Think outside the box and be creative - Interview with Phoks
Today, you’ll meet the famous photograph and illustrator Jacques Florch ( Phoks ). Phoks is : “Feast your pupils..” as he sais.
Why I choose to interview him? It’s because he’s different, he’s very creative and because he has the courage to think out of the box and to impose his imagination in creating original pieces of art. He has built a nice reputation in less than three years by imposing his own universe: high-tech imagery, flashy colors, working contrast, anachronism, by also mixing its various influences such as cartoons, pop culture, sneakers and fashion in all its forms.
You’ll love this interview:
* How did you get into fashion illustration? Was there something specific?
It is through collaboration with the French magazine, and the Bandit brand FAZE-O, I had the opportunity to work on fashion illustration.
In reality, this world it’s pretty new to me. I’m doing fashion photography, and I never fully illustrated, this collaboration was so good.
* How do you describe your style of illustrating?
Cartoonizer is a reality, many details, but a lot of hidden messages.
* What is your creation process?
I always start by sketching on paper and then conducting a photo shoot in connection with the sketches. Finally I go to a digital medium to brush up the artwork. I think actually my creations are joyful, colorful and bright.
* What inspires you and how do you inspire?
My influences and my inspirations are many, but most is God, because when I look at the sky, I am always amazed by the variety of colors and shapes that I watch often. I tried copy but without success.
* Can you talk a little bit about your sense of color?
The color is very important to me, it is the engine of my work and the key to my personality chart, it allows me to reflect and influence all of my works, and I love the handle!
* What are the stories behind your illustrations?
The stories of my illustrations are rather simple, it usually encounters between two opposing worlds and I attempt to translate a strong message between the two subjects
* Is illustration the only type of art that you do?
No, I also shoot fashion classic, 3D, design in creating and painting.
I have several pallets in my work that allows me to go further in expressing my art. I design sneakers, t-shirts, clothes. It all allows me to declare my work on other media as digital.
Painting is my traditional side, more primitive. I like a lot the contact with the brush.
* What projects are you currently involved in?
I work a lot on my blog, to an online shop, a lot of collaborations and I prepare an exhibition for this year and I am so excited about this.
* Which magazines featured your illustrations?
I had a lot of proposals for collaboration, especially on the web with Tony Parker, Wad Magazine, Photoshop Advanced Magazine, Faze-O Clothing and more.
* That’s fantastic. Can you talk more about this. How they found you?
Collaborations with Zine are frequently to fashion by the time I redraw series fashion with detail bag, jewelry, etc.
I promote my work through my exhibitions, my website and my professional network. In France it is quite difficult but I have a lot of customers through the internet, magazine, blog. But word of mouth works a lot … and links to other sites, it usually people discover my work.
* What for you makes a successful fashion illustration?
For me a successful fashion illustration is one which is just aesthetically but also with many details, especially highlighting the products.
Every day I think I can give a different style to illustration up against what we see today, something that hangs, that values, which makes you to want to find more details about it. On a personal point of view, the most challenging is having to constantly renew.
* What are the most challenging aspects of your job? What do you do dislike?
The most difficult thing is with the client: keep are graphic identity while giving satisfaction. What I dislike is that they do appeal to me and asked me to follow a specification specific.
* What you can say about the experience at the University? How education benefit your career?
The experience at University was very precious for me. I have learned the true art of photography and the most important was that we’ve worked a lot in groups. I also discovered another artist who is evolving at the same time as me, it’s awesome! I think the university in my career was a good choice that I made. You know … there are many self-taught people on the market but I think that the school brings you a mastery of craft.
* What kinds of jobs are available for graduating students in this field? Specialty areas? What are the best ways to get a foot in the door?
During my school is the professional appearance that served me the most.
This is an area clogged and difficult to access, depending meetings that we do and the contacts that we have.
* What advice would you share with someone who is just entering the world of fashion illustration, and is trying to create a work of his own?
I think we invented anything, you just know the right amount influences, through hard work we can necessarily a positive outcome.
Thank you Phoks! Keep up the inspiring and good work!
All photos are copyright Phooks
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