Fernanda Cohen is a busy bee to say the least! I am pleased she made time stop long enough to answer some questions for us, and to share some of her recently completed illustrations. After reading her answers you may just feel a strong desire to find out where she lives and take her out for tea. I know I do.

First, an easy question--what is one of your guilty pleasures?
Reading gossip magazines while I'm in line at the supermarket.

Where in this world would you most like to live?
June-August in Buenos Aires, the rest in New York.

Where is your favorite place in New York? in Buenos Aires?
Grand Central Station, Recoleta.

How do the contrasts of New York and Buenos Aires affect your work?
I think if anything the similarities between the two merge in my work, such as the constant chaos.

Having a Ball, 2008

Do you find your work changes contingent on your location?
Not so much the location as the different experiences I go through while I travel.

Describe a perfect day.
Sunny but breezy. Breakfast with my husband, treadmill and Seinfeld for
an hour, 2 ad deadlines, tea-tea-tea, going to a good opening at a
gallery, dinner out and a Mojito.

Your favorite artist? photographer? author?
Saul Steinberg, Jacques Henri Lartigue, and Isabel Allende

What is your favorite Beatles song?
All You Need Is Love

War of Words on Love, 2008

Has music inspired your work?
Only when I allow it.

Which 20x200 artists do you enjoy most?
Rachell Sumpter and Jennifer Sánchez. I love and admire the way Jennifer plays with abstract shapes and colors. I like and identify with the magic in Rachell’s images.

[UPDATE I asked Jennifer Sánchez and Rachell Sumpter to respond to Fernanda's love of their work. Here's what they have to say:
Jennifer I really like Fernanda's work. I like the the silliness and freeness of her figures and subject matter; her lines are really beautiful and I love how she injects her illustrations with such playful colors.
Rachell Magic is everything. I like the energy in her lines and strong use of color.

Seems like these three ladies should all go for tea, n'est ce pas?]

What have you been working on lately?
I'm working on a new personal series about dogs and their owners. I'm also producing my line of kitchenware "Queen Renée" in the States through Pop Cling. I just finished illustrating an ad campaign through DDB. I illustrate a monthly column for the San Francisco-based magazine 7x7.

Any near future aspirations?
I'd like to write and draw an animated movie within the next 5 years.

War of Words on Customer Service, 2008

Smitten? I'll bet.
Fernanda's 20x200 edition: Hot Dog and I
Fernanda's website

PS
Fun fact-Fernanda likes this song from Flight of the Conchords.

PPS
If you just can't get enough, here is another interview with Fernanda that just appeared on Sprayblog.