Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you :
Enrico Varrasso
Your current job :
Freelance Illustrator
In which city are you located?
Milton, Ontario (small town outside Toronto)
A word to define what kind of worker you are : Diligent
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..)
Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
What does your office space look like?
Basically it’s a armour/cabinet that i keep my computer, drives, scanner, printer, etc. it is located in my work room but when i finish my day i close up the armour which to me is the equivalent of closing down my shop for the day.
What kind of music do you listen when you are working ?
I’m into a wide variety of music so i like to stream “all songs considered” (npr) but i also enjoy bands like arcade fire, brian eno, bob dylan, david bowie, david byrne, james blake, lcd soundsystem, neil young, parquet courts…the list goes on.
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work?
Before i turn on my computer i mentally think about what tasks i need to tackle for the day then i start up my computer, put on some calming music and meditate for about 20 minutes. after that i get busy.
What tips would you give to improve productivity ?
Map out your day and avoid getting distracted by emails, texts, websites…easier said than done but a worthy goal to strive for to avoid wasting away the day.
You’re better than your colleagues to :
Keeping focused on the task at hand, in a way i’m overly focused which sometimes make me miss other important things going on.
What is the best advice anyone has given you ?
The best advice i’ve ever heard/read came to me years ago in this Andy Warhol quote – “Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” i other words make your art/illustrations and don’t work about what others think.
What is your best tip for saving time ?
I can be a bit of a scatterbrain at times so i know that without focusing on the task at hand i would waste my day away so i guess my best tip is know what you need to get done and just do it without distraction.
What is your routine start and end of the day ?
I start my day by meditating so that i have a clear head and i end my day at 5p.m. (mostly). i try to keep regular office hours so that i can spend time with my wife and three kids otherwise i’d be at my computer all night long.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not you go without?
It would have to be my speakers (that are attached to my computer), i consider music my inspiration and muse and it’s also a great companion, helps me feel less solitary.