Elisa Talentino

Illustrator

©Elisa Talentino

©Domestika

©Elisa Talentino

The persistence of talent

Elisa draws exquisite illustrations for books and magazines
Her technique is a mix of painting and silk screen printing
Her main subjects are women and nature

Illustrator Elisa Talentino is well-known in her native Italy and abroad for her book covers, illustrated books and drawings for famous magazines. Yet, her road to success was long and winding. When Elisa was a child, her teachers scolded her because she used to draw during lessons. When she attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Turin, one of her professors tried to dissuade her from becoming a painter, explaining that her vocation was not pictorial at all. “He told me I was more of an illustrator, but at the time I did not really know what it meant,” she recalls. Completing her studies in Spain and Portugal helped her to focus her mind. When Elisa went back to Italy she struggled to get noticed by publishers. Elisa’s passion and talent were very strong and she did not give up. And eventually something happened to set her on her way.

Interview

©Elisa Talentino

©Elisa Talentino

What was the turning point in your career?: In 2014, I self-published my second book, titled Bendata di stelle (Blindfolded with stars). It was presented at a comics festival in Bologna and noticed by the art director of the New York Times, who was visiting. After a few days, she wrote me an email and commissioned me a drawing for her newspaper.
What technique do you use for your illustrations?: It is a mix of painting and silk screen printing. I draw on transparent acetate sheets with black ink, then I scan the drawing and edit it on my computer. I use black ink only because it is the easiest to scan, then I replace it digitally with other colours.
Where does your inspiration come from?: I would not talk of inspiration in a romantic way. Most of the time, I work for clients and I have to meet their requirements: sometimes the biggest challenge is to create something beautiful and harmonious in spite of the requirements. I believe inspiration is always a mix of taste, practice, intuition and observation.
What are your favourite subjects?: I love to draw women. First because I am a woman myself, then because in general, I find women’s bodies are more harmonious than men’s. But I also enjoy drawing nature. I grew up in the countryside, in a big house, lots of farm animals, flowers and herbs… these childhood memories are still vivid and inspiring to me.

Elisa Talentino is a master artisan: she began her career in 2009 and she started teaching in 2010