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| Rumor has it, some of you have questions! So I figured I'd answer a few of the more common ones. If you feel curious about anything that isn't on up here, fire a question on over to my inbox and we'll get it all sorted out for ya: chris@artisticways.com Can I use your artwork on my own project?! I have certain rules about this sort of thing. Some images are owned by companies and have contractual ownership or at least a copyright of the picture. Therefore any use of it beyond their own products puts you and possibly myself in a hard spot. Contact me for information and we'll work it out. Sometimes I say yes, sometimes I have to say no. Just ask. Can you tell me how to break into the industry? It's different for everyone. You have to have a great portfolio though - go put together 10 of your best pieces, then get rid of half of them. Go make 5 new pictures. From there, go talk to Art Directors, other artists.... anybody that will listen. Be passionate about what you do - and NEVER miss a deadline if you can help it. What supplies do you use? Well, traditionally I prefer pencils so we'll start here. I usually use a standard HB mechanical pencil, with some 2h and 2b for blending as needed. I don't like paper stomps for blending so much because I like textures, but at times they help. Remember that not all hardness leads blend together well, so I try not to go too much darker or lighter than the pencils I listed above. I also use an electric eraser often. It's fast and snazzy. Painting wise I'll use anything from oil to gouache. I don't like standard acrylics so much, but it's a personal thing really. Same with watercolor – they just aren't me. But I do enjoy gouache, even though they're water based. Oils are quite awesome, I just wish I had more time for them. Digitally I'm using a Wacom Intuos 9x12 tablet. I use this in conjunction with painter and photoshop, I don't even know what versions anymore. In the end I'd say I do 80% of my work in Photoshop with a wide variety of default and custom brushes (that I won't be sharing, because I'm lazy). Beyond that, all I can say is that really the tools don't make the artist. Work with what you have, and love what you do. You'll get results. How long have you drawn, like... seriously? Seriously drawn? Since about my Sophomore year in High School (Say between 1999 and 2000). I'm not a prodigy, I wasn't born with innate talent. I built up what I have like any normal skill over the years. It's not so much how often you practice but what you practice. Take the time and do it the right way..... as opposed to the way that I did it. Which I assure you was the long road. What inspires you? Any and all! As far as art inspiration – I get my inspiration by seeing other artists work. I adore looking at illustration. A lot of the core Wizards of The Coast artists are huge influences on my work. Not to say I don't take influences from some of the most notable artists of centuries long since passed – but I take more from contemporary artists. Not to mention meeting artists in person. Some of my favorite memories are of conventions, where I get to talk with all sorts of artists and people. Some professional, some not. Either way I enjoy it. How did you learn? I went through the harsh process of self teaching. Because of this, my skills lack in spots that they probably shouldn't. But that's my problem and I am slowly fixing it. It's hard when your teacher is an idiot heh. How do I know this? I learned anatomy from comic books at first. Now that's dumb. I've taken minor classes though, so I can't say I'm entirely self taught. Life drawing has pushed me heavily in positive directions. I've also learned color theory and composition thanks to my handful of classes. Buuut ultimately I have to say I'm relatively self taught, as the classes were used mostly for refinement. I seriously recommend that if you want to have a career in the arts that you should get lessons from true artists before really trying to strike out on your own. You must master the basics before moving on. These basics will be used in your pieces repeatedly, and without them your art will be missing key elements. Will you critique my portfolio? You bet! I would love to. Please don't slam me with attachments though. If you have a web gallery or just links I'd love to look at your work and offer some advice. We're all in this together after all. Do you sell your originals? Yes. I'll have a shop available soon, I hope (just like I've said for the last 5+ years). Final words? Never give up. Keep knocking on doors and never let anybody tell you that you can't do art. Few of us are born with artistic gifts, so we have to work for it and push until we're accomplishing what we've set out to do. If you want to be an artist, get out there and become an artist. Just don't expect it to happen over night. This can take years and years of work for some people. |