Artist Interview with Coke Navarro

Coke Navarro lives up to his enigmatic name, displaying artwork that is both unique and alternative. He lights up an image with a skilled sense of dynamism and a fantastical element that plays with light and hard shadows. Coke’s work focusses on comic and narrative work, influenced by his serious concern with sci-fi matters.

1. What has been your favourite recent project? 

To be honest, what I have enjoyed the most for the last few months is my personal work. This year I've been working on a large comic project which has been really cool, but it is a mad amount of work. So, the moments in which I have had time to sit down and work on something different and personal are very precious to me. 

2. Having worked across both editorial, advertising and publishing sectors, which is your favourite and why?

I don't think it's a matter of the working field, but the particular briefing, who you are working with and how you connect with each individual project.

3. What is your workspace like? 

I work in a studio in Valencia with seven other people. My workspace is made up of two tables with my lightbox, my computer and my Cintiq. I have a selection of clayheads I make and use as character references, a couple of drawing mannequins, ink pots, pens, brushes... all things illustration! Although for the last couple of months I've been working here alone for Covid reasons and I really could get used to this! 

4. If you could relocate your studio for a year, where would you go?

I’d love to relocate to somewhere out of the city, probably to a forest. Somewhere cold, with huge windows and lot of space.?

5. How have you stayed creative during this lockdown period? 

During quarantine I have been stuck at my mother’s house. I mean, I love you mum but two months under the same roof... That's hard. So I worked. Worked day and night. The only thing that saved my mental health was going out for walks with Pipo.

6. How did you develop your distinctive visual language?

That's a good question. At the moment I still feel like I'm jumping from one thing to another, trying different things and looking for a place to stay. It's only when you look back and see what you have been doing that you realize there's a common thread throughout your works and it is this that becomes your visual identity. Style is not a place you want to go, but the trail you leave behind.

7. Who has inspired or influenced you?

I guess my influences come from all the TV shows I watched as a kid, specially Dragon Ball, The Samurai Warrior and some other animes. Later I discovered comic authors like Mike Mignola, Frank Miller or Katsuhiro Otomo and I learned a lot from them. Also I am heavily inspired by  filmmakers including Akira Kurosawa or John Carpenter. 

8. What’s the best thing about having an illustration agent? 

The best thing about having an illustration agent is being able to place all my focus on the illustration process while having support dealing with clients.

9. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Be nice to people.

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