Illustrator Spotlight: Rafael Macho

© Rafael Macho

 Feb. 1, 2022

We are excited to feature illustrator Rafael Macho and his banner design for Kidlit411, which won second place in our recent banner design contest.

© Rafael Macho

Tell us about yourself and how you came to illustrate for children.

I grew up in Switzerland where I studied graphic design with a few extra classes in illustration. I moved to the United States where I started to work as a motion graphic artist, working on movie main titles, at a company in Los Angeles named Imaginary Forces. Gradually, I started to get into projects with more illustration and animation.

© Rafael Macho

Becoming a father was a switch: I read a lot of books to my kids, and at bedtime I had to invent some new stories on the fly! I also took a bunch of classes at the Animation Guild in Burbank to get better at drawing, composition, storyboarding.

 

Congrats on your banner design for Kidlit411! How did you approach this project?

I wanted to imagine these birds relaxing while reading books by the beach. I ended up mixing a bookshelf with some umbrellas with a warm summer color palette.

© Rafael Macho

Who or what inspires you?

Books by Jon Klassen, Keith Negley, Peter Brown, Roald Dahl to name a few. I like to study them.

I also find inspiration while walking in my neighborhood, while taking a shower, daydreaming. I love these moments of randomness when ideas spark!

 

What is your illustration process?  

 

-sketching on paper or digitally 

© Rafael Macho

-sometimes using handmade texture 

-sometimes modeling a 3D head

© Rafael Macho

-hanging my tests on the wall, and writing notes on them.

 

What projects are you working on these days?

I recently finished my new website and I have been searching for a literary agent. Other than that, I am continuing to develop my dummies as well as getting more content for my portfolio.

© Rafael Macho

 

What is something most people don't know about you?

I love cooking and baking. I love trying new bread recipes: baguette, barbari, sourdough boule, naan, etc. If there is a silver lining during Covid, that was it.

© Rafael Macho

 

Where can people find you online?

Via my new website: rafaelmacho.com

or on Instagram @rafaelmacho_studio

 

 

© Rafael Macho

Rafael Macho is an author and illustrator of children's picture books. Born and raised in Switzerland, he went on to study graphic design in Lausanne. He moved to the United States and has worked for the motion graphics & advertising industries for over 20 years.