Meet Emiliano Ponzi | Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emiliano Ponzi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emiliano, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I moved to Milano (Italy) in 1997 to attend the European Institute of Design from a small town in the Norths-center. I graduated in illustration in 2000. Illustration wasn’t like it is Today and neither the knowledge of the business itself. Internet was spreading but we all lived in our small bubble, world was smaller and we had no access to the informations we could easily have now just checking Google. Just to say that after the college years I remember searching for Illustration annuals in some city cool book shop or the long phone call with older colleagues to gather information about how to paint digitally or where to buy a basic Wacom tablet. I started in the old world where the word of mouths was still the way to learn how to be ready to become a professional illustrator. I rented an apartment with a friend. My room was the place where I used to sleep, work and sometimes eat in front of my brand new Powerbook G3 that in my mind would have guarantee me to become a good artist. I spent months building a professional portfolios to share with clients hoping to receive my first assignments. During that time I developed 2 main thoughts that helped me growing in my field: 1- I’m not an illustrator but I “decided” to become an illustrator. 2- There is no plan B. That means I needed to do everything I could to learn and succeed no matter what. Head down on the drawings, years spent skipping Fridays and Saturdays out to develop, refine and create my own style, sending emails and postcards out to potential clients. It really was one small piece a day, building the foundation of myself and my job.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think it’s all about the mind set, being able to self motivating. The reason why I wake up every morning at 6 and smile while going at the studio is that I could create something new, I could learn a new way to draw a cloud or a tree. I’m excited because learning and working lead to a higher level of evolution and, in a way, it spreads my identity as artist enriching my visual vocabulary. I’m frustrated when I’m not able to achieve what I have in mind but I’m still pleased as I know that Tomorrow I have another chance, another assignment to challenge my skills and draw something I hope will be beautiful for the others as it is for me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are so many things to do in Milano. I guess I would start from the basic. Visiting the Gothic Cathedral and take a walk in the downtown to see the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Waiting in the line to eat one “Panzarotto” from Luini.
Then moving to the Brera district to visit the “Pinacoteca di Brera”. A quick tour in the shops around the area and then a lunch in one of the nice “Trattoria”, there is one at every corner.

Taking a walk in the Sempione park to see the ancient “Castello Sforzesco ” and heading to the “Triennale Design Museum” to visit their permanent collection and some exhibitions. Then relaxing in its amazing garden drinking an Aperol Spritz.

I’d suggest to rent a bike or a scooter to move and visit the Navigli area (the canals designed by Leonardo da Vinci) to feel the atmosphere and maybe having a second Aperol Spritz before taking a car to have a cool experience at the “Balera” that is an old school ballroom. There are 2 in Milano “Balera dell’Ortica” and “Balera di Porta Venezia” The food is not excellent but is very cheap, the coolest part is looking at all these old people dancing if they were in their twenties. Some of them could also take the hand of your lady for a minute of dancing or a twist.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to thank my parents who believed in my potential when I wasn’t even sure to have one.

Website: https://www.emilianoponzi.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilianoponzi/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emiliano-ponzi/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emilianoponzi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ponziemiliano