Meet a Depositphotos Contributor: Julos

Q: Do you remember your first professional illustration?

A: It might have been a logo.

Q: Please list the equipment you work with.

A: 3D! So 3ds max and Photoshop, mostly.

Q: How many people do you employ to assist you? Who does what?

A: Just me, myself and I!

Q: Are there any actions, rituals (or other things) that help you do your job?

A: Hmmm. A good jog, and some radio.

Q: Do you work every day? Can you say you have a flexible schedule, or a busy schedule?

A: Every day, but I sometimes decide I don’t want to, and go out and do something else. You sometimes have to recharge your creative batteries.

Q: How would you, in a few words, describe an excellent stock image?

A: Fun, clean, simple, and easy to adapt.

Q: Do you think your work is an art or a science?

A: Art, I hope, but I’d call it popular art. I’m fine with that.

Q: Among the great illustrators of the past, who is your role model and why?

A: I’d say the minds of Woody Allen, Jim Henson, or the works of Pixar and Aardman Studios inspired me the most. Also French/Belgian comics from my childhood.

Q: Do you see any difference between commercial and personal projects?

A: No, not really, but I have to admit that if customers like one character, I’ll probably do some more of that character. They also send me requests, which is fine — the frog is the best example.

Q: Do you believe in the term “a masterpiece of commercial photography”? If so, could you give an example?

A: No, not really, it wouldn’t sound right, but we have to admit that the general skill and technical level is getting higher and higher, both in photography and illustration.

Q: Do you think you have some national inclinations in your work? Are you patriotic and do you show it?

A: I don’t think so, but I’m sure we are unconsciously influenced by our lifestyles, so I wouldn’t be surprised. Anyway, I have requests from all around the world, so I’d say I have a style that is okay everywhere. The only question I have is with Asia: illustrations there are maybe a bit different; I’m not sure about mangas; etc…

Q: What is your goal as an illustrator? Do you have a professional dream?

A: I want to improve, have fun, explore different styles and subjects and also try to animate some of my characters. It takes time, but I can see a slow and steady progress over the years. I have to point out that I always love to see some of my artwork outside in the real world, in ads, etc… it happens quite often now, and some people also send me pictures when they see some of my work used — it’s fun and rewarding.

Q: Could you name five things which professional stock illustrator should never do?

A: Copy from others, steal, kill… I don’t know. 🙂

Q: How do you see the world of illustration, say, in 2021?

A: The same, with a lot more quality, but I do see it evolve just because we need to follow the real world, too: new cars, new gadgets, new fashion, new events, etc… I also am sure that we’ll see a lot more stock videos, too — it’s just the natural way to go. I see kids shooting everyday outside. And soon they’ll use after-effects like we use Photoshop.

All images © Julos/Depositphotos