TERESA CUTRIN at FRESTA

From Italy to Lisbon: A Story of Love and Inspiration

Teresa Cutrin, affectionately known as Tere, is 25 years old and was born in Turin, Italy, immersed in an environment where art was more than just a discipline, it was a way of life. With an Italian art historian mother and an Argentine father, her artistic journey began early, influenced by the rich cultural traditions of both sides of the family. After completing her education in Architecture, Tere pursued her passion for illustration, culminating in a Master’s degree in Milan. Her move to Lisbon in recent years has brought a new dimension to her art, inspired by the light, colors, and atmosphere of the city.

How did you get into art / illustration?
Art has always been central in my family. My mother, being an art historian, surrounded me and my sisters in this beautiful world since we were little. I studied Architecture at university, and in the meanwhile I attended sporadically some illustration courses. After finishing my bachelor’s I did a Master in Illustration in Milan. Nevertheless, I want to continuously learn and discover more about this rich and wide world of illustration. 

TERESA CUTRIN at FRESTA

How do you define your style and technique?
My style has changed a lot over the years. I don’t rule out that it will change again. I’m happy and serene about this, because in any case I have guidelines that always accompany me. For example the simplicity of the line, the shapes, the choice of colours.
Through my illustrations I try to communicate my emotions. Even the most everyday ones, hoping that they can also reach others, other emotional spheres, despite there being a different personal story behind them.

Can you tell us about your work process?
My main source of inspiration is observing others, their habits, the world that surrounds us. I love in particular watching nature, architecture, the sky and the little details that are in each of us. I think that everything an artist needs is available simply by observing, even during a simple short walk everywhere. Sometimes I also like to get inspired by studying other artists’ work in exhibitions, books, magazines.
After this first step, I gather my ideas by sketching some draft in my sketchbook. I always keep these sketches very minimalistic, simple and colourless. Once I have chosen the preferred draft and the color palette, I start executing the work digitally either on my Ipad or on the laptop using Photoshop/Illustrator. This last phase takes longer and more effort, until I’m happy and satisfied with the final result. During all of these steps, some good music is always there to keep me company and give me support.

What brought you to Lisbon?
Over the last three years, when I came to visit my boyfriend who lives here in Lisbon, I fell more and more in love with this city. I was captivated every time by its light, its skies, its little corners, the nature that surrounds it and the air of celebration and art that it breathes every day. So in October I decided to come and live here too and I couldn’t have made a better choice!!

Can you indicate places you know and like in Lisbon?
There are so many neighborhoods in Lisbon that I love very much. But perhaps I would put Lapa, Anjos and Principe Real on the podium. Green spaces are my favorites and here too we should make a long list of beautiful squares, gardens and miradouros. Meanwhile, I would recommend Jardim Estrela (with a stop at the Cristal pastelaria absolutely), Praça da Flores, the botanical garden of Lisbon, Estufa Fria and Monsanto.

In any case, the beauty of Lisbon can be grasped by wandering around, letting yourself be carried away by the streets and corners, letting yourself be fascinated by everything and stopping every now and then to better observe the secrets of the cities. I would like to recommend beautiful bookstores such as PIENA, It’s a book, Tinta nos Nervos and BAOBÁ. However, I have saved too many bars and restaurants on Google maps, very different from each other. I would say that an evening at Amor Records can please everyone.

Do you produce in a studio or at home?
I have always worked from home, but I must say that I prefer to go out for a walk and work outside the home, perhaps in a comfortable cafe or in a library. Now I’m looking for a coworking space. It can help me having another desk that’s just mine even when I’m away from home.

What have you read, seen or heard?
I really like going to the cinema, to concerts, to exhibitions, to see a show or a performance because they are experiences that enrich my cultural background and help me keeping active on an artistic level. In addition to being moments of learning, they are also moments of leisure which then come in handy when I take pen and paper. I was recently in Porto and I highly recommend going to a concert at the Casa da Música and going to see an exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Fundação de Serralves (the one in Lisbon is also very nice).

Lately I’ve been reading less than I really want to. I just finished the book Normal People by Sally Rooney and I really liked it. I have a list of more than 20 books that I would like to read that I have to get busy with!

TERESA CUTRIN at FRESTA

While I work, however, I listen to a lot of music and podcasts. Music is very important to me. As well as being beautiful, it can be healing, encouraging, strong, delicate, sweet, melancholy, exciting, disturbing, etc. In my opinion it is of fundamental importance to listen and study music for us illustrators / artists. Because art, like music, is the fruit of a creation composed of a melody, rhythms, silences, highs and lows, with colors and emotions.
The last song I listened to before answering this interview was Where you are by Ted Lucas.
While the last films I saw and liked were Perfect days by Wim Wenders, Submarine by Richard Ayoade and The lobster by Yorgos Lanthimos.

Where can I follow you and where can I buy your work?
At the moment on my Instagram profile @terecutrin. Even to buy just write me a message or email me at cutrint@gmail.com . In the meantime, I’m creating my first website.

If you had to leave a message about yourself, life or art, what would it be?
I would like to quote a text by Chandra Candiani which, in addition to having inspired me, expresses a concept which is very important for each of us and which I find important to remember every day. We need to let ourselves be amazed by the world, to practice not knowing and to see things as if it were the first time we observe them. I try to implement this advice of his, reflecting a lot and therefore trying to draw the things that always amaze me, every day so that I can remember them to those who see my illustrations.
Una buona pratica preliminare di qualunque altra è la pratica della meraviglia. Esercitarsi a non sapere e a meravigliarsi. Guardarsi attorno e lasciar andare il concetto di albero, strada, casa, mare e guardare con sguardo che ignora il risaputo. Esercitare la meraviglia cura il cuore malato che ha potuto esercitare solo la paura. Chandra Candiani 

Interview: Vital Lordelo

TERESA CUTRIN at FRESTA

Images: Teresa Cutrin