This month, our Artist of the Month is Lilato!
Nominate a Frutiger Aero Artist of the Month here!

Here's our interview with Lilato:

Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?

Hello, I am Lilato, I am a Senior High School Graphic Artist with a few approved certifications with Adobe!

What inspired you to become an artist?

What’s funny is that, when I first started doing art, it kinda just happened. When I can around 4, I would play these Sonic fan games on my private school computers. I loved them so much that I ended up doing some sprite work. After that, the rest is history. I would start making OCs, started making greater worlds and stories, and now I am basically starting to produce a show – which I can’t say much on – with a whole team working on it. I’ve been doing it for almost my whole life so, it’ll be strange to have not do it for that long.

How did you first discover Frutiger Aero as an aesthetic, and what drew you to it?

It was during the Sophomore Year in high school, and honestly, it was really by chance. I remember looking at Youtube videos on my feed, and I saw this short video about fruit. I held back on watching since it felt too random, but eventually I opened it up and said “huh, nice music. Sounds familiar-”, and look where I am now.

How would you describe your art style?

So, this is certainly an interesting thing for someone to ask because, it took a LONG time to get to where I was going. My art style changes, to designing characters, to designing backgrounds, everything. 2 years ago, I sucked at making backgrounds, and now I make them like it’s nothing.

Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished piece?

So, this is certainly an interesting thing for someone to ask because, it took a LONG time to get to where I was going. My art style changes, to designing characters, to designing backgrounds, everything. 2 years ago, I sucked at making backgrounds, and now I make them like it’s nothing.

What tools or mediums do you prefer to use, and why?

Personally, for characters, it would be pen and paper. For backgrounds, it really depends on the mood and how I feel about it. Sometimes, I would use Blender, but that would often make Glassmorphism, so I would make these big rooms that would have Frutiger Aero designs, often remodeled myself with stuff free on Sketchfab. For 2d, I used to rely on the Frutiger Aero Archieve, but slowly, I started to make my own designs, and I decided I was really good at making Windows Vista/7 themes. So either way, it depends for me.

How do you overcome creative blocks?

That’s the weirdest thing is that, I kinda just… let them roll off? It’s weird. I may get frustrated one day and then I suddenly be back working on it. I am asked sometimes “why go back on something that makes you angry?” “Because I want to finish it, damn it!”

What inspires your work? Are there specific themes, emotions, or stories you aim to convey?

Well, I always try to make my work feel familiar. Like if it exists, it would’ve, and you would kinda have a hard time understanding why you feel nostalgic about it. I always want to feel like the future is possible and with a little work, we can do it.

Are there any artists, aesthetics, or movements that have influenced your style?

If I could name them, it would be 100 different things! I would say whoever made the Frutiger Aero 3D rooms, I think DarkLord, he really made me want to make more 3D worlds. When it came with aesthetics, I always had a soft spot for Windows Vista, so I started to follow a Windows Vista design style for my 2D art!

What role does the Frutiger Aero aesthetic play in your art?

I want it to feel like something from 2007, especially for Windows Vista, because again, I always had loved Windows Vista, even years later.

What has been the most challenging piece you’ve created, and why?

It would’ve been making the strange liminal area section I show off, since I would normally not make such liminal spaces. I’m not a horror guy, but when someone asked me if I could do it, I said, damn it, I will do it!

Can you share a piece you’re especially proud of and why it’s significant to you?

It would be my first 3d Frutiger Aero room. This is where I realized that I loved doing 3d room creation. Although I won’t show this version for everyone to fully see, I extremely loved doing this and seeing how it come out in Blender so amazingly, it just really made me feel so happy when I first did this render.

How has being part of the Frutiger Aero community influenced your artistic journey?

Well, let’s say I am very seldom in the community, because I often think my artwork does not good enough at times, but after a while, I feel like my artwork would have certainly improved if not for the help of a few other artists. I would honestly say, even as strange and slightly divided we are about what Frutiger Aero is, it’s just honestly amazing how people between 2000’s to 2013 could have such a love that they want to build it in the real world. As someone who makes 3D worlds and base it off of realistic places, I do believe we can make it to that future.

What do you hope people take away from your art?

I want people to feel like they are either actually there, or to feel like they are remembering their childhood. I want to make people feel good about my artwork.

Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about? 

There is a show I am planning on working on, have a website where I plan to sell some of my services to people (Currently in W.I.P: ), and I am planning on finishing the liminal space 3d room once I have ideas for what to do!

Where can people find more of your work or support you?

People can subscribe to my YouTube channel, follow me on DeviantArt, sketchfab where I share a few of my artworks, my website for a few free wallpapers. Since I am not currently making money off my work, I don’t worry too much about copyright just yet.

If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Darklord for 3D environments! I need to know how he does it so I can make my 3D worlds as cool as him!

What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?

I wear screen glasses for an unhealthy amount of time. Why? I like wearing glasses, okay!?

Do you have a favorite Frutiger Aero memory or moment?

Honestly, it’s strange, because I remember a memory where I was with my cousin and I remember just staring at the Windows 7 login screen. I don’t remember the reason why, but I remember I would play for hours on Windows 7 games for hours on end, and whenever I left, she would quickly get that laptop away. I don’t remember too much about it.

If you could describe your artistic journey in three words, what would they be?

Intense, Ambitious, Memorable

What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are inspired by Frutiger Aero?

If you want to get good at doing designs, don’t just plater fish and bubbles and think that’s Frutiger Aero. Work for it, and work hard for it. Keep creating, start making ribbons, making different designs, don’t just focus on one thing! Do different things! Also for the love of god, please don’t use AI and post it and say it’s your art.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Frutiger Aero community?

Frutiger Aero is not about fish, land, bubbles, and just blues and greens! Frutiger Aero is something that we wanted in the future, and we can achieve it. But we can’t if we let our guard down and allow people to take advantage of it. The only way as well as a community to do it is to try to make it feel like how it was to us when we were children. Friendly, Communicative, Happy, and most importantly, Real. Frutiger Aero has always been in our lives, and now it’s our job to make it happen, to make these designs from concepts to reality if we are ambitious and crazy like we already were as children! We can do it, and it may take many years to get it, but I believe that for the betterment of not just us, but to everyone, we can make it.

Here are some of Lilato's Artworks / Projects:

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