Asked to walk us through the typical process when creating a cloud illustration, the artist told us: “First, you need to find a perfect cloud for you, perfect in the sense that you can see the shape of something without thinking about it. After that, I take a photo of it and open a drawing app that I use on my cell phone. After that, I start drawing and it's hard to put it down until it's finished. I like being able to have modern tools like being able to draw on a photo in the palm of my hand, it makes the process more instantaneous and genuine, I think.”
Next, we were wondering if Monse could tell us which one of her cloud illustrations has been the most memorable or impactful for her personally. The artist said: “Oh! It's difficult to choose just one, the truth is I have a special affection for all of them but I think that the first dog I drew will always be the most special since it was the one that started it all. That first little dog I drew, I did it while I was at work, I was sitting on the stairs and I could see the sky.”
Ascencio has also shared the story behind this special drawing: “The first thing I saw clearly was a little dog peeking out of a cloud and it changed my mood completely. I saw it so obviously that I decided to draw it without thinking that I would end up drawing hundreds of little creatures in the clouds in the future.”
In our previous conversation, Monse mentioned that looking at clouds helps her find inspiration and relaxation. We asked the artist to elaborate on how this practice has influenced her creative process and mindset. We learned that: “I feel that searching for and drawing animals in the clouds is very relaxing for me because there are days when I feel anxious or stressed and drawing helps me calm my mind. It's a good way to disconnect from today's fast-paced life, and enjoy simple and beautiful things like looking up at the sky and seeing there's a whole universe waiting to be discovered.”
