Giulia Lineette
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I’m an illustrator and visual artist based in Milan, Italy. I take inspiration from everyday life, drawing stuff hard to explain by words, weird moments, fun facts and thoughts.”
Sometimes I just copy pictures or paintings from other artists I like, this is one of the most relaxing activity for me. Working on commissions is amazing too because I can mix my ideas with others from the client, this is always a good exercise and an exciting challenge.
I usually start drawing with pencils, pens and paper, after I add colours, shadows and lights in Photoshop. I love late 80s aesthetic, the airbrush effect and detailed food illustrations.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I started drawing at three years old, I grew up watching sex education videos and Sailor Moon, that's why uterus, sperm cells and naked girls were my favourite subjects. I attended an art high school and studied photography at the European Design Institute (IED) in Milan. I still like taking pictures on films, but I prefer drawing things than shooting them so here we are, I'm an illustrator or something like that.
HOW DO YOU STAND OUT IN YOUR FIELD?
I'm a human being like everybody else, I have seen thousands illustrations, photos, graphic projects in my life. Don't be swayed by anyone is so difficult but there are two good news: other's work are a great source of inspiration and in order to be unique you just have to be positive, be 100% yourself and work hard. That's what I'm doing right now. Don't know how to define myself or my personal style, I just feel something like a mix made of Japanese cartoons I saw when I was a child, chronic sadness, Great Master's painter my parents taught me about when we went to museums on Sunday, empowerment, cooking show on tv, 90s colours, girl power and no judgment at all. Is it clear?
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
I'm making the larger illustration of my life right now. I have ten pieces of cotton (1,5x1,5 mt each) from Apepak (100% food natural wrap). I'm drawing plants, flowers and people on them, these will be part of an exhibition during Milan Design Week 2019, can't wait to see it! I'm also collaborating with the marvelous feminist project Virgin & Martyr, I help them with all the graphic issues. We made a zine about consent and one about eco-sex, a poster about porn-world and a lot of Instagram contents.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I like projects that normalizes things commonly considered weird. I want to work and think with no rules or fear, focused on just being myself wild happy and free :D
Two artists I love: Braulio Amado and Ram Han <3
WE ALL HAVE MULTIPLE SKILLS OR WORK IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD FOCUS ON MORE?
I love organizing other people’s work, I am better at doing this for others than for me eheh. I'd like to be an art agent, be empowering and lead artists to success. Together we are stronger, actually.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
The dark side of being a freelancer is the loneliness. You have to do all by yourself. You often work alone, looking for new collaborations for yourself, fight for yourself, being strong and don't give up even if you see a lot of projects better than yours.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
Brush my teeth, wash and blow my hair :D
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
I would tell the 23-years-old me to start that communication design university, because it wasn't too late!
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
I'd like to speak with a visual art expert, an illustrator or an art director. I would be curious about that time he was wrong about his own work or other's work. Also I'd like to hear about that time everybody told him he was wrong but he wasn't :) Lastly I wonder what he thinks about trends in visual arts and illustration, still don't get it.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I'd love to work with food, drawing meals, recipes or ingredients for a magazine or a restaurant. I could look at Japanese food illustrations from the 80s for hours.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
She/he is intelligent, loves to talk about the project, she/he is honest and can mix the business mind with the ethic mind. And she/he pays me, of course!
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
Yes, it depends on the project. How much important is the client? How many hours or days does it take to you? How many corrections? Do you like the project? Is it no profit? A single illustration (for a t-shirt, a postcard, ...) could cost from €200 to €500 or more. Coloured pictures are more expensive because it takes much more time.
WHO IS A CREATIVE THAT HAS HELPED YOU ELEVATE YOUR WORK?
At the first place in my heart there's the project @virginandmartyr on IG, it's an Italian safe place, they talk about sexuality, physical and mental weelness. @gretatosoni is one of the founders, such a fine photographer and a dear friend to me. At the second place there's the best Italian independent music label: @undamento. It's made of beautiful crazy people who really like music (and gin tonic). Go listen them playlists on Spotify, you'll love them.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Just saying: "Hi Giulia! Your work made me laugh and cry at the same time, let's do something together!"
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Always trust your own taste.
This member profile was originally published in March 2019.