Mikel Casal is an illustrator based in San Sebastian, Spain. His upcoming exhibition showcases pieces from his private work is entitled »Egurrak«, held at the Gallery Providence in Guetary. We sat down with Mikel to talk about his work as an artist and the influences the ocean has made within his life.
When did you first get into illustration?
Since I was very young I felt a special attraction for drawing. I was very attracted to books, particularly illustrated books, and magazines. Encyclopedias were full of illustrated maps representing distant countries and people. I think I always wanted to be an illustrator, without quite knowing what that meant. I started my career as an assistant director and character designer in an animation production company and haven’t stopped drawing since then.
Your illustrations can best be described as retro, bold, and playful. Do they reflect your personality?
I think so, yes. I am an optimistic and active person. I cannot help but add color to my illustrations. As for the retro look, I think it has to do with the visual influences from my childhood.
What are those influences you talked about?
I’ve always been interested in the aesthetics of the 50’s and 60’s. I am an admirer of the great illustrator, Saul Steinberg, but also of cartoons from Warner Bros and painters like Wassily Kandinsky and the German expressionist painters.
What topics are you interesting in drawing?
Well, in general all of those that have to do with the human figure. I think that creating characters is what I do best and what I enjoy the most.
Can you describe your upcoming exhibition EGURRAK in a few words and the idea behind it?
Egurrak means wood in Euskera (the basque language). The idea began to take shape with just a piece of wood I had lying around my studio. A piece of pinewood…I don´t really know where it came from. With markers, I started drawing a character on it. I liked how it looked so I placed it on one of my walls. I thought it wasn’t too bad so I kept imagining characters enclosed in a piece of wood. From then on I have been developing the idea around my interests, tastes, music, friends, surfing, animals… I try to reflect in these pieces of wood as they are inspired by the things around me that make me happy.
What is your connection with the ocean? Why is it so fascinating to you?
My connection to the ocean is almost innate. My father was a Captain of many fishing boats. My house has smelled like the sea for as long as I can remember. Ocean objects, clothes, and fish were brought by family and friends.
But as far as I know, my family has always made a living from the sea. One of my grandfathers was a diver in the port of Vigo and my other grandfather sailed on merchant ships (when they still had sails). All my uncles, cousins, and friends of my parents have been fishermen or merchant marines. Every time an uncle of mine came back from a trip he would bring souvenirs from Africa, Canada, Norway, Brazil, United States, England, or Ireland. Many of these magazines were beautifully illustrated. Just think what that would do to my imagination, to hear the stories from thousand trips, always with the ocean as the protagonist.
