Barbara Tamilin

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Conceptual

Graphic

Nature

People

Illustration of two women and a flower with a message about honoring elderly wisdom by Barbara Tamil

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Illustration of two hands holding a colorful floral bouquet by Barbara Tamilin

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Colorful nature scene with woman walking among plants by Barbara Tamilin

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Fragmented woman facing a red flower with a small figure nearby by Barbara Tamilin

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Floral theme freedom symbol for Brazilian funeral company Primaveras

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Open booklet with floral illustrations and sexual health text by Barbara Tamilin

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Yoga for the eyes

Her illustrations emanate an incomparable calm and balance.

Growing up in a creative household, Bárbara’s painterly upbringing shows through clearly in her work, as does her dreamier side. She enjoys sitting back, watching the clouds blow past until the stars come out above a unique landscape. Latin American poetry, folk and classical music all inspire her, as do Zen Buddhism and Japanese art prints. Bárbara has a degree in Graphic Design from the Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR).

Approach

Sketching on her iPad in Procreate, Bárbara then moves into Photoshop to add in textures, brush work and colour. Often, she creates brush strokes by hand, later using them in her images. She is also skilled at using vector imagery. From energetic pink to melancholic deep orange, warm and rich colours dominate her palette.

Style

Bárbara’s style is decorative and figurative, with an emotional and nostalgic side to it. Sometimes, by carefully omitting a key detail from an image, Bárbara confounds expectation and is able to convey more feeling to the viewer by doing so.

Impressions

Interview

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Interview

Did you study illustration in college?I have a degree in Graphic Design from the Federal Technological University of Paraná. Where did you grow up? I grew up in a small coastal town in the interior of Espírito Santo, Brazil, surrounded by palm trees and sand. Do you have a childhood memory relating to drawing/art that you hold dear? My mother used to teach oil painting classes when I was a child. I messed up all her materials, painted the walls of our house and tore up papers. Little did I know that all of this would be part of my future - not the mess, but the creativity!Where do you live now and what drew you there? Today I live in Curitiba, a city in southern Brazil. I came at the age of 18 to study Sociology, but eventually I gave up on the course, but fell in love with the city.Describe your studio for us My studio is well lit by the sun and doesn’t have many things except important items for the work I’m doing at the moment. Some art books I love and some pencils. And of course my cat, jumping from side to side.Do you have a studio pet?Yea! His name is Mikhail, a black cat, super furry and very needy.Describe the view from your window Lots of trees, some buildings, and unfortunately a lot of traffic noise car competing with the birds singing.Who or What is your biggest inspiration? I love David Bowie and his vitality in expanding his creativity in an authentic but also commercial way.Do you collect anything? Dreams and thoughts!What are your interests outside of illustration?I’m very passionate about sports and I can’t stay away one day. I run every day and have already participated in some marathons. I ride on every weekend. During the week, I like to read before bed. This year I am participating in a challenge to read only female authors.What is the first record you bought? Probably some Britney or Aguilera album. I’m a 90’s kid!What would be your dream commission?I am currently working on an illustrated book, it has always been a dream for me!What makes a good client brief? It's a cliché, but a very detailed briefing with examples of work that the illustrator has done it’s always good.How much of your work is hand drawn? Today, absolutely nothing. Sometimes I work manually with watercolor and acrylic, but just for fun.How do you envisage illustration evolving? I believe that it’s a market that is on the rise, companies increasingly need differentiated and more human communication with customers and we illustrators can always help.Who is your art hero? Gustav Klimt, Tarsila do Amaral, Olafur EliassonWho is your design hero?Paula Scher, Debbie Millman, Jessica WalshWho is your music hero? Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth, If you were not an illustrator, what would you be? I'm also work as a graphic designer, so I would probably be working in the creative field anyway.If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? Anywhere in Japan!What themes or content in the world inspires you?Anything nature related. I’m constantly shocked at how beautiful the world is and how we manage to destroy things little by little.How do you keep on trend and up to date in our quickly changing industry?I read constantly about the design industry, new magazines or publications about illustration, editorial field. I also feel the need to carry out some refresher courses periodically.What is your go-to comfort food?Chocolate, always!What movie can you watch over and over?Paris, Texas by Wim WendersWhat do you listen to when you’re illustrating A lot of folk music, Paul Simon, Buffalo Springfield, Stevie Nicks, Karen Dalton… I also love to listen the Creative Boom podcast hosted by Katy Cowan.What is the last show you binged? A series on Netflix called Hip-Hop Evolution. So good!What was the last exhibition you saw and loved?Before the pandemic, I saw the exhibition “Asia: the Earth, the Men, the Gods” at the MON and I was delighted.What was the last concert you went to?I saw Paul McCartney, it was mind blowing. He’s such a nice person and a music genius. I miss live shows so much.What is your favourite book?The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa.What do you do when you have creative block?I go for a long run and comeback home with a new creative mind. Always works!Which languages can you speak?I am fluent/native in Portuguese, can understand awkwardly a little bit of Spanish, and have an advanced level in English.What is your favourite quote?“If we listen from the mind of silence, every birdsong and every whispering of the pine branches in the wind will speak to us” by Thich Nhat Hanh