Interview with designer Cristina Bartl from The Bartl Studio

Gloria Urech, founder and creative @Gukuuki, interviewed Cristina Bartl at her Studio. This is the work of this talented Spanish designer.

Cristina is a fashion and print designer based in Majorca, Spain. She has worked for companies such as Loewe, Pepe Jeans London and Zara among others. In 2014 she launched her personal collection for home textiles and stationery under her brand, The BartlStudio.

Gukuuki: What made you become a designer?

Cristina: In my family, Art has always held an important position. My grandfather used to paint murals and my grandmother used to make beautiful garments for all the family. My aunt is an interior designer and my dad does creative writing… So I guess I did inherit the artistic gene somehow. 

Gukuuki: Why fashion?

Cristina: I don’t really have a good explanation for that… I just followed my heart. Since I was little I have always known that I wanted to become a fashion designer. I would sketch little girls wearing all kind of clothes. A while ago I found one of these sketches and my mom had written down the date. I was four years old when I drew it!

 









Gukuuki: You are a fashion designer, however an important part of your career is about print design. What do you like so much about it?

Cristina: The versatility and possibilities in creating your own prints becomes the key to make your garment collections really unique. In Fashion, most of the times, you have to adjust your creations to the fabrics available for that season. So, when you design your own prints, you give that extra special to your collections to become really exclusive.

Gukuuki: How would you describe your work?

Cristina: I would say that I have an eclectic style. I like many different shapes and color palettes, but I would say that I am usually not afraid of colors, my personal work is a little Dadaist and I am very fond of the handmade style. Because of that I usually sketch and draw using watercolors and pencils and then scan it. That gives a certain uniqueness to your work that’s impossible to achieve otherwise.

Gukuuki: What inspires you?

Cristina: Most of the times, I get inspired by nature and animals. These themes allow me to use a wide range of colors and organic shapes that I am very fond of. If I work on commissioned projects, I try to research as much as possible about the trends that I am working on, understanding better which shapes and colors I should use.

Gukuuki: Could you mention three people that really inspire you and tell us why?

Cristina: I love Modern Style, so I have quite a fond for Gaudí. His crazy, infinite imagination, use of colors and passion for details drive me kooky.

I am also a huge fan of Alfons Mucha. Probably because of his style and because I love illustrations and paintings of women. 

I have quite an attraction with the pre-raphaelite style too. Those color combinations mixed with the realistic portraits fascinates me. I would say artist John Everett Millais is one of my favorites, if not my favorite, and his masterpiece Ofelia is just breathtaking.

Gukuuki: I have found that your work has been published in TEXITURA pattern books. Could you tell me more about this experience?

Cristina: Of course! Publishing in Texitura has always been a great experience. It is quite a challenge too because you have to design for trends a year and a half ahead of you. They send you a selection of trends in which they are interested in and you work with that, not knowing if your work is going to be published until they receive it and go trough it, and they have quite a few technical requirements too.

However, it is super fun and totally worth it, and it’s great to see your work and your name published in a magazine like Texitura.

Gukuuki: What would you recommend to a recent graduate that wants to make it into the fashion business?

Cristina: I would advice to be patience, work hard and to create their signature style, to compile a strong portfolio. At the beginning, it can be very hard to get inside the industry, especially when you don’t have any experience at all, although once you make it, you have to show your best. Fashion is a very dynamic industry, hard still though with amazing opportunities that will come by. Make sure you are ready to grab them!

 


You can follow Cristina Bartl work in the following links:

http://Thebartlstudio.com

http://instagram.com/the_bartl_studio

http://thebartlstudio.tumblr.com/

http://www.pinterest.com/thebartlstudio/

The Black and White project - Week 2

Thanks for stopping by :-)

This week 2, has been busy and with lots of happening, including my birthday yesterday. So the "The Black and White project" has been a bit neglected. I have tried a bit of home-made stamping and had lots of fun with it. 

Here are my sketchs of this week 2, hope you would like them and leave a comment. Thank you! 

 

 #artdaily2015 #sketchaday #sketchbook #creativity #gukuuki

 #artdaily2015 #sketchaday #sketchbook #estudiorosa #gukuuki

 #artdaily2015 #sketchaday #sketchbook #stripes #gukuuki

 #artdaily2015 #sketchaday #sketchbook #curves #gukuuki

 #artdaily2015 #sketchaday #sketchbook #roses #gukuuki

 #artdaily2015 #sketchaday #sketchbook #fleurs #gukuuki

I also wanted to share with you my top 5 cool designs for Valentine´s Day, as it is just behind the corner! Use this link and ***Get $10 off your order with code Y3A8DB*** 

Happy Days!!

The Black and White project - Week 1

Thanks for stopping by :-)

As I mentioned last week, I am taking part of  "The Black and White project", launched by a friend and artist Deborah A. Velásquez, in which us, and the people that join along, will be creating pieces of art, in Black and White media. The purpose of this project is to create a 30 minute sketch every day and to share it in our social media under these hashtags #artdaily2015 #sketchaday #sketchbook

So if you would like to join us in this venture, you need to add the hashtags above, either you post in facebook, instagram, pinterest, your web, etc..


Here are my sketchs of this week 1, hope you would like them and leave a comment.

#artdaily2015 #sketchaday #sketchbook #movementandtextures #gukuuki

 

#artdaily2015 #sketchaday #sketchbook #gratitude #gukuuki

 

#artdaily2015 #sketchaday #sketchbook #buildingalone #gukuuki

#artdaily2015 #sketchaday #sketchbook #tribal #gukuuki

 

#artdaily2015 #sketchaday #sketchbook #onetracefloral #gukuuki

#artdaily2015 #sketchaday #sketchbook #orchids #gukuuki

And tonight, nothing comes, I am afraid! Need a proper sleep :-)

Thank you! My best wishes for a great week ahead.
Happy days!!

The Black and White Sketchbook project.

Happy New Year 2015!
And thanks for stopping by :-)

Last year I dedicated most of my time to rise and care about our new daughter Zoë. Life has been a huge challenge for me since because I barely had any help and so far so good, inside of me, I have the feeling of success as a mother. If you are one of us, you will know how many sacrifices you need to do in order to rise a good, healthy and happy child. If you didn´t join yet motherhood, the only thing I can advise you is to make sure that your partner have the same thoughts as you in rising a child or becoming parents, otherwise, you will face many critical moments.

When I was younger, I used to draw often and I used to enjoy quite a lot.

Gukuuki was created to fulfill projects in full colour and so I think, I deliver this during the past years. However, lately, something inside of myself urge the need to come back to my "roots of drawing" and allow me the time for myself to do create that space in my daily routine.

As everybody says: "NEW YEAR, NEW YOU!" 2015 is here with a new challenge, goal, name it as you want...

It happened recently, that a friend and artist Deborah A. Velásquez has launched "The Black and White project " in which she will be painting and or sketching everyday. She will be using black and or white media leaving the substrate open as a color option. Deborah was inspired by her friend and fellow artist @augustwren who does a 30 minute sketch daily. She have done a few sketchbook projects in the past and they are a wonderful way to create daily.

So here we are!! I decided to join Deborah in this project and donate to myself those 30 minutes a day to draw or paint, just as a medicine for my soul!

I have to thanks Deborah for creating her challenge because it has become my challenge too ;-)

Today is my start, so here is my first sketch - Day #5.




I will be posting my sketches in my Facebook page and weekly in this blog.

You can follow Deborah in her Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/velasquezstudio?fref=nf

Happy days!!

sketch-a-day > week 3 & 4

Dear and welcome all,

I thought it was going to be easier to commit and sketch daily but is not always that easy. Not being able to sketch in the past couple of weeks I feel a bit disappointed with myself!

Zoë, our daughter is already 4 months old and full of life and character. She keeps me really busy plus all the unpacking that we still have after our recent move. Crazy times!!

Last week I only committed to one design for a new competition in two free nights that Zoë allowed me. Here is the entry and link to vote if you would like to support my design for the new Mii SEAT by Mango. Voting starts March 5, 2014. THANK YOU!!

Bye bye for now, time for a feed ... These are the days!! ;-)

sketch-a-day > week 1

Dear and welcome all,

Last week I mentioned about a new project: "SKETCH-A-DAY".

I am feeling a bit guilty that I did not succeed to do sketches every day because my 3 and a half months daughter keep me busy. However, I did manage to do a bit and here are my results.

I will keep on going because this practice makes me to be more aware of the things around me and helps me to get back my design capabilities after this period of "maternity leave".

As I say before, you can join me in this project on your own place and pace, and if you would like to show your work within my blog, please, drop me an email.

Enjoy your week and let´s keep on sketching!!

INSpireOn

Dear all,

Sorry for not keeping in touch during the last few months, my life has been like a roller coaster with major events like having birth our baby daughter Zoë at the end of October, moving house by the end of November, then Christmas and finally January went too with lots of unpacking boxes... and the lovely features I got from my winning Kleenex design Limited edition boxes.

Kleenex® New Designs to go Into Production

Now in Stores! Selected Artists’ Kleenex® Box Designs

I am still enjoying my maternity leave but thinking in a project that yesterday strike my attention after watching Zandra Rhodes sketchbooks video. So today I started "my sketch-a-day project". I will try to sketch things that call my attention and keep the sketchbooks for further inspiration like Zandra Rhodes does.

 

Every Monday I will post my weekly sketches to create an INSpireOn movement. You are more than welcome to join me in this venture and get feature your work within my blog. Any media welcome! Let´s get crafty!!

In the meantime, you can pop by my INSpireOn board in Pinterest too.

Have a lovely week :-)

Butterfly Mandala Design

Hello all and thanks for stopping by.

I am participating in a new Design contest with my entry called: "Butterfly Mandala" which I created for the Design packaging for Always Dailies Discreet.

Voting is now open so please, feel free to support my design and share it with your friends and social media.

The link: goo.gl/Qr1d5W

Much appreciated :-)

Zentangles

Hello all,

It is interesting how life plays some times because I have been "Zentangling" for years and years, especially in my younger days and I never came across to this way of drawing as a Zentangle until this morning when I was pinning some dragonflies in Pinterest into my board "LulLabies" and then I came across to Sue Glass Pinterest page which is a Paradise for Zentangles.

A Zentangle is a relaxing and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. It increases focus and creativity, provides artistic satisfaction along with an increased sense of personal well being.









Characteristics of Zentangle are:

Intuitive: Anyone can create beautiful images from repetitive patterns. It is easy to learn and easy to do.   

Fun and Relaxing: Creating Zentangle art provides a fun and lighthearted way to relax and intentionally facilitate a shift in focus and perspective.

Unexpected Results: your creation is not restricted by your expectations.

Ceremonial: Repetitive, simple steps that support relaxation, focus and inspiration. It can be a wonderful daily ritual.

Timeless: Creating designs, manipulating symbols and putting pen to paper is part of our human heritage.

Portable: Everything you need to create beautiful Zentangle art can fit in your pocket.

Non Technical: Your creativity is not directed by how someone else wrote a particular program, nor does it need batteries or electricity.

Empowering: It is an empowering and uplifting experience to learn that you can deliberately relax and intentionally direct your attention while creating beautiful works of art .

If you google "Zentangle" images, you will get a better idea :-)

My Music Zentangle is one example
which I feel so proud of.

Keep on Zentangling!

Pattern Design Pin-hop 2013

Welcome to the PIN-HOP June 2013 :-)

This project has been created and managed by the very talented artist Tina Olsson of FYLLAYTA which I think she has done a remarkable job putting this Pin-Hop together.

You might have arrived to see my collection for the Pattern Design Pin-Hop 2013 from the special pinterest board Pin Hop 2013 where you will find the work of over 50 surface pattern designers from all over the world. Each designers blog links back to the main Pin Hop board on Pinterest so you can go backwards and forwards looking at all the designers wonderful work without getting lost. I hope you have fun!  

My collection is based on the Midnight Garden theme from the Patternbank's trends board for AW13-14.

 

 

 

Once you have had a chance to look at my designs please take a moment to hop over and visit the beautiful work of Laura Escalante Mora

Thank you for visiting my blog. If you are interested in licensing my designs, please, feel free to get in contact with me at urech_gloria@hotmail.com

Kleenex Contest > TOP 10

 Hello all,

I am so chuffed this week because my IKAT FLORAL that I sent for the Kleenex competition got into the top 10!! And now I am asking for more votes to get into the TOP 3 ;-)
If I manage, my design will be along with the other two winners in the shelves of UK shops from October 2013...Amazing!!

Express your style by voting for your favourite design here: http://on.fb.me/13m4umo

There are beautiful designs. To vote for mine, you vote for Ikat Floral by Gloria Urech :-)

Thank you so much x

Designing and a new course from Muy MajoBV

This past month I have been quite busy in designing for a company I am freelancing since last September. Nice projects which I really enjoyed! I love their briefs and they like my style too.

For the moment I am preparing some other designs for a Licensing project and entering design competitions here and there, when I have some time.

Today I enter the Limited Edition Kleenex® Collection Tissue Box competition with a very delicate design called "Ikat Floral" and inspired by the blossom of the roses in the summer and the visual power of ikat, I designed this two colour pattern to enlighten our spaces with warmth and design.

To support my design, you can click here :-) Voting starts April 30th, 2013. THANKS A LOT!

I also entered another competition last week, for a weekly Spoonflower contest. This one entitled "Geek Friends" and inspired in the Lego toys with a twist of cross stitch for this GEEK design!

I also recently enrolled a new course for to create the perfect pattern in Adobe Illustrator starting June 7th and for the great price of $30. You can find more about the course here and about the amazing teacher Muy MajoBV :-)

Have a good week all and keep on designing!!!