The Penrider

Passionate about manufactured drawing, and a lover of illustration and comics, this self-taught artist has invested many hours of light and darkness passing his lead over a piece of paper… His alias says it all. What was once a format of beginning, of sketch, study, and project, he turns into a finished work, a finished product that tells a story, but with an open ending, so that the spectator gets involved and interprets it ‘à la carte’.

Black and white predominate, but above all grey, with some notes of color, which create atmospheric mysteries, glazes and fine gradients, various surrealisms, and unflattering, almost tragic visions of the world. ‘The Penrider’ is interested in the loneliness of the misunderstood, natural exteriors and animals. His work resembles a stage set, a film set.

Let's say he is a "craftsman" of emotions, feelings, and dreams, and he expresses them in one stroke, or many, well-arranged strokes.

With many drawings and few words, Carlos Fernández is the hand and mind of 'The Penrider', and in this interview, he tells us something more about his personal and artistic life:

The Penrider

Hello Carlos. At what point in your life did you decide to start drawing to exhibit or sell?

I started drawing late when I was 30. It was out of sheer boredom, and I immediately wanted to improve. The thing about exhibiting and selling came much later.

Do you have a preference for any type of pencil or format?

0.5 HB mechanical pencil. With just that you can finish a whole drawing. What I work on the most are small pieces, although I am starting to expand.

Can you tell us what your creative process is like?

It is not always the same. Sometimes I have an idea and I go around it in my head until I start a sketch that I do many tests of before starting the drawing. Other times it is more direct and the first idea is the good one, sometimes I have even started with the title.

You live and work in Madrid, do you have a favorite corner of the capital?

My favorite place in Madrid is, without a doubt, my house. I don't really have a fixed place that I usually go to often.

Is it difficult to present drawings on the national or international art scene?

It is not difficult, but it is normal for a gallery owner to prefer to bring large, full-color oil paintings. The truth is that it is more difficult for me here in Spain than abroad.

What is the furthest place where there is a work of yours?

I think Melbourne, Australia.

Do you have a special affection for any of your drawings because of what they represent or because of the place where you created them?

“The Loopman”, I find it very original.

Freehand with your pencil or digital design with Artificial Intelligence. What do you prefer?

I have a better time drawing than writing ‘prompts’, although as a tool it is fine in my opinion.

Our previous protagonist, Nudo Wood Studio, left this question: What has been the most difficult moment in your professional career and what did you learn from it?

I remember the first times I showed my work to professionals in the sector such as publishers, galleries, or illustration agencies… The feedback I received was horrible. Some even seemed offended…

Then I learned that I had to improve and find my audience. I focused only on drawing what I wanted and showing it on social media. After a while, they started contacting me.