April showers bring ... a new CBC Arts logo
Stand under our umbrella (ella, ella, eh, eh, eh) and meet artist Cristian Fowlie
Every month, we feature a new take on the CBC Arts logo created by a Canadian artist. Check out our previous logos!
Cristian Fowlie is a National Magazine Award-winning illustrator with a crisp and colourful style, an esthetic inspired by "the kitsch and the camp." But when he gets a break from work, delivering digital illustrations for clients including McDonalds and The Walrus, he loves drawing people. And he's at his best when he pays homage to his favourite pop stars, fashionistas and drag queens.
One example of a go-to subject: he's immortalized Rihanna at least five times by now. But RiRi didn't inspire the umbrella (ella, ella) vibes of April's logo design. As it turns out, Fowlie was channeling another pop song entirely. Read on!
Name: Cristian Fowlie
Age: 29
Homebase: Hamilton
Let's talk about your design! What inspired the concept?
This is my twist on the common adage "April showers bring May flowers." Ontario was still getting hammered with snow while I was working on this. We hadn't even hit the rainy season yet, so I wanted to show an excitement for spring even if the weather wasn't cooperating. And of course, it's also a reference to Miley Cyrus's pop hit "Flowers."
What's the project you're most proud of?
I created fan art in the style of a faux concert poster for drag queen Trixie Mattel. It was a fun, personal piece.
The illustration ended up going viral in the RuPaul's Drag Race fandom and caught the attention of Trixie herself. Since then it's been made into official merch, ended up in her makeup room, appeared on the set of her show Trixie Motel, and I've sold prints to fans all over the globe.
What's new in your world? What are you working on at the moment?
I'm in the middle of a very exciting project that I can't reveal quite yet because of an NDA, but once it's complete it will be seen all over Toronto. On the personal side of things, I've been developing my online shop, producing beautiful archival prints with the lovely folks at Centre[3] here in Hamilton, as well as offering screenprints, risograph prints and stickers.
What's your favourite place to see art?
The Art Gallery of Ontario and the Vancouver Art Gallery are my favourite galleries to visit. They are both such beautiful architectural spaces and they always have interesting new programming to see alongside their classics.
Who's the last artist you discovered online?
Italy has some incredible illustrators that I've found online: Chiara Ghigliazza, Marta Signori, Andrea Serio.
What work of art do you wish you owned?
Master of the Universe/FlexMaster 3000 by Aurel Schmidt. I would also love to collect pieces by Jeremy Sorese and Anthony Cudahy.
Where can we see more from you?
My portfolio and shop can be seen at www.cristianfowlie.com, and you can follow me on Instagram (@cristianfowlie).
This conversation has been edited and condensed.
