Fidel Martínez (Seville, 1979) is a fine arts graduate. He has been awarded several comic and painting awards, and has participated in collective exhibitions in Spain and Helskinki. In the field of comic books his main works, in collaboration with scriptwriter Jorge García, are Cuerda de presas, shortlisted for several awards and also published in France (Chaînes); and Hacerse Nadie (Becoming Nobody). Martínez and García are also the authors of the series Enviado Especial (Special Correspondent) published in the magazine Humo.
He has illustrated the books Monkton el loco (Monkton the crazy) by Wilke Collins; Zoombi, poetry book by Cisco Bellabestia; and Cinco canciones de cuna (Five lullabies) from novelist Francisco Javier Pérez. He has collaborated with diverse fanzines and magazines, and done illustrations for posters, books and records.
He currently combines his work as comic and illustration artist with graphic and multimedia design.
How would you define yourself?
As an honest worker, a tireless perfectionist and, of course, a passionate comic illustrator.
What can the audience expect from your collaboration with Spain NOW!?
The result of combining in a comic format my illustrations with the poetic talent of a wonderful writer, Pilar Adón. From the beginning I was convinced that this was the perfect language for this project. I believe the public will be surprised with the result.
What do you think your collaboration with Spain NOW! will bring for you?
I hope it will bring new audiences for my work. And I hope that it will also bring future links with London, a city that I have visited and I find particularly interesting.
Describe or give us some insights about your creative process.
I am a very methodic worker. I always follow a pre-established scheme: if it’s a comic story I write a literary plot, when the story is mine. I complement it with a story board and some sketches. Then I draw with pencil, and then with ink. Afterwards I do the post-production by computer. I like to apply colour and include texts digitally. This habit comes from my other hat: that of graphic designer.
Where have you shown internationally before? And in Spain?
In Helsinki in an exhibition of young Spanish comic book artists, and in Spain I have participated in several exhibitions, but I prefer to see my work published. That is probably the best environment to experience illustrations and comic books.
Define your work (either in general or your collaboration with Spain Now) in a sentence…
It is a story about loneliness, lack of communication and physical and emotional distance in an extremely beautiful but also disturbing environment.
Define yourself as:
- a geographical accident: a cliff
- an animal: Any animal that can be related with the term “fauve”.
- a dish/food: Carne en salsa con menestra y patatas fritas.
- a London Underground station: I don’t like undergrounds…