Gianluca Foli . Italian Illustrator

Born on a warm May night in 1978 in Rome, Gianluca Foli  has always loved drawing.  As a child of extreme curiosity he fed his passion year by year and now, from his Studio between the Castelli Romani vineyards, he collaborates as an Illustrator wih different clients like Feltrinelli, Mondadori, Fendi, Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe and more.  These are some coloured  ideas he created for an illustrated version of Wuthering Heights.

He approaches the world of children book illustrations with “the Bear with the Sword” published by ZOOlibri in 2008 and choosen between the best 100 books at the CJbook Festival of Seul and at the Munich White Ravens.  In this timely and ingenious parable, a bear with a powerful sword goes out into the forest to chop down all of the trees and build on his impregnable home fort. After it is washed away by a flood, he sets out on a journey to find and punish the creature responsible. After accusing an array of unusual creatures—including a pair of beavers, a one-eared pig-deer, a fox who loves archery, and some fruit-loving birds—he finally arrives at the truth: the flood was caused by someone with a sword who chopped down all the trees. The bear’s remorse, and the actions he takes to make good his vandalism, provide all young readers with an important message.  You can buy a copy here.

Inspired by an oriental discipline, in his work you can feel all the mental concentration preceding the creative act which is palpable in his suspended lines and his wide white spaces.

This haunting and slightly dreamlike animated film called Silver House was directed and drawn by Gianluca.

and you can learn more about his way of working in this video clip.

You can also see more of Gianluca’s work on his agent’s site of Anna Goodson Management.