Not very long ago, we featured the stupendous artist Juan Osborne who creates incredible text portraits and images with as many 200,000 words. The Spanish artist picks words from speeches, books and other sources that are linked with the subject of his image. The most intriguing aspect of Juan's artwork is that he uses self invented software to carry out his creative work process and it is certainly not a child play. What he is doing requires not only basic attributes like love, dedication, practice, labor, etc., but requires every quality that an artist possess.

An architect by profession and passionate for programming and designing, Juan's compositions are amazing and each of them is not only worth a thousand words but are literally made up of thousand words. Isn't it thrilling?Well, lets know more about our 'Artist of the Week' Juan and his amazingly creative work process in the interview below:




Juan, please introduce yourself to E-junkies.



I am from El Puerto de Santa María, in the south of Spain, but nowadays I live in Madrid with my wife, two beautiful daughters and a new born son. I'm forty and for the last fifteen years I have been working for different architectural companies. As an architect I have been involved in art and design ever since my college days. I also love programming, and new technology allows me to free my artistic side in I way which I find exciting.

Your artwork is spectacular! Would you like to describe your creative work process?

I always take the "best tools ever" with me: a pen and paper... and my netbook . So I start creating whenever I feel inspired. But I am pretty chaotic and sometimes I just leave pieces of work unfinished for months. They sleep waiting for some kind of alternative point of view and suddenly I go back to them with new inspiration. I have a long list of ideas just waiting for a little free time.

Almost all of my work was done using a little netbook and my own tools. There are no limits to creativity. If I need something or think of a new way to do something I just create a new application to do it. I feel really free without the need for commercial software.

How did this creative idea strike to you?

As an architect I usually work in architectural competitions, in the middle of 2009 I was looking for a way to create big facades with some kind of combined visual effect from a far and up close. I love algorithmic and generative software and at this point I hadn't found any commercial tool to help me with this technique so I decided I had to do it by myself. At the end we didn't use my images for the competition, but I saw the potential and a lot of ideas came to my mind, and not only related to architecture.But the truth is I invented nothing. You can find samples of micro-calligraphy, graphics composed text, since the 9th century and there are other amazing examples with similar techniques throughout history, like Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1527-1593). I think I just push it a little bit by creating new techniques and tools, just taking advantage of the digital era.

On an average, how many hours does it take you to complete one image?

I would say a week or so. It involves lots of tryouts and sometimes I end up with something ugly or boring so it goes directly to the trash. But if I have a clear idea I can finish an image in a couple of days.

Which step do you find the most challenging one?

The challenging thing are the images itself. Each image seems to have its own character. Some are generous while others don't let you reach them. They say something like "What the hell are you doing?"... You have to understand them before try to mold them.

You've created so many images. Which one is the most special to you?.

Probably my favorite composition is "TankMan". It's an incredible photo which I recreated using the word "freedom" in about 100 languages. It was a great to combine my art with a humanitarian message.

Share one best compliment that you've ever received for your work.

A very simple one, two years ago I was showing some of my illustrations and asking for suggestions. A man called Dangger said "Well, Juan, keep doing awesome things! That's my suggestion."

Do you have any dream project?

I have a lot of projects in mind. But not too many time and/or money. I still need a sponsor that help me to expend more time in my crazy ideas.And none of my illustrations have ever been printed in a facade size. I'm still waiting an opportunity, because it was the original idea and I'm sure that the bigger the best with these kind of illustrations.

What are the other things that interests you?

Lot of things!, architecture (of course), science, technology, etc... but nothing is as wonderful and amazing as my children, you learn a lot just seeing how they grow. When they are close they caught all my interest.

Many of our readers would draw inspiration from you. What message do you for them?

Do it!... even if you are alone, DO IT!