1. We won't break the tradition of DI’s first question. So, Fill, please tell us a bit about your background. How did you get into the digital art?    

I got into digital art not so long ago. Comparing to the age of modern young designers, I got into digital art a bit late. At 2007 I tried Photoshop for the first time (at the age of 23).  It was 9.0 version.  At that moment I was working as a flash developer for a small firm. I had a lot of free time at work and I spent it playing with Photoshop. That’s the way it all started.

2. There is a great difference between fine and digital art? Can one be a good digital artist without having any skills in "paper drawings"?

Of course! These are totally different things. You may have no skills in drawing but be able to make crazy digital pieces of art and vice versa. As for me, I can draw a little. I used to draw comics some years ago. Now I have a Moleskin sketchbook to draw in, just like any self-respecting designer. By the way it’s an awesome thing, a really good choice to pick.

3. IS Creativity born or learnt?

You are born with it. But you can boost it by observing the world around you. I believe that everyone is creative. Someone is more and someone less. But you can raise it, just try to look at things around you and most importantly - write down all the ideas that come to your head. I always carry around a little Moleskin notebook (yes, yes I'm a fan of these notebooks) for notes, because the idea can come to me anytime. This is a real hip! I never keep ideas in my head! I write them down thus voiding some space for new ones. It’s an old secret technique of many masters.

4. What makes a good graphic designer?  Is it about experience or about talent or both?

It’s all about personal style. You must be recognizable. For example when you look at James Brooks illustrations, even if the artwork is not specified or watermarked by the name of the author , you can definitely say – yeah! It’s Brooks’! I know it! That’s what I’m talking about. Now I’m in search for my own style. I'm trying to understand what I do best and turn it into my trademark.

5. Degree or Diploma – are these good experiences for the artist or only a quality mark for the clients?

 think it is good experience if you got a real education in a good university because in Russia you will learn more from web tutorials than by graduating the university.  In 5 years they’ll teach you only the basics of Corel Draw and some aspects of color theory. It’s not worth 5 years of life. I think your portfolio can say much more than your background.

6. If someone feels like being a digital artist but has no clue where and how to start, what would you recommend?

Find your favorite artists, look at their artworks and try to simulate it. Good exercise. Also there are a lot of tutorials, case studies, video schools on the web. We live in a great time, you can get so much information about anything. Web is power.

7. If you had a chance to become rich and famous on indispensible condition to drop any forms of arts, what would you choose?

Oh man, I like any forms of arts so much, and I would have drop all of them. I would have produced a movie, I’m a real movie fan, it is one of my dream. I would have written a novel, a book. And I’m on my way now, maybe someday you’ll see it.

8.Sex, drugs or booze, what’s your highest muse?

A little bit of that all. To be serious I don’t understand where the muse comes from.  It’s like a flash from nowhere. Sometimes you sit in front of your monitor for hours and nothing comes out. But sometimes you just make a few touches just for fun and wow… you got a best of your art ever. I’ll tell you one thing, best artworks are designed quickly and easily. If you are stuck at some work, sitting for hours trying to draw something but it fails, just leave it. Try it next day. Nothing good will come out.  If you want that all turned out well - you need to be in a special condition, some kind of trance, when you don't think but just do it and have fun. That condition is a highest muse. But it’s hard to catch and hold it. As for me, when I try to get in this condition, I open Photoshop, turn of all messengers, reminders, turn off the phone, turn on some music. Yeah music is the most important thing. I often listen to 60’s garage punk, psychedelia, some 70’s loosier hard rock, these are real bitching sounds and they're perfect for work.

9.Where do you get your inspiration?

From web, from other artists portfolios, from art, movies, books, music.  As for classical art,  I’m in love with Russian vanguard art of 20’s, rayonism, suprematism, etc.  Malevich’s “Black Square” is not a cornerstone of Russian vanguard art as most people think, there was a bunch of talented cats, with awesome arts. You need to check it out if you are not familiar with it. Also I like European impressionism: Mattis, Mone, Van Gogh - crazy stuff, absolutely outta sight. And black period of Goya, crazy spanish guy, is also very powerfull. Sorry, I could talk about artists for hours. And of course it's not only fine arts that inspires me. Movies also could give a great inspiration. I’m a big fan of exploitation grindhouse cinema of 60’s-70’s. And what a stunning posters they had! And of course 60’s psychedelic art also inspire me well. Posters, album covers of that time, they all have these extraordinary color mixes, absolutely out of color harmony, but looks so fab.

10.What it feels like to know you are the one who makes the world brighter and more colorful?

It feels like I’m doing exactly what I want to do. And you know, in Russia there is no sun, always overcast, rainy, dark and cold. I'm trying to add brightness and life into this gloom, even through the digital art.

11.Are you doing your dream job? Is there something else you wish you could be doing?

I’m doing my dream job already but so far it is not at the right level of success. But I’m on my way, I keep working on it. I do what I really like, also I do music, I play in a garage-rock band Synfonics where I play guitar and sing. You can check out our really hangin’ songs at Myspace.com also you can download our demo album absolutely for free(you’ll find the download link at myspace.com page). It sounds really raw raunchy and catching, you will enjoy it, really.

12.Ok, is there is something you’d like to wish for the global web-design community?

I wish there were more ways for young designers to promote themselves . I mean more contests, supports, investments – there is a strong need in expanding this market field worldwide and of course in supporting each other. Live in peace and support each other as a single tribe and all will be cool.

Helen Walker

Helen Walker graduated with a degree in Mass Communications and Sociology. She worked as a newspaper journalist for two years after that. Having always been interested in cyberculture and its impact on society, Helen switched to online journalism and joined Design Interviews blog in July, 2007. Ever since she's been interviewing web designers and administrating the blog. Helen is a keen movie-goer and she is also a panda lover.


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Get in touch with Helen: helen.walker4@gmail.com