Talking creativity at Essential Prose

September 3rd, 2009

Zoë Westhof

It’s been a pleasure for me to be invited to talk about the creative process at Essential Prose, a popular blog held by Zoë Westhof.

Zoë lives in Thailand and she’s a writer who works with other writers, nonprofit and educational organizations, and media, and she’s also a storyteller, like me. She’s also a very popular author at Twitter and at her blog she explores the crossroads of creativity.

At Essential Prose, I have answered a few important questions about the creative process, in relationship with my latst published work, the set of illustrations for “Talking With Strangers” album release. Questions like these:

How important is research in storytelling and illustration?
What comes first, the story or the image?
Are emotions important in the creative process?
Do tight specifications make the creative process harder?
What happens when the story to illustrate is too abstract to put into images?
How to achieve the desired result?

You can read my answers at Essential Prose.

Testimonials

"It is pure joy to enter the imagination of artist & writer, Koldo Barroso. His is a world of delightfully whimsical and bizarre characters brought to life with sensitivity, skill and humour.

This is creativity at its very best - inventive and poetical, its charm simply magnified upon repeated viewing.
Truly magical."

Lorell Lehman

Koldo Barroso is a brilliant and very original artist. His uniquely beautiful style of illustration is inspirational. You can feel the joy and fun that runs through all of his work.
We were blessed to have him do the illustration and cover design for our album "Life Stories" and couldn't have been more delighted. I feel his energy and wonderful artwork are as much a part of the album as the music itself, it so captured the mood and meaning of the project.

Kimara Sajn

Through Koldo Barroso’s art we see magical characters and are drawn into an enchanted world. His storytelling captures your imagination and heart as he weaves life into each of his drawings. I am in awe of his incredible talent and passion for not only his work but for life.

Erin Hammill

How delightful. Thank you for the all the care and skill you have put into this illustration. I was touched and intrigued by your particular interpretation of "C'est La Vie" to see how you had taken the piece beyond its original form of a study in melancholy.

Peter Sinfield

"I received the package!!! Your talent is awesome! Thank you so much I love them. I have already framed them and have put in a place where my gaze will fall upon them frequently. I’m sure that everyone that visits my studio will also feel the Magical Radiance of your Work. I feel so lucky. I feel like I own a museum piece!

Nadiia Evans