Letters and Surfaces
An Interview with Chilean Letterer Mauro Andrés
The history of South America have always fascinated me so it’s time to get to know what’s happening there nowadays. To learn about the peculiarities of the Chilean letter design I have interviewed Chilean letterer Mauro Andrés.
Let’s get started! How did you get into lettering?
Everything started when I was studying graphic design. I didn’t want to become another graphic designer just sitting behind the computer, I wanted more actions. I tried paper poster, photography, poster design, silkscreen among others, but in the end, I realized everything had led me to create letters. Later, the possibility of playing with letterforms for branding design captivated me. The practice began with exhaustive research on references. Being a self-taught person has helped me a lot because in Chile lettering is still a developing/expanding field.
I know a little about the history of Chile, I’ve also had the chance to see the Chilean film No, for instance, but I feel I’m quite out of date. What should everyone know about today’s Chile?
Chile is still a quiet country with social contrasts and lots of benefits for those who are looking for them. Furthermore, one can find real fighters and very friendly people. In my point of view, Chile doesn’t have a clear social and cultural identity: You’ll find everything from deserts to forests, mountains, lakes, rivers, and sea in Chile.
There’s a variety of flavors, colors, even the architecture is diverse to a great extent. This country needs to be appreciated and if you learn how to do it, you can fall in love with it very easily.
Could you talk a bit about its design and lettering traditions?
Generally, you can see certain sign letters at bus stations. Furthermore, lettering artists used to copy the letterforms of other countries and here they shaped them in accordance with their own perception of letter design. However, this rather characterizes the past, now you can notice this more frequently in books or as parts of some typography works inspired by this style. Just to mention a few: in works by Francisco Galvez, the “La Lira Popular” or the Latinotype.
How would you describe yourself and your style?
Describing my work is really difficult at this moment because I’ve just done some experimentation with different surfaces, tools and textures. I don’t really have a certain style. Personally, I like many things, from clean gestures to the most wrinkled ones depending on what I want to do. I’m still on the way of creating my personal style.
If I had to describe what I do I would use the words versatile and contrast because of my experimentation and due to the fact that I work with clients depending on their different needs. This provides me with the possibility of trying out new things, especially, if they give me total freedom. Every project is a new challenge not to repeat what I’ve already done before. This is where the difference between work and personal choices appears.
What kind of methods do you follow when you do lettering?
I don’t have a specific method but the most usual one is a pretty simple one: first, I define the concept, choose the tools that suit the ideas and the concepts, and start drawing letters. I select the best sketches and start analyzing the gestures, letters and ligatures, and I finalize the design according to the best ones. When I have a clear idea I start sketching with more patience and focus on the details to make the digitization faster, and then I check the kerning if it works in different sizes. I always try to do my best for my own professional development.
What are your worst habits you’d like get rid of?
The mess (lol) is something I can’t avoid. I always throw sketches everywhere because I’m a fan of working on single sheets of paper, though, I would like to use a sketchbook someday.
The good thing about using single sheets of paper is that when I clean the room I always find things that maybe didn’t work in the past but they give me some ideas for new projects when I discover them again. I like how it feels when that happens, maybe that’s why I’m still using single sheets of paper instead of sketchbooks.
What is your favourite letter do draw and why?
I don’t have a favorite one, but the letter that I do the most is the letter B. There are also these: A, D, F, K, O, P, R, Y. I think it’s easier to say which one I don’t like, in fact. It’s not that I don’t like it but the letter X gives me some headache when I have to do it. I know I will earn some enemies because of saying this but it’s impossible for me to like the whole alphabet.
What kind of tools do you use?
A bit of everything, but especially brush pens, cola pens, parallel pens, and multiliners, graphite pencils, eraser and a pocket sketchbook comprise my more personal tool kit.
What do you think the biggest mistake is a letterer can make?
I think there is nobody who can say whether something is good or bad when it comes to talking about how something looks. Nevertheless, from an objective point of view the most common mistake might be bad kerning. Kerning is really important concerning the final design.
You have painted a mural on a wall. Under what kind of circumstances do graffiti artists create in Chile? Is it legal to paint on walls, for instance?
Generally speaking, I’ve painted for clients but now I’m about to start exploring this new surface because I kind of feel that the paper is too small. The process of painting a mural is very difficult and different but just like everything else it requires a lot of practice. My goal is to leave good messages on walls.
In Chile graffiti is something you can do with a lot of freedom. There are certain events like the Conce Graff; one of the sponsors is the municipality. They want to increase the importance of art and culture here.
Your Object Book looks really cool. Could you tell us the story behind it?
That project was born when I was studying. There were 4 different classes that went parallel at the same time and we were asked to do this book. Now when I look at it, I think there are things that I could have done better because, in the end, it was more about personal preferences than concepts, and that makes me feel a bit embarrassed. I enjoyed the process, though, and it was really interesting to do it.
Which work of yours are you the most proud of?
There is a logo that I made two years ago for the company Mamiko Seeds. It was the first time that I felt there was a before and after in my work. I really enjoyed designing that logo.
Your works appear on paper, clothes and other kind of surfaces. For which one do you like to design the most and why?
In fact, I’m happy with just the design getting printed. It’s very exciting to see one of my designs on any surface because I do my best in all my projects.
You mentioned in your e-mail that some things had changed concerning your art. Could you summarize what it’s all about?
It’s about a project called Callett, and it’s a crazy idea that a friend of mine, Meli Cronenbold and I have. We’ve thought of combining her passion for calligraphy and mine for lettering. Besides this we also enjoy traveling around the world doing what we love. Our first mural was about that “we are going to conquer the world”. It’s a way to motivate ourselves to do the best we can. I don’t think I have to say that we really love what we are doing. We’re planning to travel to Europe later this year and we are also taking our project with us. We’d like to learn more things from the very best professionals and see where else this idea leads us. We are really excited about this project!
Your Behance profile looks really professional. How important do you think the online presence of a designer (letterer) is?
For me, it’s everything because that is where the world sees you and it’s really important to be professional in everything you do.
What are you working on right now?
Right now I’m working on branding for photographers, and I’m also in collaboration with a handbag brand. Besides these I’m working with Latinotype, and I’m about to decide the final details of Callett with Meli because this month we intend to give some workshops in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
What are your plans for the future?
The most important things for me right now are learning and traveling. I’m really thankful that as a freelancer I can work from any place in the world, since I need only Internet connection, tools and paper. I will keep doing letters, enjoying the good company and keep trying to live a life with things I love to do the most.
Originally published at //hypeandhyper.com/en/betuk-es-felszinek/.
