I’m not sure how I found Mikel Casal’s website but when I did, I completely fell in love with his amazing stylized illustrations. Most of his work has a real simple graphic style but his play on shapes and the added texture make them really interesting. The imagery is also really fun- I especially like the illustration in the diario El Correo section of the man smoking a pipe where the smoke is an elephant. I wondered what the thought process was behind these works and asked Mikel to join us for the weekly sketchbook series. Here’s what he told me about his sketchbooks-

Regarding my sketchbooks, they are composed by a summary os sketches and ideas that I cutting and pasting in these. Usually these cuts come from my previous sketches that I do for a concrete work. Other times, from drawings that I do while I’m on the phone, for example.

I believe that the result is very similar to my way of drawing. There aren’t many planned or premeditated things, they are a kind of casual encounters, compositions of forms, geometrical cuttings that at the end create an extensive collage. Regarding my work, I colaborate with newspapers, magazines, design studios,… Some time ago I started to do caricatures, most of the times for newspapers witch has become a very important and recognized part of my job.

Mikel has collaborated with a clothing company Kilroy and his designs can be seen on their t-shirts, bags and other products. He’s published some kid’s books but hopes to do more in the future. You can buy some really really nice prints of his work from this site here -just choose his name from the drop down menu of artists. (Let’s hope your Spanish is up to par though.) Mikel’s located in the beautiful city of San Sebastian in Spain. He sent me some photos of it- it looks beautifully dreamy. Check out more of his work on his site here. Thanks Mikel!

© Julia Rothman 2007