I discovered Ana Banica’s work at the last Torino Graphic Days, where a very well organised exhibition on the Romanian contemporary scene was set up.

Among the many works, those of Ana immediately caught my attention: in few hours I was already writing her an e-mail to get to know her and buy her print. So I took the opportunity to ask her some questions.

When did you realize that you wanted to be an illustrator?

Well, as an adult I realized it like six years ago, but I went online/public with my work only three years ago.
Actually when I was just a little girl I knew I wanted to be a painter. But somehow, the choices I made, that followed a more pragmatic view of my future, took me to the architecture university where I studied interior design. As a working young graduate, I discovered the possibilities offered by wall stickers, a very easy and quite economic way to decorate interior walls. As the designs that were available on the market at the time ( it was 2009) were quite boring and even ugly, I founded with a friend our own wall stickers studio with our own designs and production. The studio was in fact a very nice mix between my love for drawing and interior design. I was making mural illustration for my customers to paste on their walls by themselves. on the 5th of December is the 10 year anniversary of the Cai verzi pe pereti studio.

During my work with wall stickers I started drawing again and rediscovered my love for it. So, in a very slow process I started to try finding my own style of illustration and the courage to make my work public. This happened in 2016, after a very encouraging illustration workshop with the lovely illustrator Madalina Andronic.

How do you usually work? Do you draw by hand or directly in digital?

I always draw and paint by hand. After so many years of digitizing my sketches to transform them into wall stickers, I have a hunger for drawing on paper.

I love that I can’t go back a few steps, that I don’t have the “undo” option. So when I start painting is a more interesting and entertaining process. Nothing compares to the changes you come up with during work. The fact you can’t use “undo” makes me more responsible in front of my future work. I love it. And I also love the freshness of colours on the paper texture. It is a unique feeling.

Do you prefer to work alone or in a team?

Alone. I even prefer being alone in the room when I paint. I am a shy illustrator, I like to keep things for myself, but I usually ask for advice if I need it.

But I love teamwork in case of an exhibition or event. The more, the merrier!

What is the project you are most proud of?

It is difficult to say. I love my Centaurs series and I loved painting a mural this summer.

But somehow, at the moment, I am so, so proud of my last commission that it might reach the top. It was an illustration for someone’s birthday. I received a list of words that named mostly animals and plants. The only thing that was mandatory was a female character with black hair. I picked the rest: a black panther, a snake, a robin and a baobab tree. I loved working on it due to the freedom I was given, but the thing that makes me so proud of this project is the girl’s reaction when she saw it. It was amazing to see so many emotions on her face. She stared at it a lot contemplating and for me all those things were the best reward I could hope for.

And what are your next projects? Do you have any anticipation to tell us?

For the moment I try concentrating more on the wall sticker studio anniversary while I am preparing a few fresh designs, a new online shop and a new portofolio.

But next year, who knows? I really hope to have enough time for some personal projects, but I always love a good challenge.

The project of your dreams, which you have not yet realized?

I’m not sure yet. It changes from time to time. Once it was a book for cats lovers, another time it was illustrated pattern for a very cool fashion brand…

I saw you ted talk, but there were no subtitles! Could you shortly tell what was it about and how important is to you to take tals in order to keep a dialogue with your colleagues?

Sure, the main theme of that Creative Mornings edition was Intention.
So I talked about my choices that I mentioned earlier. I started telling how in kindergarten, the teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up. I said painter, of course and she said that maybe I should think about something more serious.
Somehow I always wanted to paint and draw – and I did, at art’s school – but later I studied architecture instead, for a more stable future ( financially speaking mainly). After that, when I started the sticker business, the main intention was about making money in a pleasant and creative way. Well, all my intentions flipped as time went by. I actually realized that my work and its very specific style is more important than money, so I decided to keep my studio as a small, but original business with close relationships with customers, and refused any investment that would change that ( the studio in a big business and me into a manager).

In the second part of the talk I discussed about how designing wall stickers in my minimal quirky style influences the way I draw now and about the difference between personal illustrations and the commissioned ones, and what intentions lay behind them.
The conclusion was that the child who wanted to be a painter, knew better. It was a long way, but I got here: I paint and I love it and it is more important than anything else.

What are your sources of inspiration?

Firstly, the people and things I love and my emotional experiences. I love nature, specially the sea, the animals, I am a feline fan, I am addicted to the sun’s warmth and I will probably never stop painting imaginary gardens of Eden. I also find inspiration in mythology and ancient art – egyptian, syrian, greek ( tha vases, i love the vases ) – and also, just a bit, in byzantine art.

What do you like doing in your free time?

I love travelling, specially to Italy, actually! But I would never say no to beach time, either! I also like to drink pink wine and laugh with friends, to read, to dress in the colours of my illustrations and buy pointy shoes, go to jazz concert or just cuddle with the love of my life.

A record that you listen to when you work?

I recently discovered Tommy Guerrero and his Road to Knowhere album and made a tiny obsession.

Where do you live? Can you give us 3 addresses / suggestions of things to do in your city for creative / young people?

I live in Bucharest, in an old neighborhood, quite dodgy, but charming. I have my studio on the ground floor and live upstairs.

1. Soto Cafe Bar – a small, very pleasant place with good drinks and temporary exhibitions. This is the place where I am going to have my 10 year anniversary wall stickers exhibition.
2. Eventi di One Night Gallery – this is not a place, it’s a team of people actually, organizing one night events, like exhibitions mixing technology ( AI, AR, VR, video mapping etc) with art. I had the opportunity of being exhibited by them this year and it was one of my best experiences ever. If in Bucharest, check if they have events while your stay!
3. Studio Receptor – si tratta di un’agenzia di illustrazione e micro-galleria con sede in una libreria, nel centro di Bucarest. Qui puoi trovare sempre illustrazioni rumene originali e stampe.
   

If you were not an illustrator, what would be your job?

Interior designer probably, what I studied for. If not that, maybe a shoe maker,

What is your special / favorite place on Earth?

Oh, this one is a tough question. I am not sure. I guess where my loved ones are. There are lots of places I love, many of them in Romania, others abroad, I really enjoy a sea nearby, but the more I think, the more I am sure the answer is home.

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Discover Ana’s world here: caiverzipepereti.ro