I want to make people happy. With a Disco-Snail or a Floral Pizza, it’s my goal to get a smile on your face. I like to remind people how fascinating the world is by producing images of food, animals, and everyday objects. These images are minimalistic mash-ups with pastel backgrounds.
1. Tell us about your background and journey.
Hi, I am Paul Fuentes, I grew up in Mexico City where I started my fascination for manipulating images for fun. I started my first job as an editor for the social magazine of my university. My work and study in graphic design gave me the tools to create the designs I make these days.
Working at my design agency - Paul Fuentes Design in London. It's more than 6 years ago that I opened my Instagram account. I noticed the trend of food photography on Instagram. I took the lock of my account and started sharing my personal work of minimal mashups, just to get some feedback perhaps. Suddenly my designs went reposted and the account was growing!
My designs were used for advertisements, on blogs, magazines. I really didn’t expect this, but now I knew - this was my calling, creating images of common food, objects and animals in a new and twisted way. Two years ago I started a new collection with travel photography.
This project is a colorful lens through which I see the world in a different way. Working with a similar style and without missing the pastels, I take travel photographs to surreal and unexplored places.
2. What inspired you to pursue graphic designing as a career?
I grew up in a creative family, my Mother studied Graphic Design and my Musical Dad worked on radio and television post-production creating music for commercials. My talents and personality come from both of them.
I guess I have always been better at communicating with images instead of words. I was best at creative classes, so studying graphic design was an easy choice for me.
3. What design process do you follow before starting a project?
I normally use 2 objects to create a new one, so I start with one and then try to find its other half. For me it’s like a marriage, both objects need to adapt in many ways like shape, size, color. When I have an idea for a new image, I often already see how it looks in my head. Sometimes I just start with sketches and an idea can come to life.
4. How did your artworks evolve?
The style is Modern, Minimal, Colorful, Surreal, Photography. It is recognizable, uncomplicated and I always choose humor. I try to make people laugh and I like the idea of saying a joke without words, incorporating aspects of Food, Surrealism, and inspiration from Everyday Life. The vibrant pastel colors is a direct correlation to Mexico City, where I was born and raised.
5. What is the most challenging part of working as a graphic designer?
Especially with Instagram as my main platform, the most challenging part is to keep creating unique and new works weekly.
6. How would you describe your style in photography?
In 5 words: Happy, Fun, Colorful, Surreal, Pop!
7. Which artist and photographer inspires you the most and why?
I basically get my inspiration from everything around me. Travel, Fashion, Music, but also when shopping in the supermarket. My designs consist of everyday objects and objects that we can find all around us. I just need to open all my senses and keep training my creativity.
But I also see a lot of other artists/works on social media that inspire me. I’m always inspired by one of the old painters, Caravaggio. Caravaggio is renowned for his intense use of light and shadow.
Light and shadows are also an important part of my designs. Since most images are digital paste on top of each other I need to recreate the light and shadow myself. Creating the light and shadows is almost like painting.
8. Which is your favorite book and why?
My favorite book I recently read is Atomic Habits from James Clear. He reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. Super interesting and useful!
Interviewed By - Serene Ingle
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