David Cantero was born in the city of Cartagena, Spain, but grew up in several cites along the Mediterranean coast and moving to Belgium at 9 years of age. It was in there that he studied art at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Liege, Belgium.
Upon Completion of his art education, David began working in a cartoon animation studio in Luxembourg for three years before returning to Alicante, Spain for one year and then on to Barcelona, Spain where he spent the next seven years working in cartoons and animation by day, and developing his personal art porfolio in his spare time.
Presently living back in Luxembourg since 2008, we caught up with David by email and asked him a few questions about his life and his art.
Can you tell us a little bit about the of art that you have done?
I have created art in a variety of genres, including gay comic books in multiple sexual genders, superheroes, funny comics, fantasy art, and social art pieces. I’ve even done science fiction, horror, and yes, even some childrens cartoon books. I’ve done quite a bit of art styles in my life.
Is creating art a hobby or occupation for you?
I think it is both. I work in a cartoon animation studio as an animator, but I also create my own comics and illustrations at home for my personal enjoyment.
What type of cartoon art do you enjoy creating the most?
Anything to do with humor, funny stories.
Do you think that where you grew up or where you live now inspired you to be an artist?
Not really, I am more inspired by people and I can find inspiration in my daily interactions with others and the things I see.
Where do you find the inspiration for the art you create?
People inspire me a lot. Sometimes I like to look at history through my art, re-telling old stories and ancient mythologies making slight adjustments to them as my inspiration guides me.
Has art always played a central part in your life?
Yes, always. I need it! I’ve always known, since I can remember, that I wanted to make art.
What was the first type or piece of art you ever did professionally?
I guess it was when I created a portrait and sold it to a friend of my mother.
What other artists inspire you?
I really like manga with humor, and especially like the Dr. Slump series, written and animated by Akira Toriyama, and the great movies by Katsuhiro Otomo. I also like the traditional cartoon animation of Disney and the amazing animation of Tex Avery.
Can you tell us a little bit about the process you use, from idea to realization, when you create your art?
I usually get an idea for a character or image composition, or an anecdote for a story idea. After that I begin by sketching out my vision or ideas in blue pencil. Always blue pencil as it’s easier to clean and easier to erase with a scanner when I digitize my art for coloring. When I think I have all the details that I want in the pencil sketch, I draw in the lines with black ink and then scan the drawing into my computer for coloring. During the coloring process I may make small adustments to my work, and add some features, feeelings, and emotions that only the color can bring out.
What periodicals or other publications has your art been featured in?
I sell my own comic books in Spain and France. I have sometimes worked with magazines such as Oh Mag!, Zero, Nois, Nuevo Vale, and Pronto in Spain. I’ve worked with Manner Aktuel in Germany, and Instinct Magazine in California, USA. I have also published two books with German publisher, Bruno Gmunder
You can see much more of David’s art on his website.
You can purchase David’s books published by Bruno Gmunder at Amazon.com or on the Bruno Gmunder website.
We will be featuring David’s art in the members area of spunktoons.com with his own gallery, which we will update with new art as he makes it available to us.
