Today we changed the focus of our conversation and we go to the world of digital paintings and drawings. Our first guest is a talented French artist called Cyril Rolando, aka AquaSixio. I hope you enjoy our chat.
1. Hello Cyril, how was your start as an illustrator and what was your biggest difficulty at the beginning of your journey?
First of all, I am not an illustrator. Actually, I work as psychologist and I have discovered the digital art in 2003 during my studies. I have continued to draw as hobbyist until 2013, then I decided to become professional but I still work as psychologist.
At the beginning, the main difficulty was my lack of knowledge. I have never studied in an art school, so I learned how to draw looking the techniques of other digital artist. I started on Oekaki boards then I drew on photoshop. DeviantART were my main source to find "dream-maker ", because there are a lot of digital masters.
The digital painter is an outlet for me. My psychologist activity makes me feel really tired and I need to draw to refill the battery!
(Smile)
2 . How is your creative process? Any ritual?
To draw, I need music ! I have discovered a website called " the hype machine " which gives me a lot of energy ! I choose the " popular " playlist, I open photoshop and I start to draw
(Smile)3 . What references do you use in your work?
All source of references! It can be a human pose in a movie or a photo. My main source is google image, even if sometimes I do not find something matching with my idea. Sometimes I take a picture of my hands or my girlfriend body to understand the shadow/light effects.
4 . And how do you work with colors? It's an 'automatic' process or is everything planned?
Automatic and planned at the same time, if it's possible! I mean, there is a part of "unknown" but I still have the planned colors of the picture in my mind before I start to draw.
5 . What would be your second advice (the first would be: practice, practice, practice), for new illustrators who are struggling to become better and professionals?
I am not so happy since I am professional. Making covers and commissions bother me a lot.
I don't know what to advice, it depends of your link with your art. I mean, for me, it is an outlet, so I need to draw something with my feeling, my fears, my emotions... I think it's really important to draw with pleasure. Becoming professional change the way your create, because you draw for someone, it's a job. I think it's hard to dream if drawing is a work.
To improve you, submit on deviant art, with the "ask critique" option. The critiques are really important to go further.
6 . What is the intrinsic message in your paintings?
Everytime. This is the MAIN basic of my creativity. I like when a picture has a lot of possible interpretations, I like the way the watcher can see himself/herself in the picture, like a mirror.
7 . Do you work when you are inspired or you sit down and try to work on something and see what you can achieve?
I work only if I am inspired. That's why I have difficulties to achieve an artwork when the wind of the inspiration if over. I can't sit down and try to work, I feel a big hole growing inside if I process like this!
8 . Who are your favorite visual artists ?
My favorites are on deviant art
(Smile) I follow the work of RHADS and by yuumei, I like their universe. Some of their art pieces are keys to a new world. I like the "otherworldly" universe of Tim Burton and Hayao Miyazaki.9. Do you have some personal rule for practice?
Not really, I just want to "breathe" when I practice. I don't need rules to do that!
(Lick)
10 . Do you have some work that is very special to you or all are beloved children?
My favorite art piece of my work is "save our souls" Save. Our. Souls. by AquaSixio because I consider it as a birth. This is the soul of my psychologist career.
11 . If people could enter in your world, in your paintings like a magic, How would be this world?
Full of water! In all its form. I like the water universe, I like the reflections of the ice, the flow of a waterfall, the peace of the underwater world...
I hope there are not so many mistakes
(Lick) If it is the case, I am sorry!Have a nice day.
Cyril.
www.facebook.com/pages/Aquasix…
Thank you very much Cyril, was a great pleasure and honor talk to you, wish you all the best for you
