MEET EL MARQUÈS, BARCELONA LOCAL ARTIST AND FELLOW FOOD LOVER
This week, we have an interview with a local artist in Barcelona, Adrià Ferrer Marquès, a.k.a. El Marquès. El Marquès is an illustrator who designs many different things, including Food Lover Tour’s new tote bags! We had a chat with this local artist to get his thoughts on art, Barcelona, and delicious Spanish cuisine! Read on to learn more about El Marquès and his work.
Tell us about yourself!
Hi! My name is Adri, but everyone knows me as El Marquès. I am a local artist in Barcelona and I also sing in a rock band called The PennyCocks. I usually work for publishers, but also within the music world, too. In the past, I used to do designs for CDs, posters, and merchandising. Once in a while, I create historical illustrations for museums.
How did you become interested in art? What do you love about it? What are your preferred mediums?
I have been drawing since I was a kid. If there was a toy I wanted that I didn’t have, I would draw it on paper or cardboard, color it, and then cut it out. Growing up, I was interested in music and had a few different groups. I designed their CDs, T-shirts, posters, and other merchandise. Little by little, I began to work with other bands and later for publishers, illustrating books. The thing that I like most is having creative independence and being able to enjoy being in charge. I usually work with a mix of digital and traditional work by hand. I make my sketches in pencil and later digitize them on my computer. Many of these illustrations are later hand-drawn using screen printing techniques. You can find some of them here.
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What do you love about Barcelona? What is your favorite neighborhood? What are some of your favorite things to do here?
The thing that I like most about Barcelona is that it’s a relatively relaxed city, not too big and not too small. For me, it’s the ideal size, and not to mention the weather! Well, in the summer it can get pretty hot, but luckily we have both the beach and the mountains nearby. The thing that I like best about here is that there are always cultural options and things to to. If you pay attention, you can never get bored.
What’s your favorite local dish?
There are many. My favorites are the old bars and bodegas that you can find all over the city, and each neighborhood has its own charm. Tapas, croquetas, and vermouth are my favorites. If you do a bit of searching around Barceloneta, you can eat the best and most delicious seafood for a really good price.
To learn more about El Marquès, you can visit his website at www.adriamarques.com or follow him on Instagram (@el_marques_illustration)! Additionally, you may soon see some of his work on our website soon, El Marquès’ characters that he has created especially for Food Lover Tour. Two of our tote bags that are currently for sale include these characters, so make sure to pick your bag and help support a local artist! Food Lover Tour is proud to work with such a talented artist as El Marquès, and other local partners!