Steven Scicluna — Interview

We are thrilled to announce that Steven Scicluna, one of the founding members of MCOI, will be on our judging panel for this year’s MCOI Illustration Annual. Steven, who is Maltese but based in Valencia, is not only a brilliant graphic designer, illustrator, and artist, but he is also the designer behind the MCOI brand and our annual publication. We are truly fortunate to have Steven on our team and as one of the judges this year, you will see why in this Interview.

Can you tell us a bit about your professional work?

My work largely exists within the spaces defined by graphic design, illustration and the plastic arts.

I’ve often found myself moving from one area to another within that space, depending on what my creative development and life in general demands. Professionally, I currently work as an Art Director within the tech space, where I lead an in-house brand design team of 4. Illustration is a big part of what my team produces, but I am now experiencing what it is like to guide a team rather than producing the work myself. Sounds like an impossible task for someone who enjoys the act of creation and previously worked as a solo freelancer, but I’ve actually come to enjoy the element of chance and surprise that comes with producing work in a collective setting versus a solo one!

The Starlings of the Motrotón, 70 x 70 cm, mixed media on wood, 2020 by Steven Scicluna via https://stevenscicluna.cargo.site/Starlings

Thematically i’m very drawn to the natural and cultural worlds, and also my inner world of spirituality, memory and identity.

Having originally studied illustration and previously worked as a freelance illustrator, I also still do a bit of illustration on the side in between work and parenting. My favourite way of working has always been to use a sort of collage-based approach (physical or digital), using minimal elements.

So I’ll take a texture, couple of shapes and colours and try to extract as much as I can out of them to create an image — a sort of visual puzzle that I enjoy solving. Thematically i’m very drawn to the natural and cultural worlds, and also my inner world of spirituality, memory and identity. My visual art stems from how these two interact and are reflected within each other.

Can you mention a project that you’re particularly proud of?

Working on Antoine Cassar’s book 40 Jum is an experience that I will always savour, both for its type of content and for being an opportunity of working with two great friends of mine. The subject matter was hard, dark and personal and producing illustrations for it was at times painful and intense. At the end it was more of a collaboration than a commission, and I was thrilled that it got such a good reception both from the author whose experiences I was trying to capture in the artwork, and from the public too.

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Can you mention one of your favourite illustrators? What makes their work stand out to you?

I love mid-century illustration, and in particular the work of French illustrator Guy Georget who illustrated many posters for Air France during the 50s-60s. His approach seems to me more reminiscent of a designer than an illustrator, in that he uses a very symbolic, rhythmic approach to his work. He also referenced ‘local styles’ when creating a poster for a particular destination, but his work still looks very iconic and cohesive even if he allowed for this level of stylistic flexibility to show through.

Left: Guy Georget for Air France, 1959, Right: Guy Georget for Cinzano, 1955, via: https://designreviewed.com/designer/guy-georget/

Are there any specific themes or subject matters that you would like to see explored through the illustrations in this year’s Annual?

A theme which seems to be especially recurrent in submissions to each Annual publication is Maltese history and geography. While this is of course to be expected, it would be thrilling to see Maltese illustrators venturing out of this comfort zone and dipping their toes in realms that are a bit more current and challenging yet arguably more relevant to our every day lives — from global affairs to new tech and lifestyle.

Steven’s poster for ‘ARTNA’ MCOI’s first collaborative online exhibition

What do you hope the participants will gain from submitting to the Annual, regardless of whether they are selected or not? And how do you feel being published in the MCOI Annual can help an illustrator in the long run?

I know from experience that being an illustrator can sometime be a lonely and very private profession, so I really hope that participating in the annual will help those starting out to feel a bit more connected with a wider community of like-minded people. And for those that get selected, well — congrats! The annual is a great way to have your name out there, and if anything it’s just nice to know that there are some seasoned professionals out there who thought your work was the bee’s knees! Who knows where that might lead to?

Painted Objekts are the more organic and freewheeling companions to the geometric Objekt collection by Steven Scicluna, via: https://stevenscicluna.cargo.site/Painted-Objekts

Gouache still-life drawings of domestic scenes by Steven Scicluna, via: https://stevenscicluna.cargo.site/Lockdown-still-lifes

If you had to mentor an illustrator who was just starting out, what advice would you give them?

My advice for someone starting out is to always be challenging yourself. Test out new styles, tools, software. Sketch multiple concepts and don’t be happy with the first sketch you do. Let your intuition guide you, and soon enough you’ll have developed a way of working that is unique to you. It will help you establish your identity and your selling point (a big part of making it in the world of illustration) and will give you a sense of confidence that will come in handy when responding to briefs and dealing with clients.

Are you a Maltese illustrator or a non-Maltese illustrator who is based in Malta? We are documenting the best Maltese illustration year after year! Submit your work here.