Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Ian Olympia


Tell me a little bit about yourself. Where did you go to school, and what extra-curricular activities did you take up? What helped prepare you to become the artist that you are today?

Hello~ This is Ian [pronounced as ah-yan] Olympia, also known as wickedalucard. I studied at Technological University of the Philippines studying Electronics Engineering, then I shifted to B.S. Computer Science at National College of Science and Technology. I'm an undergrad and have been working since 2002.

It started when I was in 5th grade. I always drew at the back of my lecture notebooks, joined art contests, joined the school paper, and stuff [ like giving girl crushes and my friends artworks ]. This went on ‘til college. Then when I started working, and had less time to draw, since all my earlier jobs were not art related. I always brought a doodle pad with me and I'd doodle whenever I have nothing to do. I just kept on drawing.

What inspired or convinced you to become an artist?

Reading a lot of manga and watching lots of anime inspired me to draw. My friends who believed in my skills convinced me to keep on drawing.

What is a typical day for you, and who are the people you work with?

Waking up in the afternoon, coffee, smokes, check mails, spend a couple of minutes browsing updates from the artists I watch, do my job, go out and eat dinner with Chai, come back at the office, continue my job. If I am able to finish the tasks given to me earlier, I work on personal artworks, if not, I end the day with a doodle. Then when the sun is about to rise, I head for bed.
I work with the people of Groundbreakers Inc. [ Mangaholix ].

What are some of the things that you have worked on?

I've worked on my own title Echofreak which was included in the book Salted. I also have artworks/tutorials on the artbook Devour. I also made a one-shot comic, Ambition which was included in the mini comic anthology Sidedish, that we plan to continue. Also my title Ambition can be found on Komikon's Sulyap comicbook anthology. I also contributed an artwork for Dreamix Wave Artbook, which was sold at Comic Fiesta '10, Malaysia. An artwork of mine also got published at Pixiv x Otacool4 magazine. And a couple of years back I also worked on a lot of game assets, GUI, 2d sprites, sprite animations, cut scenes, pixel art, character designs, concepts, bg, 3d textures, from a lot of games that I've been assigned to by my previous employer Indigo Entertainment.

How do you go about an illustration, what goes through your mind, from start to end?

I take a cigarette break and brainstorm on what to draw. I study references, then do roughs. When the roughs are approved, I start working on the final art. Usually when I work I keep in mind the deadline. I always check if I am being too O.C. or too slow.

Could you talk about your process in coloring your art (if at all), as well as the types of tools or media that you use?

I start with the roughs. Then I clean it up by creating a pencil layer [ not-so-tight-pencils-stage ]. Then I ink them. After that, I create a base layer to mask the character from the background, then I color the piece accordingly. Depending on what needs to be done. If I am to do a painted character or bg, I sometimes skip the inking and from pencils I go straight to coloring. I am really careful at coloring the face. Its like putting make up on the character xD.

I use a Wacom Intuos 3. Manga Studio Ex 4, Sai, and Adobe Photoshop CS4.

What are some of the things that you do to keep yourself creative?

I always listen to music. I also browse blogs and sites of pretty girls. Look at beautiful photos. Watch anime episodes. Play games. Go to places. Read manga titles I like. Watch music videos. Play my guitar. Go out with Chai. Look at my favorite artist's blogs.

What is your most favorite subject to draw, and why?

I like drawing the hair. I am really careful at drawing and coloring hair xD

Who are the top illustrators whose works excite you the most?

Obviously you can find traces of Shirow Miwa on my art style. He influenced my art style a lot. I also like the works of kiDChan, Takeshi Obata, Yi Lee, Sinbaru, Falcoon, U10, Yonekura Kengo, Oh! Great, Hanaharu Naruko, Shigeki Maeshima, and Ayami Kojima. I look up to these artists and I dream to collect their artbooks! ~(≧ ∀ ≦)~

What are some of the neat things you have learned from other artists that you have worked with or seen?

I've learned from Shirow Miwa and ComiPa to keep on trying. Even if I fail, even if no one notices me, I've learned that if I don't stop, eventually I will improve and people will start to appreciate my art. I've also learned from my past experiences of self publishing and working at different jobs that even if you create a masterpiece, if it didn't meet the deadline, it can't serve its purpose. I also learned from Kriss Sison to be careful at drawing the face, because most of the people who'll look at it will be drawn to the face. And the expression, color, lines, of the character's face are all important.

I've also learned from ComiPa and through observing my favorite artists that line weight is important. Even if you draw something and you don't color it, it will not look flat if you've done an excellent inking.

I've also learned to analyze what makes me look up to my favorite artists. What's in their art that fascinates me. And I try to understand that. I combine all the things I've observed from all the artists I like and try to apply it in my art. Don't get me wrong, it is not emulating, but more like, learning and applying it in an actual piece. For example, U10, he makes excellent outfits. Why? Because these outfits are existing clothes that women wear. So what I did was researched on clothes that best suit my characters, play around them and put it on my characters.

I've also learned 'best effort' and 'career mode or nice-to-have' from wickedmikel. Where as 'best effort' means, the best of what I can do at the given time. Usually for projects with a tight deadline. And 'career mode' on projects that give me a lot of time, or no deadline at all. Here I can go all out without the trouble of having to worry on my speed.

What are some of your favorite websites that you go to?

Deviantart, Pixiv, Twitter, Twitpic [and stalk my favorite artists], Tumblr, Youtube lol.

What wisdom could you give us, about being an artist? Do you have any tips you could give?

Step up and always work your way to improvement. Practice and be serious about it. Don't take art halfheartedly. Research and learn from your mistakes.

If people would like to contact you, how would you like to be contacted?

They can note me at my DA http://wickedalucard.deviantart.com/

Do you have any of your art work for sale (comics, prints, or anything)? If so, for fans of your work can know where and when to buy it?

You can buy Sulyap at any Powerbooks outlet. The rest of my stuff are pre-ordered, you can just note me if you're interested xD



If a multi-dimensional witch (like Youko) offered you to be the ultimate Manga Rockstar, but asks for your hair as payment, would you accept it?

No way! I'd rather suck at playing my guitar than be bald or wear a crew cut \(º皿º)/

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Elegy Wong


Tell me a little bit about yourself, about your life? Where did you go to school, and what classes did you study? What helped prepare you to become the artist that you are today?

Hi, hi! My name is Elegy Wong, I do freelance art stuff and a little graphic design sideline. I live in a quiet town in Northern Samar (wow layo!) and I'm turning 19 this feb! Yay!

I've been drawing stuff since I was 12; I joined a school drawing contest out of curiosity and found out I could draw decent faces, and ever since then, I've been filling my notebooks with doodles and made-up comic strips about my friends and classmates. It made them excited but the teachers and my parents weren't as happy unfortunately, and I have gotten on a lot of trouble because of that. I never really took drawing seriously until just about a year ago when I got my very first commission. I thought, wow, I just sat here, made a drawing, had fun doing so and then got paid! I could get rich with just this (evil laugh). After a week or so, my older brother bought me a pen-tablet and that same day I made my dA account. So its like, I've only been an active artist for like, 10 months -my dA acc says so. :)

I took a couple of non-art-related courses but never got passed the first sems. I dunno, I never really liked listening to people talking; I'm like those types that likes to find out stuff themselves. I am also not very sociable and I find being around people very tiring.

What inspired or convinced you to become an Artist?

The internet. Bwahahaha!But seriously: video games and MMORPGs. For as long as I can remember, my dream had always been to design or direct a game of my own. Tetsuya Nomura, I'd say, is my main reason for being concept art/game design obsessed. Also, Mike Inel. I discovered him just last year with his Which game. I thought, if a Filipino can do this -single handedly- maybe I can too *eye sparkles* haha so yeah, those kinds of stuff convinced me. That's all thanks to the internet though ;)

What is a typical day for you, and who are the people you work with?

My typical day.. hmm... sleeping? Because I'm kinda nocturnal and I do stuff mostly at night :DD
Like, I wake up at around 12pm, watch tv, do chores, go outside a little and then at about 6 I get into my work mode where I sit in front of my pc and draw all night. And then I sleep at 3 :DD

What are some of the things that you have worked on?

You mean like big things that makes people famous? *shrugs* I did some stuff with the local street art scene, mostly just doodled walls. I wish I'd have one big to work on soon though..

How do you go about illustration, what goes through your mind, from start to end?

I never never never draw when there are bright lights on in the room I'm in. It distracts me. I also never get focused on working without music in my ears. I'm also currently training myself not to "alt+tab" to my web browser while drawing. Its hard.

Could you talk about your process in coloring your art (if at all), as well as the types of tools or media that you use?

I use Easy Paint Tool SAI, sketch-to-finish. I have a bunch of coloring process that I kinda made up myself but I always try to stick to less than 5 layers when coloring as much as possible.

What are some of the things that you do to keep yourself creative?

Video games, movies, looking at people's art and stuff.. The usual :DD

What is your most favorite subject to draw, And why?

Hmm, people? With weapons and stuff.. Fantasy... Pretty girls and their boobies, badass boys and their arms and abs... I suck at drawing landscapes, but I think I can improve on that if I un-lazy mode myself.. :)

Who are the top illustrators whose works excite you the most?

WOW. There are just really a LOT of illustrators that excites me. Naming a few, there are Tetsuya Nomura, his works on Kingdom Hearts and TWEWY, Hyung Tae Kim and alot of Korean game-art-artists like REWHY and kkuem and Alien1452 for his coloring techniques - he also did the art on the mmorpg NeoSteam which I kinda got addicted to for a while..

Also, japanese artists like 兎鷺(とろ), Redjuice and Huke, またよし and Rae - Rae's yaoi are just... hnnnngg... even if you're not into that kinds of stuff, you'll go hnnnggg with how she does her works. And also Ishikei -his works are hentai but the way he colors his art is just... exciting (wink).

What are some of the neat things you have learned from other artists that you have worked with or seen?

I dunno where I heard this from but If you unfocused your eye (nearly crossing it) while sketching/coloring, you'd see your work more "as a whole" and see your mistakes and stuff. It works and I kinda cross my eyes alot :3

What are some of your favorite websites that you go to?

deviantart.com, 4chan, pixiv, facebook hehe..

What wisdom could you give us, about being an Artist? Do you have any tips you could give?

Just enjoy what you're doing, I think. And also never try to figure out how others do what they do, try to figure out how you'd do it instead. That way your own style will develop.

If people would like to contact you, how would you like to be contacted?

Hmm.. email? Maybe through Fb or dA 'cause I rarely check my emails now..

Finally, do you have any of your art work for sale (sketchbook, prints, or anything) for fans of your work can know where and when to buy it?

Soon! I'm a part of this group and we're planning to compile an artbook to be released this summer, so watch out for that :DD
I also take irl commissions but I'm really hard to find hehe.. I'd take commish online though, if anyone'd ask me to.

Thanks!

Aheh you're very welcome! This blog is awesome! I'm glad to be part of it :DD







Why the crazy name of "George Estregan" for your deviantArt site?

Bwahahahahahaaaa! xD I really don't know who George Estregan is! Haha!
I bought a copy of Radioactive Sago Project's new album and it's first track was called George Estregan Groove Explosion. That time, I din't know what nickname I should use as an artist online and almost every name I thought about was already taken. Frustrated and sleepy, I flipped out my player, set it on shuffle and decided that the artist name of the tenth track that was gonna play'd be my username. The tenth was Radioactive sago Project but I thought it was long and apparently Radioac was already taken. So I chose the track title instead. So viola, George Estregan. It was a groovy track, so why not? :DD

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Nick Jordan Beja


Tell me a little bit about yourself, about your life? Where did you go to school, and what classes did you study? What helped prepare you to become the artist that you are today?

Hello, my name is Nick Jordan Beja. I come from Cagayan de Oro City but am currently residing in Cebu City because I'm studying Fine Arts Major in

Advertising Arts in The University of San Carlos. Most of my educational background is from Cagayan de Oro City, though.

I doodle alot since elementary grade, especially during boring lectures. It then grew to a hobby... and is still a hobby until now. I'm planning to work professionally in the future though. I also become challenged when I see someone who can draw better than me and I try hard to beat that person... haha. Yep, I'm quite competitive.

What helped me? My friends, because without them i would not be an artist today.


What inspired or convinced you to become an Artist?
I've liked doodling since as far as I can remember. I don't really know how I started drawing but it might have something to do with my mom... She's also a really good artist especially when it comes to fashion-esque drawings. I've also been watching a lot of anime since I was a kid and I really liked the style and tried to mimic them, I usually failed though, but I kept on going on, improving on the way with the help of my friends who encouraged me to draw more and liked my drawings. They fed my ego and yeah, I guess having friends really helps in improving your talent.

What is a typical day for you, and who are the people you work with?

A typical day is a day at college. I'm just there hanging out with my friends and attending my classes. During the summer break though, a typical day for me is to bask all day in front of my laptop surfing the net, watching videos, listening to music, and DRAWING.

I worked with people from the student publication (The Crusader Publication) in Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan de Oro). My job was quite simple though compared to them layout artists and article writers. And recently I've been doing some drafts for our upcoming comic and storyboards for our upcoming short film with my college friends... because advertising course demands teamwork. XD

What are some of the things that you have worked on?

Not much. I've worked with some mini game projects... didn't last long though because I was quite inactive so they booted me out. Haha. I mostly work solo though with commissions. Yeah, RL Commissions is my only source of income and I'm still being supported by my parents. lol... And oh, I've also worked on some cartooning and comic strips for The Crusader Publication.

How do you go about illustration, what goes through your mind, from start to end?

Hmmm... I'm not really sure. Usually when it's my own concept, I try to imagine the completed illustration in my mind and then try to figure out how to actually draw it. It gets frustrating most of the time because I can't seem to get the concept from my head to the paper, but I still manage if I really want the idea to not go to waste. With commissions, the concept is already there and I start sketching the concept and show it to my client. After they are satisfied with the concept I go on to completing the piece, trying to figure out how to go about making it look nice on the way.

Could you talk about your process in coloring your art (if at all), as well as the types of tools or media that you use?

I usually color digitally so yeah, I've been using Paint Tool SAI for 2 years now. I do the base (flat) colors first all in different layers. I then clip layers on top of the flats to do the shading and highlights. I usually use cel-shading when I clip, so I just use full-opacity brush for the solid shading and highlights then low-opacity brush for the gradients.

After I'm done coloring, shading and adding highlights to everything, I clip another layer on top of the completed image and add the "atmosphere" effect, which is basically just low-opacity gradient with purple on the lower side and yellow on the upper side. If I think it still lacks some refining, I will try adding textures and stuff in Photoshop until I'm satisfied with the outcome. :)

What are some of the things that you do to keep yourself creative?

I try to look around to see interesting stuff that I could incorporate with my drawings. I also watch movies and anime, browse nice illustrations and listen to techno and anime music. :)

What is your most favorite subject to draw, And why?

Tsundere Loli characters. Because they are just too cute.

Who are the top illustrators whose works excite you the most?

Hmmm... Noizi Ito, Endling, Redjuice9999, Emperpep... pretty much them. XD

What are some of the neat things you have learned from other artists that you have worked with or seen?

I learned from my classmates from freehand drawing class that drawing penciled portraits is srs bsns... It's nothing like the digital drawing that I've been doing. Maybe I just don't draw them too often that's why I find it quite challenging. I also learned that creativity in drawing can lead to pretty crazy results.

What are some of your favorite websites that you go to?

DeviantArt, facebook, plurk, gaiaonline, youtube, paypal... XD


What wisdom could you give us, about being an Artist? Do you have any tips you could give?

Art is an acquired skill. You don't really have to be naturally talented to master it. You just need dedication, perseverance and a creative mind! I've known people who started late in drawing and are already pretty good now.

If people would like to contact you, how would you like to be contacted?

I'd like to be contacted via deviantart, http://purdoy25.deviantart.com ...or if you want you can add me in facebook (just search for my name) ;)

Finally, do you have any of your art work for sale (sketchbook, prints, or anything) for fans of your work can know where and when to buy it?

None at the moment... hopefully soon I will. Hehe... But I do offer RL Commissions~ just visit my deviantart journal for more info:

http://purdoy25.deviantart.com/journal/20565632/ :D

Thanks!

No problem~ Have a nice day!

...and feel free to choose any of my works from my gallery to feature :D








If you could be stuck in an elevator with one other person, who would that be?

Superman. So he could break both of us out from the elevator... hehe.

Got an Artist?

Do you know a Filipino artist who makes exceptional Japanese manga style illustrations? If so, leave his/her name and any other info about him/her on this post.