

Tricking Spells - November 2009

Witch Halloween

Jolly Halloween - October 2009

Jolly Halloween – October 2008

Aphrodite's belt - May 2008

Jolly Halloween draw - October 2008

Curupira's girl - July 2007

POPWATER - January 2010

Marie Antoinette's Revenge - October 2007

Aphrodite's belt - May 2008

Photos for M.A.R - October 2007

Zatanna cover - March 2008

Rockstar - July 2007

Zatana draw

Discovering the new - September 2007

Pixel Cover - 2009

Sweet Whispers - February 2010

Dangerous Girl Portrait - June 2008

Shahrazad - December 2007

Shoes - January 2010

No Snow White No ! - June 2009

Coffe

Angels and demons - November 2009

Morgan Freeman Portrait - October 2009

Super-Heroines - November 2007

Gandalf « Lord of The Ring »

Michael Jackson always alive - June 2009

Cover « The Daughter In Law »

Manga warrior - July 2007


Manga warrior draw - July 2007

Mother Day - 2009

Santa Claus gift - December 2007

Baby Vader - June 2007

Sci-Fi Crossover - March 2008

Baby Vader lineart - July 2007

Balloon – May 2009

Baby Alice - August 2007

Balloon scheth

Baby Alice scheth

Fairy meeting - June 2007

My angel - July 2007

Fairy meeting scheth

My angel - July 2007

October 2007

Morgan Freeman art in progress


Continuig Education - May 2009

Waiting for her - January 2008

What are friends for ? - February 2008

Turtle - January 2008

Photos and work for : What are friends for ?

Wonder Wooman, Jungle Girl, Zatana andFairy

Mother Day sketch, Stargir and Zatana

Kyrla

Criss de Lara studioMary Jane, Sonja and Black Cat

Caricature Angelina Joulie

Cris De Lara

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