ABOUT
Photo by Peter Guld, @guldpeter
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Emilio Cabañas, (Madrid) SPAIN, 1971. Since he was a kid, motorcycles and music have played an essential role in his life, and always provided him with special feelings and experiences. Cabañas’ first motorcycles (Montesa & Puch) in the 70s and 80s, along with his father and big brother, were the experiences that most touched him.
Even though his study preferences have always been more ‘letter’ related, his professional in the world of finances led him to live in Switzerland in the year 2006, where he settled down along with his wife, Beatriz, and his three kids, Marcos, Emilio, and Inés.
While writing in a Moleskine journal, Cabañas discovered spontaneously and naturally a new passion within drawing. Simple, hand drawings, that are improvised as he goes along, using ink, and without correcting any possible mistake. The night’s tranquility, mixed with some good music, gives Cabañas the chance to escape the world and create a perfect ‘drawing’ moment. “Cabanaem”, like he is known in the moto-art scene, uses asreference and inspiration the contemporary biker’s scene, full of characters and perpetual demands on ‘two wheels’.
His artwork, fresh and spontaneous, that started out as a simple pastime, has been re-enforced by the collective ‘Oil&Ink Travelling Fine Art Expo’, taking his works through different North-American cities during 2014 & 2018.
Emilio receives requests from all over the world, nearby or remotely far, where the upbringing of the real motor-spirit, held tight by the hand of independent mechanics, is today a joyful reality.
With his shy and modest drawings, Emilio conects via the infamous social network Instagram with a world full of experiences and good people.
His artistic instinct is ready.
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CICADA WHEELS INTERVIEW (2015)
Emilio, please introduce you. Where are you based? What is your background?
Hi Niki, thank you very much for your interest in my drawings. I currently live in Switzerland, in the outskirts of Geneva, where I have spent with my family the last 10 years of my life, although, my origins are from Madrid, Spain, where I spent all of my youth and university career. My case is a very abnormal one, as I have no relation whatsoever with an artistic background or design; my university formation and professional background has never had to do with the world of art or motorcycles, and so my art skills were a spontaneous and natural development.
What about your passion for illustration? Why you have chosen this kind of art?
In relation with my passion of illustration, it has never been something very old or truly ‘passional’. I was always attracted by the world of History and Literature, more precisely the art of writing, as a way of sharing my personal stories and experiences. I was also, more intimately, drawn close to the art of drawing and sketching, but always in a very informal and personal matter. Today, my passion for drawing as come out and taken over most of my other pastimes, almost creating a personal monopoly, even though I still make efforts to find the time to write, every now and then, in my Moleskine notebook, where the real beginning of my drawings took place. This type of art has a real reason within me: Drawings are a personal way of connecting me with my past, keep my creativity alive, and is also an activity that I am able to do in any place; all I need is a bit of time. In the past, I’ve drawn and sketched in cafes, airports, restaurants, waiting rooms, but most of the time, in my house at night. It is an amazing experience and I am
very conscious of these privileges.
Emilio, when have you started drawing motorcycles?
I started drawing motorcycles almost three years ago in a café in the heart of Geneva, called Capocaccia. I still go there very frequently during lunchtime or simply to have a coffee. Drawing there relaxed me and created my own personal atmosphere, so since then I kept up with it. That sensation stuck to me and realized that I had just ‘hit the jackpot,’ and so I carried on drawing, to the point where I am now.
Why this kind of subject?
Motorcycles are an essential key in my life. I’ve always had a motorcycle with me throughout every stage of my life. When I started riding as a kid, those were the best moments I spent. Alongside my father and my older brother, I discovered the feeling that motorcycles produce in a rider. Ever since, I’ve always had a motorcycle by my side. When I draw, it recreates the same feeling as riding, but that does not happen when I draw a building or anything else. What I draw must always represent something or create an emotion within me. In the past, I’ve drawn places like Geneva or Madrid, but they must always represent something special to me. If not, I am not able to draw it same way.
What inspires you in motorcycles?
When I ride, my main objective is to have a reencounter with myself, alongside additions that I may have, such as liberty, speed, risk, and pleasure. To all this, I add the physical aspects of the motorcycle, too.
What you tell me of your participation in many famous motorcycle events, one or all, Oil&Ink? What about these experiences?
I would love being able to have more free time in my hands, but sadly, the reality of things is that this isn’t possible, which means that I really have to take the time and decide what events I want to attend. Oil&Ink has been a fun and interesting event, as it is the pioneer event in motorcycle art, and always goes along with its motto, “Good art for good people;” the people I met in NY and Paris created a sudden and immediate connection. I hope and would love to be able to keep attending similar events; I would love to visit and show my work in Germany and Italy, probably during 2016.
What are the steps to realize an illustration?
The fundamental key and first step is to always find something that creates an impact within me; whether it’s the colors, the posture of the character, or any other detail. In the case of personal drawings for customers, I usually ask for
various pictures, so that I can find the one that really grabs my attention. I have worked in the past with only one picture, but it’s not what I prefer. After this, I’ll work on contours, and finally I’ll add the color. I construct the picture as I go; I like to improvise, and I’ll never know what the final result will turn out to be until the drawing is finished. I start from the top and work my way to the bottom, that is, helmet, shoulders, torso, etc. until I get to the wheels.
I never use pencil, I go directly with ink, so… better watch out! The most essential factor for my drawings is the music I listen to while I draw. I must always listen to good music; I have a personal taste for the ‘classics,’ such as Bruce Springsteen, The Band, Van Morrison, Ryan Adams, John Mayer, Eddie Vedder etc… there’s a long list.
What about you sources of inspiration?
Instagram has become my basic platform, where my image is strong. In just a matter of seconds you get to know whether you like something or not, and the infinite quantity of images can be truly inspiring. There are certain accounts in which everything they upload I’d like to draw…but evidently, that’s not possible. In the case of the riders, the same thing happens. There are some that have a very particular but great physicality for drawing; I use some riders over and over again.
What about your recent projects? Talk me about your collaboration with La Urbana Bike.
I currently have a mix of own drawings, images that I like, and custom drawings as requests from all around the world. And that’s what I like; one day I draw for someone in Texas, and the next day I’m drawing for someone in France or Italy. I’d love to be able to expose my drawings more frequently, but it would be great to do it in a smaller and more intimate setting, for example, a collection of 10 drawings of one single rider, or a specific motorcycle design. Something that simply makes sense. I’m still waiting for the opportunity to present itself. The collab with La Urbana Bike has been perfect. The communication between us was simple and fluid; the idea worked and the project was a success. I’m sure that we’ll have more collabs in the future, it’s always a pleasure to work with Daniel (LUB.)
Present and future of Emilio Cabañas…
Currently I simply take pleasure in doing this activity and don’t like to set personal objectives for the future; if new projects pop up, I will consider, but I don’t set objectives…just a simple “someday, I’d like to…” in such way my positivity stays intact, but don’t have to put pressure upon myself that would intervene in my everyday life.
Where can we find all the informations about you art?
Currently, the only complete platform I have is Instagram (@cabanaem), and if everyone is open to know more, my email is at their disposition; there’s no better way of communication than the one that is personally given.
Thank You Emilio.
Many thanks to you...
What about your recent projects? Talk me about your collaboration with La Urbana Bike.
I currently have a mix of own drawings, images that I like, and custom drawings as requests from all around the world. And that’s what I like; one day I draw for someone in Texas, and the next day I’m drawing for someone in France or Italy. I’d love to be able to expose my drawings more frequently, but it would be great to do it in a smaller and more intimate setting, for example, a collection of 10 drawings of one single rider, or a specific motorcycle design. Something that simply makes sense. I’m still waiting for the opportunity to present itself. The collab with La Urbana Bike has been perfect. The communication between us was simple and fluid; the idea worked and the project was a success. I’m sure that we’ll have more collabs in the future, it’s always a pleasure to work with Daniel (LUB.)
Present and future of Emilio Cabañas…
Currently I simply take pleasure in doing this activity and don’t like to set personal objectives for the future; if new projects pop up, I will consider, but I don’t set objectives…just a simple “someday, I’d like to…” in such way my positivity stays intact, but don’t have to put pressure upon myself that would intervene in my everyday life.
Where can we find all the informations about you art?
Currently, the only complete platform I have is Instagram (@cabanaem), and if everyone is open to know more, my email is at their disposition; there’s no better way of communication than the one that is personally given.
Thank You Emilio.
Many thanks to you...
RÉFÉRENCES MAGAZINE
