DRAWING INFLUENCE ARTIST SHARES HER DREAMS OF PARIS AND THOUGHTS ON AMSTERDAM
Story by Odessa Paloma Parker
Recently returning from a work study in Amsterdam, Ryerson student Katrina Cervoni explores the idea of pop culture through various mediums, including illustration, collage and photography. Her work is clever, candid and a clash of sensibilities. We spoke to the Drawing Influence artist about her process, her passion, and her first pieces of art.
When do you remember first being interested in creating art?
I remember being really young – like, nine-years-old – and telling everyone that I was going to be an artist. I seriously imagined myself in Paris with a poodle, painting all day. I always loved crafts and was always making these over-the-top things for my friends and family.
Do you remember what the first artistic piece you created was?
I’m not sure if this counts, but when I was about six or seven I started pursuing these ridiculous “novels” with 800 spelling mistakes that I drew elaborate pictures for. Most of them revolved around the theme of dogs because I was obsessed with dogs then. My poor Mum probably has a million of those lying around somewhere…
You do both photography and illustration; how do you feel each discipline helps you create the other (if at all)?
I’m not really sure they directly relate. Sometimes I’ll use my photos in collages or use them as a starting point/thought. I love them both the same amount and tend to keep them pretty separate from one another because they each sort of fulfill different things.
What is your process for creating your illustrations and collages?
I usually have a starting image, drawing or thought from my notebook, then I go off on a tangent with it. Through that, I often find new ideas to explore in the collage. I work really intuitively, and much of the time the meaning of the piece is something that comes at the end when I’m able to reflect on the process.
What inspires your work? Are there particular themes you try to explore?
A million things inspire my work, from a song to a conversation with a friend. I tend to explore philosophy and social themes like feminism or pornography. Pop culture is also a pretty big influence on my work – it’s always in everyone’s face so there’s a lot to consider with it I think. Of course, since I’m a Fashion Communication major, fashion is also a running theme in much of my work.
Why are you drawn to the medium of collage?
I love collage because it’s a medium that carries the ability to constantly change. I really enjoy the intuitive process of it and how images or pieces are sometimes compelled to be together. I also love not being committed to using one particular medium because I have love affairs with many different mediums.
Where do you source the photographic images and other materials you use in your collages?
I source a lot of images from old magazines of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s (like Playboy, National Geographic, Vogue). I also use a lot of contemporary fashion magazines and am always searching for old photos, typography, postcards, receipts, et cetera, at antique shops and markets.
A lot of your photography has a very candid, or “behind the scenes” type feeling to it. What is it about that sensibility that appeals to you?
I have always been really interested in the idea of capturing a person or a particular moment as it is. Although I love shooting fashion photography and appreciate the beauty of editorials, I love capturing spontaneity – those moments in real life where a person is fully appearing as themselves. I adore getting rolls of film back and totally not knowing what to expect not only from the moment, but from the film itself.
You just came back from Amsterdam – what was your experience like there?
It was absolutely incredible! Amsterdam was one of the most beautiful and free cities I’ve traveled to. Being able to live there provided me with the opportunity to delve into the culture and meet some amazingly talented people. As cheesy as it may sound, when I look back on my time there, every day was beautiful; everywhere I looked was straight from a dream or a film.
You’ve contributed to a number of magazines, including Plaid. What do you like about commissioned work, and are there any publications you’d like to work with in the future?
One of the reasons why I like commissioned work is because I enjoy working under a deadline. Of course I also love working without a deadline and at my own pace, but often work will sit on my desk, wall or scattered over my floor for a long time before I think of the way I really want to execute it. With commissioned work, I’m able to quickly go through a lot of ideas in a short period of time and I can quickly come up with what works best and execute it.
I’m really into lots of magazines. In the near future, I would love to work with Tourist Magazine, Lula Magazine and I Love You.
What’s next for you?
What a question! I always try to live day by day and not plan too tediously, but I definitely have general goals. I’d like to do some more collaborations with different artists or photographers. I have so many different interests, so it’s always interesting to see how things fall into place. I imagine that I’ll soon be doing something in the publication world. I’ll be the Creative Director of a great magazine – or better yet, start my own!
