Interview with STelari

Have you ever studied Art or are you self taught?

I'd start with the part that there is no such thing as pure self taught. What it actually is, it's learning by observing what the others know. People who brag the most about being self-taught and what not also love to demean taking any lessons, or - good heavens! - even taking a look at a tutorial. All while having no idea what a difference it makes when you learn the basics, the proper, raw basics, that you can later use and develop whatever way you want. A naive way of thinking, though I suppose that everyone has that phase at some point. From personal experience, I can tell you that it's one big waste of time.

I graduated from a faculty of graphic design of technology and computer science uni last Spring, top grade with a honorary distinction. While it mostly didn't have much to do with what you can see in my dA gallery, it gave me quite an insight into those basics I mentioned, plus I gathered knowledge about other useful things to make an extension to my abilities, like designing a book, or a magazine, for example – I don’t mean the cover or illustrations, but the construction of all the contents.

And in the end, if you decide to pursue a career in art, no one is going to ask you if you are a self taught. Employers and contractors will be interested in your portfolio and
what courses and schools you've been through. So quite the contrary. If you have opportunities to learn and study, don't sit back and wave them off just for the sake of keeping a "I'm a self-taught, praise me" tag.


Why become an artist?

Why not? Like Jim Carrey said, you can fail when doing what you like, and you can fail when doing what you don't like, so why shouldn't I try the thing I like first?





I noticed you use mainly traditional media. Why work with watercolour, pen and pencil?

I like the media I use, and I spent a lot of effort on learning how to control them. A pencil, like it is in most artists' cases, was the first thing that I utilized when my interest in drawing started taking shape. Pen was easy enough to pick up afterwards. Then I got bored with drawing along, so I picked up painting. That's all. We'll see what comes next. While I do experiment a lot, I don't see why should I completely switch to something else all of a sudden. If I do, it'll progress slowly and gradually. I'm quite curious to see what I'll be doing later.


What is your inspiration for your artworks?

Anything. I go out shopping and I see a pattern on a skirt, or a weird crack on some wall, or an interesting person, or I smell something nice (or not nice), or I overhear a bit of some conversation... I have a really screwed up memory that keeps every detail and there's plenty to choose from. Of course, that includes art and fashion and other things that I stumble upon on the internet as well, but I admit that it's a very small percentage of what I actually am inspired by.





What is the process you go through when painting a piece of work till it's final state?

I always start with a sketch. I have currently... five, I think, sketchbooks in use. Each one is for a different kind of stuff, one is for fan art, one for my own original things, one for commissions, one for simple training, and so on. I don't like mixing subjects. But going back to the question, after I finish some sketches (usually I make a couple for one idea, to choose the best composition and else), I redraw the best one on watercolour paper. From there, I add some general details, clean unnecessary lines, correct any errors. Currently I use ink for final linearts, so after I'm done with pencil base, I seal it with ink and I go into the tiniest details. After that it comes watercolour, and optionally white gel pen for highlights.






What would you consider the most important points to think about when drawing or painting?

The basics. Learn proper anatomy, perspective, colour theory and things like that first. If you know them through and you can use them, you can start thinking about bending and breaking the rules. Not the other way around.


You have such an eye for detail. How long does one piece of artwork take to complete?

Depends how much I'm invested in the work and whether I get bored with in in the middle. Usually it's around 3-5 days for the biggest ones, up to 3 days for smaller. That's concerning my personal projects. As for commissions, I try to keep up with deadlines.





I'm wondering if does Japanese illustrations / prints influence you at all? I'm a lover of Japanese illustrations and such and I see some similarities?

Hatsushika Hokusai. Hayao Miyazaki. Junji Ito. And a dozen of others. Yeah, among my inspirations, there is plenty of Japanese artists, and a lot of Chinese ones, but there's plenty of others as well.


Is there any advice you could give to learning artists?

Whining won't get you anywhere. Comparing your art and your progress to other people's won't get you anywhere either. Focus on yourself and your own improvement, train and draw as much as possible. Get a sketchbook and sketch all the time, especially things around you. I find life studies boring as hell, but they actually are the best when it comes to learning. So bite through it and train. You can do it.






You can find STelari-->

Website: www.telari.eu/index.html
Tumblr: telari.tumblr.com/
Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/Telari
society6: society6.com/stelari

Hi everyone! It's been a long time since I posted anything but to let you know about the interviews, I will be doing them again now that I have finished University. I got a bit behind and ended up doing a mad rush to finish everything. So the next time I update the journal it'll be an interview.


Anyway DecayingSky is doing a contest here --> CONTEST -over-EDIT: The contest is over, here are the results 
I received these paints from a very generous art teacher that used to teach me. I don't use them and since it was a act of generosity i would feel awful keeping them when someone else can get so much more out of them or pass them on. Thats why I've decided to have this contest.
         
The first place prize is $120 worth of quality oil paints [price does not including the brushes] used only once, some never used.
-sorry for the low qualit


To members of I would encourage you to attempt this. Not only this contest but other contests as well. It is good practice for drawing/painting skills and such and if you do win you get something good out of it. Contests are a good way to get your work noticed. The theme for DecayingSky contest is fantasy. Dragons, elves, satyrs, aliens, etc.. 'Anything beyond our world!', which gives you complete freedom! For examples you can look at these!






























































Sorry guys got carried away. Anyway, I would love to see the work you all do! I want you all to try this if you can!

You can find more contests here --><da:thumb id="543528306"/>

Interview with FrankAtt

Have you ever studied Art or are you self taught?

I am self taught. With tutorials and learning by doing.


What appealed to you the most about being an artist?

To create worlds/scenes I have in my mind, so I can show them to others.



What is the inspiration for your works?

A lot of things. But usually just sketching around till I find something I really like.


What influenced you to draw fantasy/sci-fi (?) works?

Movies. Especially "Star Wars" and "Lord of the Rings".




I noticed in your gallery you focus a lot on creating landscapes. What do you enjoy about painting landscapes the most?

I really like to create paintings which gives a sense of scale. I like the feeling of be a little viewer who looks at a giant environment (e.g. mountains)


What would you consider the fundamentals of creating your landscapes?

Big shapes and atmosphere perspective.





What is the process you go through when starting a piece of work till it's final state?

I start with big shapes and try not to get to early into the details.
When I like the overall feeling of my painting, I work on that part I don't like the most.
I do this from big parts till the little details in the end.


What artists on dA inspire you the most and why?

tyleredlinart.deviantart.com/
noahbradley.deviantart.com/
flaviobolla.deviantart.com/
and a lot more.
I really enjoy their work (ideas and techniques), because it's what I try to achieve with my paintings.




Is there any advice you could give to learning artists?

Just paint and have fun! Every painting/sketch/study makes you better!
Sometimes it's hard, but don't give up!



ctrlpaint.com is your best friend, if you struggling with fundamentals/techniques or if you are a beginner.
I learned a lot of this site (there are even some new things for me from time to time) and Matt Kohr is doing a awesome job with this site and with his tutorials.

Interview with Closz

Have you ever studied Art at school or University? Are you self taught?

 I do study at animation school. But for illustration I'm learning it by myself. I was helped by my partner with drawing, she is the one who taught me many things about illustration. She is at aquashe.deviantart.com we are trying to improve our art together.


What appealed to you the most about being an artist?

Hmm... well when I see someone looks happy watching my art or buy my works, it is the most interesting thing in my life as an artist.







What is the process you go through when designing a piece of work till it's final state?


I need more than a day and it might took 10 hours to finish one work, I usually imagine things, when I got an idea I might search for some references to help build my image, and continue drawing it until its done.



What genres and styles you use? How did your drawing style develop? 

Some people have said my style was like Japanese manga Style, although the truth is I want to learn realism. I am still learning realism style . T^T







What would you consider the most important points to think when drawing or painting art?


Details and concepts about the illustration it self was really important to me. Every piece of illustration at least must have a good concept so when the people watching it, they could understand about the art we want to say it self. I do think details very important, since you want to improve, you need to give all the best you can do .



What materials/software do you use and why?


Right now I currently using Adobe Photoshop CS6 since I feel very comfortable using it. I use tablet Genius Pen , aahh maybe because I don't have money for buy Intuos and Cintiq wkwk, and I better use this this pen is my partner.






Is there any advice you could give to learning artists? Is there any learning materials, artists, books or references you would recommend?


Well I'm still learning too, so I could say " Don't give up! Everyone learning everything from zero. We all could improve as well". 


Don't forgot to visit me and my partner works in here : www.facebook.com/EvolutionArtw…
This year we will made something special and thank you for having interview with me.

Have you ever studied Art at school or University? Are you self taught?

- I’m self-taught, that’s why I still make lots of mistakes. I try to improve, but it’s a long process! I started exploring Photoshop about 7 years ago and there is a lot to learn yet.

What is your inspiration? Where do you get ideas to create your designs? Why design fantasy objects?

Oh, that’s an interesting question. I take inspiration everywhere – in nature, in everyday objects, sometimes I look at something and think: “If I add some swirls here and put a blade there, it’ll be a sword!” And a lot of ideas come when I sleep, in my dreams. Sometimes I wake up at the middle of the night and make a few sketches.
Why fantasy objects? Well, I have another account – my first, actually. I started with drawing fanarts, then created several original characters, later I tried making some accessories for them and suddenly understood that it’s what I really like.





What is the process you go through when designing a piece of work till it's final state?

Sometimes commissioners ask for a lineart, and then I’m at a loss, because I newer make them. I start with a rough sketch and for some time try different variants, change or add something. When I’m satisfied, I make vector shapes for all small details – sometimes up to 50-70 layers if the design is detailed. And then colour them, using also Photoshop styles for glass and metal effects.




What would you consider the most important points to think when drawing or designing art?

The most important thing – draw what you really want. When I drew people, I was never satisfied with the results, and drawing was almost a torture. But creating jewellery and weapons is a great fun! I know a lot of my friends think my designs are not real art and I waste my time with them, but I’m sure that art should bring happiness. Unfortunately, I know many artists who draw what is popular, not what they like, and I think it's wrong.
Another important point is patience. An artist should be ready to face problems, learn on their own mistakes and remember that progress is a slow process.





What are your plans for the future?

Don’t really know! If a few years ago someone told me that I would draw weapons, I wouldn’t believe! So I can’t tell what I’ll be doing in future. Maybe I’ll return to fanarts, maybe will try new styles, maybe will choose art as my profession. The only thing I’m sure about is that I won’t stop drawing!





Is there any advice you could give to learning artists? Is there any learning materials, artists, books or references you would recommend?

I must confess – I’m a really lazy person. I never read books or watched any tutorials, I even explored Photoshop without reading instructions, just by poking different buttons. Of course, it’s not the best way to become a professional artist.





People usually ask where I take Photoshop styles for glass or gold effects. Here is the site where I found some interesting styles – ilovephotoshop.ru/
And another great resource is a site with free textures and cliparts - lenagold.ru/