Meet David! Known as Iconicnephilim, he is a 20-year-old artist and fandom member from Spain.
Describe yourself in three words.
Perfectionist, nonconformist, and cheerful.
How long have you been making art?
I’ve actually been part of different fandoms for a long time, so I guess you could say it’s been quite a few years now, but it wasn’t until joining the Shadowhunters fandom that I fully explored my potential doing this. I’ve learned a lot these past few months, so it kind of feels like starting from scratch, which is really great.
What kind of medium or equipment do you use?
All my work is done on Photoshop, even though I do sometimes sketch things beforehand so I can have a clear idea of what I want.
Tell us about your process. How much planning is involved with each piece, and how long does it usually take you to do a typical artwork?
I think a lot before starting anything new. I like having the exact idea well-planned in my mind, otherwise, I feel kind of lost in front of the empty canvas. Like I said, I sometimes do quick sketches to clearly see the idea on paper, and then I gather all the resources I need and start working on it. It doesn’t take me a long time to do; I’m actually really fast if I’m 100% sure of what I’m going to do and the material is easy to find, so it usually takes me 4-6 hours. The most tedious part is probably removing the background and then the coloring.
That being said, I do have some pieces that were harder to make, like the last one I did for the 3B promotion which took me two days. It really depends on how complex the poster is and how fast I can find the material I need.
What do you find most difficult when working on a design?
The most difficult type of poster to design for me is whenever I have to include more than the main eight characters. I haven’t done it frequently; I think maybe two or three times. It’s really hard to find a good balance and to get the right placement, it’s just too many heads for me. I also find any Malec project kind of challenging because of the meaning and the impact they have on the fandom. I specifically want to get those right.
Who is your favorite character to work with?
I’m sure people are going to find out the answer to this question without me having to say it. But apart from the obvious reason (Izzy, duh), I’ve realized lately that I really like coming up with ideas about Clary and Jonathan’s relationship; a good bunch of my latest work features them. I think their dynamic is really interesting and I can’t wait to see them in 3B [Editor’s note: this interview took place before most of 3B had aired].
What ships do you ship, and why you love them so much?
Malec by far. I not only love Alec and Magnus as individual characters, but their relationship is portrayed so beautifully, and it has so much meaning inside and outside the show. I mean, what’s not to love? What they represent is so important, and these characters have given people the strength, positivity, and courage they needed for themselves, and that’s one thing we all owe to Shadowhunters. This show has given its audience a mirror where we all can see ourselves reflected in the shape of their characters. Malec forever!
I really can’t wait to see Sizzy as well. I’ve been a long-time fan of the books before the show even aired, and I’ve always been excited to see how they are portrayed as a couple. My only concern is Saia. Despite their book counterpart, I really love them as a couple on the show. But I’m still excited!
You’ve created some pretty spectacular pieces revolving around the finale. Can you talk about your inspiration for those?
The show itself is a great source of inspiration. The cast and crew have given us amazing teasers of what 3B is going to be about and those have definitely helped a lot. The newest content we’ve been getting has influenced my latest work as well. Overall, I’ve tried to play with the idea of heaven/hell and how both can be a part of the characters (specifically of Clary). I’ve also done a few sad and angsty pieces. No matter what happens with the show, after 3×21 and 3×22 air, an important chapter of this show will end with it and I like representing that in some of my posters.
What has been the best part of your fandom experience?
I love this question, because even though we’ve all spent time [with the series] and we’ve dealt with really heartbreaking and infuriating circumstances, there has been a lot of joy as well. As a fandom, every day that we pulled out a big stunt to save the show was a day filled with happiness, excitement, and pure fascination. It was during those times that we all forgot about the fact that the show is canceled and focused more on the fact that it could be saved. For me, personally, launching Shadow Merch, announcing Love Makes Us Stronger, and now seeing this billboard coming to life in L.A., are a few of my favorite memories as a member of this fandom (photo credit to @TheSeriesRegs on Twitter).
What has been your favorite work of art you have created so far?
I’m proud of them all, but it’s true that I have some favorites for very different reasons. My favorites would possibly be the last four posters I’ve made, basically, because I was already so tired after three months of making 3B promotional posters, having no good ideas, and well, no new material. I think I really made my best work yet out of desperation, and that’s part of the reason why I love those so much.
List your social medias and websites so fans can find you.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/IconicNephilim
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iconicnephilim/
