Cindy Fröhlich

QUESTION: Where do you live?

CINDY: In Hamburg.

QUESTION: Can you describe your studio for me?

CINDY: A very nice room, just for me and my dog. It´s in an old building with a vaulted ceiling and a nice view. The walls are painted in a light, almost white green. There is a large wooden table, where I can spread out lots of things. A light table from the animation school and a chesterfield which I can´t use because my dog has occupied it. Some bookcases and a large pin board as well as my Mac with a graphics tablet. Also ther is a really nice old apothecary cabinet.

QUESTION: How do you get the best ideas?

CINDY: Simply by starting to draw.

QUESTION: Who or what is your biggest inspiration?

CINDY: I am mostly inspired by my dog and nature. Also by my friends and family and the work with my students.

QUESTION: What technique do you use?

CINDY: I work mainly digital and like Adobe Photoshop the best. However I always draw the first sketches with pencil on paper. I need the contact to the analog materials to reach a liveliness in my drawings. Afterwards I scan the sketches to color them digitally.

QUESTION: Tell us about a favorite project you have recently completed.

CINDY: I illustrated for the brochure of the Osnabrueck Cathedral for which I went there personally and got a tour of the church. That was quite exciting, also the fact that I finished this job almost completely analog with fineliner on paper, which was a new challenge for me.

QUESTION: What would be your dream job/commission?

CINDY: I am always happy, when I can act out my style.

QUESTION: Who are your illustration heroes?

CINDY: I love the atmosphere of Pascal Campion work and the wit of Bobby Chiu.

Question: What drew you to illustration/design? Cindy: Initially I wanted to become a street painter and paint pictures on the streets with chalk, because I thought that one can jump into the images and experience great adventures. I had watched Mary Poppins, where exactly this happens. As a child I strongly believed that to be real and started drawing in order to jump into my drawings one day. Well eventually I had to learn painfully that that won´t work. So I thought I should turn into an illustrator which is pretty close. Question: Do you have any formal design training? Cindy: I studied illustration and computer graphics with a distance education program of the IBKK, during which I also worked for animation studios. Later I went to the animation school in Hamburg which sadly does not exist anymore. I am very happy that I was still able to attend the school and had a wonderful year. Question: Where do you live? Cindy: In Hamburg. Question: Can you describe your studio for me? Cindy: A very nice room, just for me and my dog. It´s in an old building with a vaulted ceiling and a nice view. The walls are painted in a light, almost white green. There is a large wooden table, where I can spread out lots of things. A light table from the animation school and a chesterfield which I can´t use because my dog has occupied it. Some bookcases and a large pin board as well as my Mac with a graphics tablet. Also ther is a really nice old apothecary cabinet. Question: How do you get the best ideas? Cindy: Simply by starting to draw. Question: Who or what is your biggest inspiration? Cindy: I am mostly inspired by my dog and nature. Also by my friends and family and the work with my students. Question: What technique do you use? Cindy: I work mainly digital and like Adobe Photoshop the best. However I always draw the first sketches with pencil on paper. I need the contact to the analog materials to reach a liveliness in my drawings. Afterwards I scan the sketches to color them digitally. Question: Tell us about a favorite project you have recently completed. Cindy: I illustrated for the brochure of the Osnabrueck Cathedral for which I went there personally and got a tour of the church. That was quite exciting, also the fact that I finished this job almost completely analog with fineliner on paper, which was a new challenge for me. Question: What would be your dream job/commission? Cindy: I am always happy, when I can act out my style. Question: Who are your illustration heroes? Cindy: I love the atmosphere of Pascal Campion work and the wit of Bobby Chiu. Question: Do you keep a sketch book? Cindy: One? Question: What are your hobbies? Cindy: Besides my illustrations, I love to be creative in other ways too. With soapstone f.e. Also I go to train my dog and do yoga. Question: If you were not an illustrator, what would you be? Cindy: I think there never was an alternative. But I could imagine to have become an actress in formats like „Ladykracher“ or „Knallerfrauen“. Question: Who would you like to meet? Cindy: Heinz Strunk. Question: If you could travel back in time, where would you go to? Cindy: To the right time at the right place for once. Question: What kind of music do you listen to? Cindy: I like listening to soundtracks. Question: What is the funniest thing you have ever done?Cindy: Homemade videos with my siblings. I think we should do that again! Question: If you won the lottery, would you still work as illustrator? Cindy: Definitely! Question: Do you collect anything? Cindy: No. Question: Do you have a favorite game? Cindy: Yahtzee.