For a while now we have been wanting to interview one of jovoto’s most active early birds – the HighlandBagpiper! According to all the positive feedback the HighlandBagpiper gets, we believe that not only we are huge fans of him and his artwork but that many of his fellow early birds want to get to know him a little better. Since the HighlandBagpiper is living in Barcelona and we couldn’t meet in person, we interviewed him via email. Lean back, read and enjoy!

Tell us about yourself!
Well…I work on graphics but I do like a worker who builds a house or like a dustman who takes all garbage cans toput into the truck. To me my work is out of fashion or trendy, I do it mechanically. Always searching time to spend the life and enjoy all little things of that wonderful world. In my last life I was a good boy and God lets me choose the place to been born again, this place was Barcelona. The Iberian peninsula is funny from outside space to choose, isn’t it?

Why did you become an illustrator?
I began studying as a motor mechanical drawer, to make planes of all that, then one summer I discover the graphic design working in a my father’s friend studio. My boss was a teacher on a well known school of arts in my home town. The last course I began to study graphic design, meanwile I discover the stencil technique and start to do graffitis at my hometown walls all nights, this was around 1985. Encouraged to my success making grafittis, I study more seriously graphic design. Few years later I went to make the oblied militar service. When I finish it I began to work on a small design studio, then my new boss always make me draw many things to provide the designs with a illustration touch. Was then when I discovered the advertising illustration and wents for it. Some day a well knowed creative gaved me the first opportunity to do a important jobs and untill now I’m working on that giving the thanks to all creatives who trust in me to do its designs. Arturo and Yissus were ones of that guys who give me the opportunity to work on advertising illustration.

Whose work do you admire? Do you have an idol?
Well right now to me its imposible to give my admiration to a only one person, everywhere is full of a young talents and many illustrators likes me the things they do. I like the work of Tim Biskup but there are many young illustrators making coolest graphics than that guy. Some times to watch the most awesomes illustrators I use to see the graphics bellow the skateboards decks. Often there are the most radical ways to work on illustration. One name Ignas Vytautas for example or many illustrators from The AlienWarehouse scateboards Labble.

Where do you get inspiration?
The inspiration only came burning neuronas thinking on a theme, when you stop to do it…then came a nice idea. For example; I lie on the ground of my studio with my cat upon my belly and my hands crossed under my head like a pillow…few minutes later I say _”I get it ” and my cat scare of me running to the computer to draw it.This is my secret formula.

What do you do when you don’t illustrate?
I use to Play the Highland bagpipe beside the sea near my wiffe’s house to scary all the seagulls and say hello the the boatman’s who arives at the Port.

Why did you join jovoto?
Arturo’s invites me to joint you, and now I’m happy to do it.

Why are you called the HighlandBagpiper?
Well becouse my favorite Hobby is to play the Highland Bagpipes on week end. I know is a quite freaky but I’m happy then.