Illustrator Gary Fernandez
Gary Fernandez illustrator
Having a knack for exploring the mundane and coming out the other side with fantastic and surrealistic renderings, illustrator Gary Fernandez has certainly made the most of his time in the spotlight. With super brands Coca Cola and Nokia notched on his commercial belt Gary has drawn, painted and mentored his way to the top of a highly competitive industry and all the while maintaining his boyish charm and endearing humility.
Wild Horses
Born in Madrid, Spain in 1980 Gary Fernandez now calls Vancouver, British Columbia home base but is traveling regularly between Asia, Europe and the US to spread his illustrative message.
Gary started drawing when he was a young boy and never looked back, gaining a true appreciation for illustration and design while contributing to the design team for the Spanish pop culture magazine Vanidad (Vanity) in 03 and 04. It was here that he combined the pieces of the illustrative style he now uses to delight and confound the art and design world.
Sticking to simple but obscure colour pallets has become a trademark of the Fernandez style, in part, a love of certain colours and as much a way to simplify often very intricate and complex drawings.Drawn toward the human figure as a focal point in his art made for a subtle crossover into fashion illustration finding heavyweights Dolce and Gabbana and UK retail giant Evans clamouring for more.
Evans Promotion
Fernandez, for all of the simplicity he aspires seems to be a very complex and thoughtful artist. Rooted deep in his Spanish heritage Fernandez cites examples from personalities and Spanish artists like Antoni Gaudí and Salvador Dali as inspiration for the flowing compositions and liquid shapes and forms he creates.
Like the great and eccentric artists who preceded him, Fernandez has also self published a book of his work, not so simply entitled “Introduction to Fantastic Girls, Future Landscapes & The Most Beautiful Birds Ever Seen”. Praised by critics as a modern classic for its intensity and flowing beauty.
Dog Park
Always conscious of his audience, Fernandez has embarked on a new venture creating art for tee shirts under the banner of ‘Velvet Banana’. Whilst this departure will see his creations produced en mass, he still revels in the glow of affection showered upon him by the countless young artists he has inspired and mentored through his ongoing lectures and collaborative workshop series.
These workshops often culminate in pieces of public art or murals finished entirely by his students, no doubt leaving an indelible impression on young illustrators and their vision of “the hidden beautiful”.
East Village Mural NYC
Resources for Gary Fernandez
http://www.hypocritedesign.com/gary-fernandez/
www.thecoolhunter.net/article/detail/1368/gary-fernandez
www.swide.com/luxury-magazine/Faces/Artists/a-la-mode/2011/7/23
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgHlSLwq3oM
thefewgallery.com/artists/5
designhistorykingscliff 
Nice blog. I’ll be keeping an eye out for this talented guy. Maybe he’ll speak at a local design conference one day.
Absolutely beautiful illustrations, imagine having your work on the side of a building. Good to see that he is mentoring and inspiring young artists. I may just have to garb a copy of his book.