Photoshop Creative Magazine

A few weeks ago, when I was still in the midst of moving to San Francisco, I was contacted by Photoshop Creative Magazine to do an interview. The goal of the discussion was to go over my process of using Photoshop, as well as providing basic tips and tricks for anyone interested in using the program. Obviously I don't create extremely intense/advanced concept art in the program, but I've been questioned numerous times on my process.
A shot of the current issue of Photoshop Creative with my interview inside:

The actual interview is also available on podcast here: http://photoshopcreative.co.uk/podcasts.php

I'll be honest, it took place at roughly 7 or 8 in the morning (as Simon Skellon, my interviewer, was located in the UK). I apologize if I sound completely incoherent while talking. To paint a picture: I had been sleeping on an air mattress in the middle of an apartment with absolutely no furniture in it. The echo was so terrible, I sat on the floor of my bathroom as it was the only place that I was able to be heard. Pretty crazy, no?

Springtime

It's Spring. Time for the token-seasonal-illustration for this... seasonal-time of flora 'n fauna and all that.


Enjoy!

FIGHT!

I'll be honest. I secretly love the idea of office-brawls. There's something extremely exciting about seeing everyday people, in business attire, just taking out their aggression on one another, down 'n dirty. It's just so much fun.

This image was actually inspired by a pretty harsh memory of mine. Way, way back in the day (er...of 2007), I once had an Art Director who gave me the 'You'll Never Make It, Kid' speech when I said I was thinking of leaving my job to pursue my career/dreams in the Gaming industry, which would be located in NYC.

Her actual words were, "Why would you do that? You'll never make it. NYC's so expensive, you'll just struggle." I'm not sure why anyone would tell a young, barely-out-of-college person these words. She might have been projecting her own life onto mine most days. Needless to say, that speech fueled me to prove her wrong, and drove me to work as hard as possible. I quit days later, interned, learned Flash Animation from a ridiculously awesome Lead Artist, and created artwork for games. I then moved to San Francisco to further this dream, creating artwork for Facebook applications. In a twisted way, I suppose I should thank her?

....At the time, I secretly wanted to do what's pictured in that illustration to my old Art Director. Just about everyday. We didn't have cubicles, and I don't think she ever wore business attire. But hey, who hasn't pictured doing something like that?

Hotel des Arts

If anyone is in the San Francisco area for the GDC, you can view my illustration of the Legend of Zelda's Link (We're Gonna Need a Bigger Rucksack), framed and mounted on the wall of their Into the Pixel show (all thanks goes to Gallery 1988!). I've been getting emails about today from people, and finally tracked down a quick snapshot of it via Gamer Syndrome (as well as Joystiq) here.

New illustrations are in progress(too many sketches to complete this week..)

I leave you with a sketch of the Violinist. Does he really think he'll soothe the savage beast with that??