Interview: Maria Jesús Contreras

Preferred Pronoun?
She/her

Why did you choose to enter this work?
having the opportunity to draw a picture every week has been a great learning experience for me, I think the consistency and the challenge of doing something different each week its very enriching

What’s your favourite thing about your shortlisted project?
This project reminds me of how things were done in the past, an illustrator/writer for a section. I love the news, and being part of it is a dream for me!

What excites you most about being shortlisted?
I can't believe how far this application has come, I really wish we could make it, because of me the editor, Alvaro the director and Melissa the writer.

Where do you usually work?
I receive the text of the week, we usually do 3-5 sketches on paper, then I scan them and we work on the final ones in digital.

How long did it take to complete your project?
This is the most interesting! We usually have 48 hours! The press is fast and that's why it's very exciting. I receive the texts on Wednesday after twelve, before 12 on Thursday I upload my sketches,

What is your dream commission?
I love my job, so I think this is my dream comission I really love it.

What’s your favourite thing to draw?
Everything

What is your best tip for other illustrators?
Trust the opinion of the directors, read carefully what has to be drawn, sketch different edges that are different from each other, to expand an idea as much as possible.

What are your plans for the future?
I really hope to continue working in the newspaper for the duration of my career hahaha, I also really like making vinyl covers, movie posters and book covers.


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