Please introduce yourself.
Hi, I’m Andréa Philippon, a freelance Swiss-French designer based in Lausanne. For the past few years, I have liked to see myself as a digital florist. I have been 100% freelancing for studios, agencies, and individual clients for four years internationally, and keep it going!
How did you get into art, and what motivates you to create?
I was working in the hotel and catering industry when I realized a few years ago that I wanted to return to what I loved when I was a teenager; 3D! I was hooked on informatics and computer at a young age, but I also loved being outside, in the woods, at the river, in the forest, playing in nature for hours, and doing silly stuff with my friends! So after about 10 years of working as a waiter, I decided to go back to school for a very intense 3 years study phase where I learned everything I could about multimedia and digital jobs. I roughly scratched the surface of photography, typography, graphic design, coding website, marketing, and more, and of course, 3D! Even if I would have loved to do only 3D during these 3 years, I think now I’m happy to know all these different things. It helps a lot when you are on your own. Today, I’m so glad I can mix the two things I love; nature and digital!
What motivates me to create in 3D is the beauty behind the creation itself, putting frames and ideas stuck in my head, out there in the world, and I like the idea that it can touch and connect people through what I’m doing. I would be delighted if it could positively impact the world. I think expressing ourselves through whatever creative process is essential for anybody.
What memory do you recall most vividly from childhood about your creative talent?
That would definitely be drawings and playing with clay! I once did a giant Warhammer battlefield table with the lord of the rings characters. I didn’t play much, but I enjoyed a lot building the table and painting the tiny figurines. That was really fun! I once did a maquette of a castle that took me months to complete! I have a lovely memory of it, and I remember I was very proud of it too. Also, my mother is an excellent drawer, and I guess that’s why I started drawing things as much as possible when I was a kid. I remember I loved drawing for hours, doing portraits of my friends, and offering them.
How would you best describe your style, and who/what are some of your major influences?
Dreamlike-mesmerizing-natural-digital stuff. It’s hard to describe what I’m doing, but I like to dive into fantastic and dreamy places where I can mix the surreal with the well-known things. I think what I’m doing is in constant evolution. I try to experiment with new things as much as I can. At some point, I would like to play with architecture and combine that with history. I’m pretty attracted to creating things around the human body too, but one thing at a time. Luckily, I’ll discover all that and probably define a style on the way. That’s a question I’ll be glad to answer in 20 years!
I keep discovering new artists, which influences me in different ways, but I can’t say that I have a major one that dictates my choices. I recently discovered Alphonse Mucha, who is a real inspiration to me. Photography is also a big inspiration; Reuben Wu’s work is fantastic! I also practice photography in my spare time and like to go out and shoot whatever inspires me on the way, especially plants and flowers. If I had to name one digital artist, that would be Ondrej Zunka with all his fantastical creations. Still, there are so many talented people and plenty of inspiration. It’s easy to get lost when it’s about creating your own stuff, so I like to follow my own path and not get too much influenced and distracted by others work.
What part of the creative process would you rather avoid and the part you can’t get enough of?
I think the rendering part! When you have to wait hours to check your work and realize you have to do it all again because you didn’t see the bug in the second 12 of your video, this is the part I hate the most. Besides that, I enjoy all the rest; I like to learn new things, and every part comes with fresher energy, so I don’t get bored. I think messing around with settings, colors, and the general look when the 3D setup is done is the most satisfying part. I could spend hours just playing with colors and element arrangement.
How do commercial pressure and the business of art affect, shape, or guide your creative decisions?
Sometimes, it is tough to use my work and sell it as a commercial project for a brand when it’s about what I love (now creating plants and flowers). It is a weird feeling, even if that is digital.
For the business of the art side, I think what is happening now with blockchain technology is an excellent opportunity for many digital artists to expand their horizons, and I will put a lot of energy into a more creative and artistic path too. The most challenging part for me is switching between commercial and personal projects. It is tough to find a balance, but I’m happy and grateful that I have the chance to do what I love and have so many people like it too.
Your favorite book, song, or film.
I think this listing is changing with my mood and time, but today, here it is. These are the first that comes to mind, but I have a lot of stuff I like!
- The book – Brief Answers to the big questions by Stephen Hawkings
- The song – The Passenger by Iggy Pop
- The movie – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Send a message to your future self.
Go out for a long walk! It always helps.
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