In Conversation with Giacomo Bagnara: a bright view on everyday things

Verona-based illustrator Giacomo Bagnara brings bold colour, sharp observation and playful experimentation to his work. With a background in architecture, his illustrations have been recognised by the Society of Illustrators of New York and American Illustration. Giacomo’s practice spans editorial, advertising, and personal projects, but he always returns to the subjects that surround him daily; fruit, flowers, glassware and fleeting moments, reframed through his distinctive lens.

For his debut collection with Evermade, Giacomo has brought together some of his favourite designs from recent years. From a blurred bag of lemons to a heavy rain cloud, this series offers what he calls “a personal and bright view on everyday things.”

How and why did you become an artist?

I always love to draw and I have been using drawing as a form of communication since I was a child. As soon as I finished my university studies (Master's Degree in Architecture), and after years of personal drawing explorations I decided that at all costs I would make this become a real job. Today it has been my profession for 12 years.

What inspires your work?

The everyday things and situations definitely inspires my work. I’m a sharp observer and I like take reference and ideas from the everyday life subjects, I like them cause they’re real and is like having a fresh daily suggestion. I think the interesting and funny part of my job is experimenting and exploring different things, this allows me to strive every day to test and try something new.

For example I started working on blurred images four years ago, I am nearsighted since I was child and I was interested in studying and showing other people my point of view on things without corrective lenses. Starting from this idea, I then tried to deepen this theme and apply it to other situations I saw around, for example the grocer's bags with blurred fruit inside. It was really fun always find a new way to use that effect.

What materials or tools are essential to your work?

My usual tools are basically three, I use them almost everyday and they consist in a sketchbook, MacBook and iPad+pecil. From time to time I also like to test something different using colored papers, cutters and different pencils/pens/markers.

What emotions or reactions do you hope your work evokes in people?

I like when I make my works really simple and universally understandable. And I like when people smile after seeing one of my work. I think that this can be achieved by using a very understandable vocabulary imaginary, simple shapes, strong colors and positive messages.

What do you see when you look out of your studio window?

I have two different desks, one is placed at home (for lazy days) and the other one instead is a shared desk in a creative agency here in Verona runned by some friends. I like to alternate some days here and there. The first desk is more cozy and with personal stuff and posters. The other one is more clean and essential, the perfect place when Im very busy and need no distractions.

Can you describe a typical day in your studio?

I usually start working around 9am. The morning is usually when I focus more on the commissioned jobs, sketching and working on creative concepts. After lunch instead If not too busy I always like to test something new or keep a couple hours on personal project. I complete then the rest of the afternoon working and refining the commissioned jobs or working on the feedback and corrections. Sometime happen the opposite and that the busy part came late in the afternoon or evening (due to the different client timezone).

What do you listen to while you work?

This is one of the last playlist I shared but I update my personal one almost everyday, I like listening different genres and discover new things every day.

Can you walk us through your Evermade designs?

This collection would be a mix of different subject from my archive. I tried to regroup some of my favourite personal works of these last years.

Flowers, a selection of different flowers designed with different styles
Lollipop, a blurred lollipop designed for Valentine’s Day
Martini, a blurred martini glass designed to celebrate New Year’s Eve
Rain, a cloud full of rain designed during a bad day
Fluffy, a textured tennis ball designed after a good match
Lenses, an exploration of transparent glasses
Friends, a glass full of straws after a night out with friends
Lemons, a blurred bag of lemons after a morning in the local market

What’s been a proud moment in your career so far?

I achieved lot of big moments in this last years but Im still happy to remind the very first one, the first commissioned job from the New York Times back in 2013. After a year of doubts and uncertainties about this new world/job, that really gave me the right push and motivation to continue doing my best.

Giacomo’s art prints and greetings cards are available now at Evermade. You can also see more of his work at giacomobagnara.com and follow him on Instagram @giacomobagnara_.