Post by urbancinderella on Jun 2, 2007 9:04:32 GMT
Interview with =Nameless-DesignerdeviantART - Digital
Administered by Ethan.
So, what inspired you to take up space art?
Hmm I must say that it wasn’t something but someone, the person who really inspired me was Greg Martin, and he is like the Godfather of space art. His image "In Darkness Light" was what got me going, he is still my idol.
Yes, a Godfather; indeed. So, how long have you been practicing the space art medium?
More or less since I joined deviantART in June 2005, I must say my first attempts can hardly be described as art. More like manure, but hey everyone starts small. Bit by bit i worked up and most importantly I always tried new things. In this time span I made many mistakes, and I don’t regret a single one because by learning from them, I gathered the skills and knowledge that I have today.
That’s pretty impressive, roughly over a year by my count. Let’s talk about your latest accomplishments, such as your image 'Pleiades Full’, an image that could put an Alyn Hunter to shame. Why do you think inspired its form? And what drove you to such detail?
Hmm, I’ve always tried to put detail into my work but I was always lacking, this image formed surprisingly quickly after my holidays in Italy. Till then I’ve been having some problems in Life which gave me a serious artistic block. Those 2 weeks in the sun really helped and I came back a fresh man. I sat down and was about to start the usual way of making planets, when I came to the (not done) image I thought of trying something new. I made my planet texture canvas 9000x9000 pixels instead of the usual 4000x4000, and I was able to put so much more detail into it that I was amazed. Since then I always work even bigger
Well, it certainly seems that 'Pleiades Full' was a milestone for you, lets move on to technique: do you favour a particular technique while building your images, or do you prefer to just work 'all over' as they say?
I always start with the planet, sometimes I just build planet after planet and some of them never see the light of day. Thanks to this I already have many pre-made planets which makes’ creating a new piece easier. Then comes the hard part: the idea. Anyone can make a decent space scene; my aim is to make one with a fresh idea, something that hasn’t been done 100 times before. A space scene isn’t just a planet, some stars and a nebula. It evolves as you make it, sometimes the end result is completely different from the way i imagined it to look like. As soon as I have that I build up, starting with the star field, moving on to nebula and then onto lighting. Now it is important to say that a good light set up can give your image just that extra "oomph" to separate it from the rest. A bad setup can ruin a potentially great image, so light plays a huge role, not just in space art, but art in general.
Well, you certainly seem to know the Milk from the Cookies, let’s jump a bit back: what brought you to deviantART?
Before I started space art, I was a wannabe signature artist over at files.halomods.com, and back then signatures with brushes were popular. And of course deviantART has a ‘VAST’ collection of Photoshop brushes. So I visited it regularly, after a time I noticed other categories that caught my interest, after some browsing I came along the image ‘In Darkness Light’, was knocked of my chair. Signed up, and started space art
Amazing how a simple beauty can inspire hidden talents...Do you think you inspire others?
I certainly hope so. Recently many great space artists have been leaving the genre. The reason: over usage, no respect. Many just make 5 minute tutorials. And the results are HUNDREDS of copy paste images that really make one think: oh another space picture? Meh, they all suck, I’m not going to check it out. This is very critical for me as I know that a person who KNOWS how to do space art can produce images to stun the senses. I hope to inspire people to actually take time and care, when producing their art, and to bring the old masters back. Maybe a little far fetched, but...one can dream can one not?
I suppose one can; do you think the Space Art medium is a Cliché; just a planet, a few stars and bright lights?
Sadly it’s becoming one. Slowly yet steadily people are wearing away, but i do not loose hope. Like bright fires in the night, waking talents keep space art from disappearing in a wave of cliché. I want to congratulate and thank those artists who stay true to what they are, and love what they do so well
Such spirit and belief can often inspire those who waver. Do you fancy yourself a 'Rising star’? The hottest new space artist on the scene of deviantART or do you, just want to be a member, remain humble...?
I wouldn’t count myself as a star, I do my best and try to make the best images i can, its no more than anyone of us can do. Naturally I am grateful to hear that my artwork is appreciated. But I definitely don’t think I’m the "hottest new space artist on the scene of deviantART”, I’m just an artist trying to make art
Well, you’re doing a pretty good job of making that art. Other than Greg Martin, our dear Godfather...what else inspires you? Gives you flare?
There are many people; here are just a select few: Brandon Hale, AKA absolutehalo, SamODJ, AP123, DKF, Alyn, and Dylan Cole
Some pretty well known names there. Well, we've discussed, what seems to no end, your deviantART career, let’s hear a bit about yourself. What do you do, in your spare time other than blow people off there seats?
Lol, well I’m just a standard 18 year old guy, I like to hang out with my friends, I like girls, cars and action movies. I’m also a hardcore Halo fan. Bngie ftw! And there are some things I can’t live without: Pie, Coke, and Art.
Girls, Yuk. Let’s get back to your Art career: do you use any digital equipment, equipment such as a Tablet?
Yes I do, I have a rather cheap Wacom Volito 2, I plan to get a better tablet but at the moment this suits me just fine.
Wacom, fabulous piece of equipment. Do you do any traditional art? Drawing and such.
Well, before I went digital I drew with a standard pencil and some good old paper. I enjoy traditional art and still do it a lot in school or at home when my computer needs some cooling down. I like to draw, it helps me relax.
I love drawing too, something every artist needs in his/her practices. Got anything planned for the not to distant future?
Err, digital or traditional?
Doesn’t matter, art is art.
Well at the moment I’m working on 4 space art pieces. 3 of them are collaborations for the next Terraspace Art pack, the theme is Unseen Phenomenon, I’ve got some cool stuff planned here. And 1 image is for the release pack of the new group Space-artists, the theme is Incomprehensible distances. So expect something with lots of depth
Sounds very exciting can't wait. So, before we wrap this up, anything you'd like to say to aspiring 'space' artists?
Yep: never stop practicing, and never give up. space art needs you, so keep going and try some new stuff! Best luck to you all!
Thank you very, very much, Alexei, for this interview. I look forward to seeing tons more from you.
Thank you, I’ll do my best
Now, about those Milk and Cookies...
the = in front of the name kinda gave it away that he was on dA.