Creating with Olivia Tortolo

Like many businesses, this past year and a half has created space for passions and hobbies to take full form. It eradicated the fear of what ifs, and left artists feeling more vulnerable and brave more than they have in a long time.

Come Olivia Tortolo, a self-taught illustrator who coincidentally found the need for change only two months before the beginning of the pandemic.

Photo captured by Sztella Muzslai

“My mental health improved almost instantaneously but most importantly, years of clouded judgment that I struggled with started to dissipate. I could think clearly and make decisions without feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders.” - Olivia.

We were lucky enough to work with Olivia on a special product, and to ask her a few questions about her craft.

How did you narrow down your artistic direction?

A ‘less is more’ approach to my work, often simplifying my concepts as I move through the creative have an unintentional process. Since I work primarily with graphite pencils, I like the range of values to be the focal point of the piece and I’m very keen on thoroughly blending for a smooth finish. This approach has taught me a lot about choosing great reference photos and the one we went with for our collaboration was exactly that! You’ll see in this piece that there is an extensive range in value without anything being too light or dark. It was wildly satisfying to draw!

 

Describe your space where you get creative. Is there anything specific about it you think aids in the productivity of your work?

I’m pretty particular about where I work. Pre-pandemic, I planned to take a long trip and draw while travelling but I’m very much a creature of habit and like to have a dedicated space for my art. Right now I work at my kitchen table where I have the most daylight, which is essential to my productivity. If I’m drawing for a long stretch, upwards of 8-9 hours, I need a good audiobook to keep me focused. That said, I’m moving into a new space in a few weeks that will accommodate my very own studio,  a exciting step for me in expanding my practice! 

Lark, re-created by Olivia

Do you have any favourite pieces, if so, what makes them so special?

The two pieces that stand out to me are of  Gabi and Bianca. The original photo of Gabi was shot by her sister and my close friend, Sztella Muzslai, who is an incredible photographer. This piece lingers in my mind because it was the first time I felt emotion behind one of my own pieces. The second piece is of my own sister, who I’m super close with. I love the abstract shadows on her face and shooting the reference photo was a fun experiment with lots of laughter, of course.

 

What do you feel are the pros in being a self-taught artist?

There are so many! For me, the biggest pro is that I feel invincible when I start to make progress. There is a lot of trial and error involved but eventually finding that sweet spot is so gratifying, even if the process is a little painful. The experience has also taught me a lot about myself, how to trust my intuition and have patience… which is absolutely something I needed to work on anyways!