An Interview with Illustrator Súa Agapé
Guatemalan illustrator Súa Agapé (@suagape) creates mystical, fanciful art starring women, horses, eyes, and the cosmos, to name a few. She plays with symmetry, GIFs, mediums and color in magical ways, and we couldn't wait to learn a little more about this talented woman.
Interviewer Alexi Ueltzen (@alexi) is Ello’s Community Evangelist. If she’s not at the office, she’s probably swimming, getting muddy with her dogs or baking cookies. Seriously. The best cookies.
Alexi: Tell us a little about your background. How did you get interested in illustration?
Súa: Since I was a little girl I liked to draw. I grew up in a place full of art supplies, drawings and things that created an amazing environment. My interest for illustration started in some textbooks that woke my imagination, as well as art, toys, magazines and some cartoons on television. I decided to study Graphic Design, and that helped in many ways to strengthen my drawing skills.
Alexi: What inspires you, or where do you go for inspiration?
Súa: Inspiration is everywhere, it all depends on what you like, what you do or the places you like. I like to collect little things from what is around me. I love to travel; it always inspires me, seeing new places, cultures, flavors and colors.
My country inspires me all the time. The places in Guatemala are incredible, full of intense colors, landscapes and cultural diversity.
I also like surreal things, everything that is rare and different.
Alexi: What’s next for you? Are there any new mediums you want to explore?
Súa: I've always liked the textile arena; making embroidery with my artwork is what catches my attention. Another new medium that I would like to explore is animation, recreating a story with my illustrations and see them "alive" would be great. I'm always looking for new techniques and new mediums.
Alexi: What are your thoughts on social media, and how it helps or hurts artists today? Specifically, can you share some thoughts on Ello?
Súa: I think social media has the power to promote artists, everyone can publish their work in social networks for free, receive comments, feedback and gain followers or fans. Everyone in the world can see your work.
Ello not only allows us to share our work, we can approach people who like the same things as us. What I like is that there is no advertising. Ello is a more participatory and honest network, and above all it inspires me a lot.
Alexi: Who are some of your favorite artists on Ello?
Súa: I really love the artwork of @esteepreda (Esthera Preda) and @l0ll3. You have to follow their work!
Alexi: What are some of your favorite materials or tools to work with?
Súa: I love ink, it’s my favorite technique. I also like working on digital illustration. I use a Wacom Intuos, it helps me on the creation of my artworks, makes it more practical to work.
Alexi: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done (or would like to do someday?)
Súa: Maybe someday I will jump with a parachute from an airplane.
Alexi: Do you have a favorite piece?
Súa: At the moment I do not have a favorite piece, but if I have to select an illustration, would be "After Midnight." It’s about a woman with the body of the cosmos, full of dreams within it. It represents a lot of magic and mystery.
Alexi: What’s something about you that would surprise our readers?
Súa: Part of my family comes from a city of Guatemala called Antigua Guatemala, it’s a city full of ancient legends and ghost stories, like the Sombreron, La Tatuana and La Llorona. They’re part of the Guatemalan culture. Sometimes I like to think that some of these ghosts are part of my ancestors who come to inspire me to create stories and drawings.
