Tell us about you.
My main occupation is advisor/consultant in agricultural and tranportation machines design and I live in Campinas, São Paulo state, Brasil.

I am an Agricultural Engineer, graduated by University Of Campinas (UNICAMP). I really love music, mainly classical, operas, blues, jazz (ECM label), progressive and post rock genres… and computer graphics (CG), my main hobby, but unfortunately I have no much time to dedicate to it. (Sorry my poor English dear readers!).

When was the first time you fell in love with the digital art world? And why?
I fell in love with CG many times ago, I can´t remember… An old friend gave to me, as a birthday gift, a cool 3D sofware called Bryce 4. I always loved graphic arts but I never had talent to draw or painting… With Bryce 4, I noticed that I was capable to put my ideas on screen…

Where are you located now? Do you wish to be somewhere else at this moment, instead?
I am located in Campinas/SP/Brasil. I am planning to travel to Italy, Spain and Portugal… I have a sister that lives in Milano/Italy and I have a great desire to visit her…

What makes your works stand-out or different from other digital artist?
I can’t define what makes my artwork different… many peoples comment that like the way I make use of colors and lighting in my images. They say that my images seem like paintings! : )

Have you heard/visited www.somethingwelike.com before? Do you have any inputs to make it better?
I have not heard it before this interview request… I think SWL has a beautiful graphic layout and your attempt to interview unknown persons, like me, is very cool and deserves applauses. I am knowing a lot of talented Artists here… My desire is that SWL continues with this beautiful and useful work.

How does working professionally differ from being an amateur in your opinion?
I never work with CG in professional way cause I am just an hobbyist/amateur… but I think that as an amateur you are free to work as you want… you know, without dead lines and boring compromises.

If you could meet with any artist (one) past or present, whom would it be?
Millor Fernandes and Henfil, Brasilian artists… and Albert Bierstadt, American painter.

Who (or what) is your biggest influence?
I can’t mention as influence in strict term, but I love the Hudson River School style, and painters like Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Cole, John Costable and many others… I really love the way that these painters makes use of lighting and colors.

What do you wish for this new year?
I had great health problems two years ago… I am very well now and I just wish HEALTH… so, the other things are not important to me, just health : )

Tell us several good online resources for digital artist you recommend visiting?
I really love DeviantArt (http://www.deviantart.com/) because you can find talented artists, great contests, beautiful and inspiring artworks, useful resources and make friendships… and MattePaintig.org.

Photomanipulation lovers, like me, must to visit sxc.hu, plenty of cool and free stocks!

Do you have a style that you relate to the most?
As I said before, I really love the Hudson River School… My preferences are classic styles, like Renascence… In fact I am a lighting and color lover.

Can you offer any advice on how to build-up a portfolio / ‘getting your foot in the door’ for our readers wishing to start a career in this line of digital artist ?
I don’t know… I think that it is important you have a personal style… p.ex, you look at a piece of artwork and say: – this is Bierstadt, Van Gogh, Vermeer, MoodyBlue(I am not modest here, sorry).

Name 3 of your favorite (art) books/ magazines.
3Dcreative, 2Dartist and Imagine FX are my favorite magazines. Ballistic publishings (like Exposé serie) are my favorite books.

Do you have anyone/company you would like to collaborate/work together?
Nowadays, I have no plans or ambition to work professionally in CG… But, surely, I will consider an invite, if it happens!

What are the digital artist equipment(s) do you currently own?
I have an Intel Core i7 CPU, Windows 7 32 bit system, NVIDIA GeForce GT 240 graphic card and Adobe Photoshop CS5. No Wacom tablet, just mouse, unfortunately : (

Name 3 softwares that you use the most, and tell us the function of each them.
As a photomanipulator, the main software I use is Photoshop CS5… and you know, miracles can realized with Photoshop. I have used Terragen 0.9, Mojoworld 3, Bryce 7 and Vue 8 to render 3D landscapes.

If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
Nowadays, my main portfolio is located @ http://moodyblue.deviantart.com/. I have a blog (in construction) @ http://moodybluedigitalart.blogspot.com.br/

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Your Full Name
Meagan Marie

Tell us about you.
My name is Meagan Marie. In some circles I’m known for being a cosplayer, and in others for being Crystal Dynamics’ Community and Communications Manager, working on the new Tomb Raider title. I’d like to think I’m a pretty laid back lady who’s addicted to games, comics, shoes, cats, and DeviantArt. That about covers it.

Where are you located?
Redwood City, California

What started you on the cosplay path?
I was introduced to cosplay through a short stint in commercial modeling back in college. I never intended to pursue modeling as a career. Rather, I participated in hair shows and handbag shoots for some spare cash to help with tuition expenses. Eventually, I started to indulge in creative projects with no monetary stake for anyone involved. Essentially, we’d all collaborate as a creative outlet.

I enjoyed taking on the role of creative director, and would work with photographers and makeup artists on increasingly thematic and fantastical shoots. At some point I pitched the idea of dressing up in costume. I secretly longed to be like Wonder Woman or Lara Croft, and so it was a natural next step. The costume attempts were rather sad in hindsight, but helped introduced me to the world of “cosplay.” After attending some small local conventions, I discovered the costuming community and I was hooked. I started dressing up for every convention I could, and haven’t stopped since.

When not cosplaying, what do you do?
Working, mostly! My day job keeps me pretty busy. When I’m not at my desk, I like to play games and read comics. I also really enjoy customizing vinyl toys, and hope to find more time to do it in the future.

What kind of cosplayer do you consider yourself?
I actually make a point to never try to label myself in regards to my costume work, as I don’t really subscribe to that sort of thinking. If we’re looking at source material, though, I most often pull from video games and comics. That being said, after moving out to Northern California, I’ve been more fully immersed in the world of anime and manga. I’m looking to expand into that territory much more significantly in upcoming projects.

Do you have a current cosplay favorite?
I think so! I’d say the costume I’m most proud of is my Anya Stroud getup from Gears of War 3. It was by far the most complex build I’ve worked on to date, and I made a point do create everything on my own. I had a friend teach me corset making and other skills for this specific project. It took over a year from conceptualization to completion, so you can understand how big of a payoff it was to wear it for the first time.

If you have a long range goals in your life. What is it?
That’s a lofty question. To be happy and to be successful by the standards I’ve set for myself. Those are my overarching goals that I try to apply to everything I do.

Do you have any advice for someone who wants to get into the cosplay scene?
Yes! I have a few tips I share with new cosplayers regularly:
-  Start with something reasonable. Don’t try to build a working mech your first go. Pick a costume that accentuates something you’ll excel at, and then move up in difficulty from there. If you discourage yourself early on, it’s hard to find motivation to finish a costume, so being realistic in size and scope is important.

-  Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Join forums and costume communities and search out helpful tutorials! Don’t build a costume in a bubble. Trust me, it’s not worth it!

-  Try a cosplay group! Everyone has a vested interest in the success of the group, and therefore will help & teach each other new skills. It’s a great learning opportunity.

-  Don’t let anyone stop you from cosplaying what you want to, and don’t let Internet negativity get you down. We all get it, even those that are considered “pros.” Keep doing what makes you happy, for as long as it does so.

There is a lot of debate if Western/Asians should cosplay. Your thoughts?
I think it’s all silly, to be honest. Cosplay should be fulfilling to yourself most of all. If you want to cosplay as a character of a different race or gender, or change the original design to your liking, nothing should stop you. You’re the one to invest the time, money, and passion into the project. Again, if it makes you happy, keep on keeping on.

How far into the character are you willing to go while in cosplay? At the end of the day, are you “YOU” or are you your “CHARACTER”?
To be totally honest, I don’t act the part of a character while in costume. It’s never appealed to me personally, but I can understand the draw of cackling like The Joker while dressed in his flamboyant attire. I can imagine it’s a fun way to step outside of your skin for a bit.

Do you have any experience of taking a cosplay event in a foreign country?
I do! I was invited to the official Gears of War 3 launch in Paris by Microsoft. I can’t even describe my excitement when I read the invitation. After a year of working on the costume, it was wonderful to feel like my work was recognized on a professional level. At that point, I’d never attended a game launch either, so it was doubly exciting.

Name 3 of your favorite (art/anime) books/ magazines.
Hmm. How about my three favorite comics? I’d say Preacher, Fables, The Walking Dead, and Sandman top my list. All are stellar stories with equally impressive art.

What is your life motto?
My life motto is never to become complacent. The idea of settling, of becoming comfortable, of giving up on becoming more, terrifies me. I never want to stop learning and growing and striving to be better. I try to live by that on a day-to-day basis.

If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
My website and full portfolio of work can be found here: www.meagan-marie.com And my daily blog can be found here: http://meagan-marie.tumblr.com/

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Your Full Name
Vana Katancic

Tell us about you.
I’m a 18 year old student finishing high school and preparing myself for academy of arts in capital of Croatia, Zagreb.

I was born in a small town in Croatia, small country in Europe. Ever since I was a little girl I was interested in art but photography was my biggest love. I’m a very stubborn and ambitious girl in hope to become a professional photographer.

When was the first time you fell in love with photography? And why?
I don’t really know how my love for photography started I just remember that one day I had camera in my hands and I knew I would never let it go. I guess I love photography so much because I want to share my vision of the world, people and emotions. It really amazing how can you make reality seem so different with your camera

Where are you located now? Do you wish to be somewhere else at this moment, instead?
Currently I’m located in my hometown in northern part of Croatia but I’m hoping to continue my further education in academy of arts in our capital city, Zagreb

What makes your works stand-out or different from other photographers?
I guess that is for viewers to decide but I think that I’m showing my version of the world trough my photos. Most of my work ,especially the self-portraits, are very personal and I’m trying to express something I could never express without my camera. It’s always interesting to hear the viewers impression of my work and to see if they realized what I was trying to express.

Have you heard/visited www.somethingwelike.com before? Do you have any inputs to make it better?
First time I heard for somethingwelike.com was when I got the note suggesting me to this interview but I like the site and I think it’s great for featuring young and not so well-known artists

How does working professionally differ from being an amateur in your opinion?
Because of my young age I had some problems finding professional models for my photos.I think that it’s much easier to organize shootings when you have a diploma and when you are older because people trust you more.

If you could meet w/ any artist (one) past or present, whom would it be?
If I have to choose from the past I would probably go for Sam Haskins I love his work and how he embodied feminine beauty and elegance in his photos.But I can’t go on without motioning one of my favorite photographers Tim Walker I think that his every photo is a fairytale story portrayed with a photo.

Who (or what) is your biggest influence?
Biggest influence on me are people surrounding me and my wish to show the people my version/vision of the world.

What do you wish for this new year?
I wish that my entrance exam for academy of arts will go well and that I will continue my education there.

Tell us several good online-resources for photographers you recommend visiting?
I would recommend you 500px.com or deviantart.com

Do you have a style that you relate to the most?
I can’t really name the style of my photos but I’m mostly focused on portraits and fashion photography.

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Can you offer any advice on how to build-up a portfolio / ‘getting your foot in the door’ for our readers wishing to start a career in this line of photography?
The best thing you can do is to ask other (preferably more experienced) people for opinions about your work. The key is not to think you are the best and that you know it all, you should work on improving your art every day. Try to participate in as many online sites/contest/forums as you can, it’s a good way to show your work

Name 3 of your favorite (art/photography) books/ magazines.
I don’t really read photography magazines but I love books featuring work of my favorite photographers like Tim Walker, Sam Haskins , Steven Meisel,..

Do you have anyone/company you would like to collaborate/work together?
I have a huge list of inspirational people I would like to work with and I hope one day I will have an opportunity to do so.

What are the photography equipment(s) do you currently own?
I had Canon 1000d for a long time but few months ago I bought Canon 5D mk II and I’m using canon 50 mm f1.4 lens.

Name 3 softwares (or tools) that you use the most, and tell us the function of each of them.
When working on my photos I use Adobe Photoshop CS5. It’s an amazing program I use for retouching and editing my photos. It has many options and you can edit the frame ,change the tones retouch the skin..

If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
syda-ginger.deviantart.com
500px.com/vanakatancic

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Your Full Name
Patricia Navarro Guerra, but you can call me Met.

Tell us about you.
I was born and grew up in Venezuela, I’m 21 years old, and by now a hobbyist digital illustrator.

When was the first time you fell in love with the digital art world? And why?
Around 14, I started with GIMP. A few years after I tried with Adobe softwares (Flash and Photoshop). Anyway, since my childhood, I remember I’ve enjoyed so much having a piece of paper and colored pencils in my hands.

Where are you located now? Do you wish to be somewhere else at this moment, instead?
I moved to Caracas earlier this year to settle down permanently. I was born and raised here in this city and I really don’t want to be anywhere else by the coming years.

What makes your works stand-out or different from other digital artist?
I’m never satisfied with my artwork, so I’m always changing and evolving to reach my ideal standards.

Have you heard/visited www.somethingwelike.com before? Do you have any inputs to make it better?
Actually, no, never knew about it before, but it’s pretty awesome that you come along searching random artists and give us the opportunity to show up with your articles.

How does working professionally differ from being an amateur in your opinion?
Pros spend time using their artistic skills to turn then into actul work. On the other hand, amaturs could be professionals too, but it’s a personal decision to be it or not.

If you could meet w/ any artist (one) past or present, whom would it be?
Almost every artist that existied in the twentieth century. But I’d love to have a tea with Quino.

Who (or what) is your biggest influence?
Oh man, Art Nouveau, totally!

What do you wish for this new year?
Opportunities! All that can be.

Tell us several good online resources for digital artist you recommend visiting?
Tumblr and DeviantArt, for sure.

Do you have a style that you relate to the most?
I would say, child’s storybook style but most of my illustrations have random styles. Even these days I’m still looking for my favorite style.

Can you offer any advice on how to build-up a portfolio / ‘getting your foot in the door’ for our readers wishing to start a career in this line of digital artist ?
To get your foot in the door, is good to start not only but several portfolio in different art community like DeviantArt, Behance, Flickr, social network like Facebook, Tumblr and blog. If you’ve plenty variety of art styles you should make one portfolio per style for the clients if they’re searching for something in particular

Name 3 of your favorite (art) books/ magazines.
Persépolis Comic Artbook
Anyone of the Hayao Miyazaki’s Artbooks
Hellboy Collection of Micke Mignola

Do you have anyone/company you would like to collaborate/work together?
By now, I’m dreaming for illustrate in Ékare, a child’s storybook editorial. Or maybe with Zorro Rojo, a graphic novel publisher in Spain, but that would be just a luxury for me.

What are the digital artist equipment(s) do you currently own?
I’d like to get into any other traditional tools, but by now I’ll have to conform with a Graphire3 Wacom. Anyhow, this was a nice gift from someone I really appreciate, so I’m ok with it.

Name 3 softwares that you use the most, and tell us the function of each them.
Just Photoshop CS5 and Gimp 2.6.

If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
http://metmarfil.daportfolio.com/

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Tell us about you.
I recently graduated with a BFA  in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. At FIT I learned advanced sewing, draping and pattern making techniques that improved my sewing skills.

Now I work full time as a Women’s fashion stylist at the Japanese clothing store Uniqlo in New York city. We recently opened our Global Flagship store on 5th ave in New york and I work on the Women’s clothing displays for the windows and store floor. I love it! I also do styling for fashion photoshoots on the side when I have extra time.

2012 is my Tenth year cosplay anniversary so I have a lot of special costumes and photo shoots planned

Where are you located?
Brooklyn New York but I am originally from Miami, FL

What started you on the cosplay path?  
My first convention was Otakon in Baltimore, Maryland in 2001. I had no idea what ‘cosplay’ was at the time- I just saw a lot of people dressed up. I thought; “I want to dress up next time too!” I had never sewn before so my first costumes were terrible! But I loved it, so with every new costume I tried to improve.

When not cosplaying, what do you do?
I love working in my sketch book and shooting fashion outfits for my blog. I love drinking tea, collecting nail polish, and cooking new recipes.

What kind of cosplayer do you consider yourself?
That’s a tough question- my relationship with cosplay has changed drastically over the years. But over all I’d have to say I cosplay as a form of artistic expression. I love creating. I love fabric, beads, buttons, lace, trim and wig styling. All of that can come together through the creation of a costume. I also only cosplay characters I have a connection with. I often choose characters I identify with and cosplay them to express how I feel at the time. I get a lot of fullfulment working really hard to make a costume to the best of my ability. I also usually plan how and where to shoot it. If the photos turn out well it’s the best feeling!

Do you have a current cosplay favorite?
My Mitsuki from Full moon wo sagashite costume (‘wedding dress’ version) from an art book image

If you have a long range goals in your life. What is it?
My dream is to style Fashion editorials for Vouge or other major Fashion magazines

Do you have a cosplay story — happy story, horror story, uplifting, artistic story — you can share with our readers?  
This story happened recently- it was just before I was about to attend a Major convention. I ordered 3 wigs online for the costumes I was bringing to the con. I knew ordering 2 weeks before the con was cutting it close but the wig seller shipped priority (3 days) so I knew they would come in the nick of time- or so I thought. 2 days before the convention my wigs still hadn’t come so I tracked them online. Turns out I messed up the address and they were already being sent back to the seller!!! I was devastated. Two of my costumes were minor cosplays that I didn’t mind taking to another con but my Major cosplay was already finished AND I had ordered fresh flowers to be delivered to the hotel to shoot with. I was really looking forward to wearing the costume and decided even if I didn’t have the right wig I would still figure something out to make it happen!

So the day before the con I rushed to the convenience store and picked up alcohol, curlers, hair clips and black sharpies. I used the alcohol to un-dye a previously dyed wig back to white. I used the black sharpies to make a fresh batch of dye and re-dyed the wig grey, and curled it and set it overnight. I crossed my fingers it would turn out alright- And it did ! Although the style wasn’t perfect I was still able to wear the costumes and get some amazing photos! When the wigs didn’t come in time I wanted to give up but I’m glad I figured out a way to make it work, it was worth it!

So don’t ever give up If there’s a will there’s a way!

Do you have any advice for someone who wants to get into the cosplay scene?
Pick a character you really love! And if you haven’t ever sewn then pick an outfit that’s not too challenging. Be patient, when making a costume a lot can go wrong-so give yourself time to experiment with materials. I often have to do something 2 or 3 times to get it perfect so don’t get discouraged! Picture yourself at the convention having a great time in costume, making friends with people who love the same anime and manga!

There is a lot of debate if Western/Asians should cosplay. Your thoughts?
I think anyone can cosplay ! It’s all about enjoying yourself- who ever you are, it doesn’t matter!

Could you tell us a little about how you made the costume?
I have a bust form, so I usually drape all my costumes. When I’m done draping I make a pattern and check if it fits me. I often have to alter the fit to make it perfect. I sew and then line my costumes, or seam finish them. I love wig styling and dye and style all my wigs.

How far into the character are you willing to go while in cosplay? At the end of the day, are you “YOU” or are you your “CHARACTER”?
When I cosplay I am still “me”. I wouldn’t introduce myself as the character I was cosplaying if you stopped me at a convention….But when in costume I try to express the feelings the character would have. I pose “in character” and choose photo shoot locations/ lighting/ props that go with the character.

Do you have any experience of taking a cosplay event in a foreign country?
I have never traveled abroad for cosplay but I hope too one day!

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It is hard to exhibit the thoughtfulness and the spirit of a character, please tell me your secrets of success.
Before cosplaying a character, right before the convention I read or watch the series the character I’m cosplaying is from. It reminds me why I like the character and gives me ideas on how to pose in character and where to do photo shoots that compliment the character.

Name 3 of your favorite (art/anime) books/ magazines.
Just three, that’s hard! I would have to say anything by Arina Tanemura (the creator of Full Moon, my favorite manga) Anything clamp ( I love Sakura Card Captor and Magic Knight Rayearth) and The Harry Potter book series!

What is your life motto?
“Go hard or go home” I don’t like to half ass anything, If your not doing your best -whats the point?

If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
My Cosplay Tumblr; http://dandelionswish.tumblr.com/
My Cosplay FaceBook; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dandelionswishs-Cosplay/328622393849896?ref=tn_tnmn
MY American Cosplay Paradise page; http://www.acparadise.com/loves/dandelionswish
My Deviant Art; http://dandelionswish.deviantart.com/

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Tell us about you. 
I am an 18 year old, male, athletic, ex-Yugoslavian individual. Born in the war torn Sarajevo of 1993, I have moved to Germany in 1996. Am a photographer and basketball player out of passion.

When was the first time you fell in love with photography? And why?
I remember 2006, I was exploring Photoshop CS2, which was about the time I started expressing myself artistically. Design was the first step on my stairwell. The problem was, I got bored after a while. About three years and several small design jobs later, I picked up a compact camera and started taking photographs, post-processing and sharing them. That is how I found out about deviantART, which I have pretty much left by now. Self-taught since day one.

Where are you located now? Do you wish to be somewhere else at this moment, instead?
I am living in Germany, for the past 13 years already. This question is a hard one to answer. I have always been adventurous and loved visiting different places, getting to know new people. I met up with a lot of people from different countries this way, so it is not easy to say where I would want to be right now. But yeah, I can name a few:

Australia: Since the war in Yugoslavia has broken out, a big part of my family has passed or moved away, so I barely meet some of the loved ones I still have got. My aunt, uncle, a female and a male cousin live in Australia. I have never had the chance to meet up with them, but I would love to get to know them. If I had the opportunity, I would be sure not to pass up on it!

Czech Republic: A beautiful country, not only because it offers Prague, a city, a wonderland for photographers, but also because they have got the prettiest girls in Europe Definitely worth a visit.

United States of America: One reason.. meeting up with fellow photographers! I would have a bunch of dudes and dudettes to say hello to. J

What makes your works stand-out or different from other photographers?
That is a question you would have to ask my followers and friends. But from the feedback that I receive, I would suggest that my work has a certain amount of identity that allows others that know me to recognize pictures and connect them to my persona, even if the picture has nothing that could lead to me, except its style.

Have you heard/visited www.somethingwelike.com before? Do you have any inputs to make it better?
No. The first time I visited was when I got asked for an interview. Input? Well, I love minimalism. The site quite good already, but you should definitely change the header, remove the gray copy of it and make the pattern/texture of the background more subtle. Another good thing is that photographs and other pieces of art that are included in interviews are click-able, but please darken the background even more after the image pops up! J

How does working professionally differ from being an amateur in your opinion?
You cannot always be your own boss, especially as a photographer. Admitting that you will not be the artist that you want to be at all times, is a huge step, but you will have to accept the fact that working as a photographer will feature you as a working-tool for other companies or whoever pays you for your work. Expressing yourself, being the artist you want to be, is fine, but you will have to leave that boundary behind as soon as you turn pro, just because you like what you have produced, does not mean that your client will enjoy it the same way. Learning to deal with such things is a shaping experience, especially because it will make you better if you master it.

If you could meet w/ any artist (one) past or present, whom would it be?
I would love to meet up with automotive photographer Webb Bland and have a chit-chat.

Who (or what) is your biggest influence?
I will have to pass up on this one.. I do not have anything that really influences me in a major way, at least not when it comes to art.
But I do have someone I look up to when it comes to Basketball: Derrick Rose.

What do you wish for this new year?
Psssh! Secret!

Tell us several good online-resources for photographers you recommend visiting?
http://www.behance.net – the gallery and community for professionals. Very inspirational! Just do not get intimidated by how good others are, try to look up to them and get better by doing so.

http://www.facebook.com/DeniDedicPhotography – self explanatory .. of course!

Do you have a style that you relate to the most?
Tough question, I try to relate to myself, do my kind of thing, put a little bit of myself in everything I do.

Can you offer any advice on how to build-up a portfolio / ‘getting your foot in the door’ for our readers wishing to start a career in this line of photography?
One of the most important things is….being wise when it comes to deciding what is good enough for a portfolio! I have seen a lot of overfilled portfolios. Some people, or better to say, a majority just does not know how to decide between shots, so they rather fill their portfolio with too many pictures. Your whole portfolio is just as good as your worst picture! Choose wisely and remember, less is more, especially if quality goes over quantity. A big help is just to ask people for their opinions, honesty will guide you through.

Name 3 of your favorite (art/photography) books/ magazines.
I prefer going to exhibitions.

Do you have anyone/company you would like to collaborate/work together?
Would love to shoot something basketball related with Adidas.

What are the photography equipment(s) do you currently own?
Cameras: – Sony a900 & a700
Lenses: – Carl Zeiss 16-35mm f2.8
- Sony G 70-200mm f2.8
- Sony 50mm f1.4
- Tamron 90mm f2.8
Flash: – Sony HVL-58

Name 3 softwares (or tools) that you use the most, and tell us the function of each of them.
Photoshop. Using it since Creative Suite 2, worked with their third, fourth and now fifth release, expecting the sixth one. J What I use it for: mainly post-processing of photographs. I do not like overdoing it, I prefer keeping it realistic.

You do not need more if you know what you are doing.

If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
http://www.behance.net/DeniDedic
http://www.facebook.com/DeniDedicPhotography
http://denitorious.deviantart.com/

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[.]

Tell us about you.
Well I was born in Cleveland Ohio and was raised in Sarasota Florida. I love the outdoors and travel. I constantly question things and try to improve apon them if possible.

When was the first time you fell in love with digital-art? And why?
Not sure when it was but I do know my love for digital art comes from movie special effects. The ability to create something that isn’t real seem real.

Where are you located now? Do you wish to be somewhere else at this moment, instead?
I’m still in Sarasota and I love it here, so I don’t think I’d like to be any place else.

What makes your works stand-out or different from other digital-artists?
Realism and the ability to look at all the angles and options.

Have you heard/visited www.somethingwelike.com before? Do you have any inputs to make it better?
I checked out the site and was impressed….keep up the great work my friend.

How does working professionally differ from being an amateur in your opinion?
Money and the ability to sell yourself.

If you could meet w/ any artist (one) past or present, whom would it be?
Jackson pollack, he tried to do what others were doing and wasn’t happy with it so he did something no one was doing. Most importantly he knew he was talented and went from there.

Who (or what) is your biggest influence?
The who was my mother…..not in art but life itself, she never gave-up on me. The what would be movies…..they create fantasy.

What do you wish for this new year?
A new president.

Tell us several good online-resources for digital-artists you recommend visiting?
Deviant art has a lot to offer….not all good, especially the social scene there, ignore that part. But the artists there are superb and the stock gallery seems endless. Stay away from tutorial sites…your work will look just like everyone else’s work.

Do you have a style that you relate to the most?
Realism is one. Concepts is the other……both have a purpose to me. Realism you just look and enjoy, Concepts make you think. But both my styles vastly differ.

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Can you offer any advice on how to build-up a portfolio / ‘getting your foot in the door’ for our readers wishing to start a career in this line of digital-arts?
Do not be afraid of rejection. Many great artists were rejected many times before being “accepted”

Name 3 of your favorite art books/ magazines.
I try to stay away from them because I want no chances that they would influence my art.

Do you have anyone/company you would like to collaborate/work together?
Apple. My 1st computer was an Apple 2e and I’ve used nothing but since. The culture of the company goes against the grain but it works for them. Their products are easy to use and look great. Thou I’ve never owned an iPod and have no plans to.

What are the computer equipment(s) do you currently own?
I’m on my 3rd imac and love it. Great for digital art and also gaming.

Name 3 softwares (or tools) that you use the most, and tell us the function of each of them.
Photoshop, Photoshop and Photoshop. The possibilities are endless with it. I’ve used it for over ten years and still am finding new things with it almost overtime I use it. Also a good camera is important.

If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
http://csnyder.deviantart.com/

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Tell us about you.
I was born in Canada and moved to England at the age of 8, stayed there for 4 years, and came back to the exact same house I grew up in. I love music, photography, horses, Kraft Dinner, British accents (a little too much), and sleeping.

When was the first time you fell in love with photography? And why?
I started being interested in photography when I started using my father’s Canon SX10 IS, and people started associating me with it as well, because I was always carrying it around and posting stuff on Facebook. At some point during my last year of high school, one of my teachers asked if I could take a group picture, and that’s when I realized it was getting a little more serious.

I bought my first DSLR because I was inspired by a really amazing photographer on Deviant Art called Gordon McBryde, and actually I might be meeting him in a few weeks so I’m pretty excited for that. www.p0rg.deviantart.com for his awesome work. Other young photographers who have inspired me as well: Lissy Elle and Rockie Nolan

Where are you located now? Do you wish to be somewhere else at this moment, instead?
I’m currently living in a suburb of Montréal. I’d love to live somewhere in Europe, or in another part of Canada. I know i’m probably lazy, but I can’t be bothered to even try taking pictures around where I live because it’s quite ugly. Also I can’t drive, so i’m stuck taking my bike or public transportation to get anywhere, and the good places are often quite out of the way.

What makes your works stand-out or different from other photographers?
I think it’s different because everyone’s work is different. I almost want to say I haven’t quite figured out what my style is yet, but people tell me I do have a style. I’m becoming more and more comfortable with editing, but I still feel like I’m not achieving the results I have in mind, and that’s really what I’m trying to do through practice.

I don’t think anyone is ever really formally taught how to use Photoshop (or young photographers anyway), and so everyone edits the way they figured out how to edit….and that’s where I’m at right now.

Have you heard/visited www.somethingwelike.com before? Do you have any inputs to make it better?
I had never heard of or visited SWL before, but I will definitely be checking it out.

How does working professionally differ from being an amateur in your opinion?
Well….Working professionally is….you’re making a living from what you do, and so I guess it’s much more intense and there’s a lot more pressure.

If you could meet w/ any artist (one) past or present, whom would it be?
I’d meet Lissy Elle and I’d ask her if I could assist to an entire shoot, from beginning to end, from pressing the shutter until the final product.

Who (or what) is your biggest influence?
I think pretty much all the artists I’ve mentioned above. I’m certain there are more out there that I’m not aware of, simply because I often get discouraged when I look at really amazing work.

What do you wish for this new year?
I wish to live up to the new equipment I buy, like….be able to use it to its full potential.

Tell us several good online-resources for photographers you recommend visiting?
Well I don’t know of that many, but when I’m looking to buy new stuff I look at Ken Rockwell’s reviews, and…One of my friends sent me this link and I really liked it so I’m going to share it: http://gizmodo.com/5904107/100-tips-from-a-professional-photographer. Basically just google whatever you need, I suppose.

Do you have a style that you relate to the most?
I guess…not a lot of photo manipulation, just….sharp and natural looking photos? I have no idea what my style is, to be honest.

Can you offer any advice on how to build-up a portfolio / ‘getting your foot in the door’ for our readers wishing to start a career in this line of photography?
Do a 365. Just do it.
Get as many people in it as possible, tag them on Facebook, organize shoots with friends, make a Facebook page, share all the pictures you take….Just never stop taking pictures. And get some kind of editing software, because that’s pretty much what it’s about nowadays.

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Name 3 of your favorite (art/photography) books/ magazines.
I have no idea. I’ve flipped through a few in Chapters but…I don’t own any. I just surf the web and find pretty things.

Do you have anyone/company you would like to collaborate/work together?
Anybody who is better than me, so I can learn from them.

What are the photography equipment(s) do you currently own?
I have the Nikon D200, the Nikon D700, a 50mm f/1.8, a 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5… I have a really old Polaroid as well as a couple of 35mm, but I don’t ever use them. I definitely will eventually when I can afford film.

Name 3 softwares (or tools) that you use the most, and tell us the function of each of them.
I only use one, I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing, and I really don’t know what other photographers do or what they use, I’m pretty clueless. I just use Photoshop CS5.

If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
I pretty much spam the internet with all my stuff all over the place all the time. www.flickr.com/photos/fr22, www.500px.com/feliciteroy, www.3dsquare.deviantart.com Felicite Roy Photographs on Facebook.

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Your Full Name
Matthew Walkden.

Tell us about you.
I’m a 32 year old British artist obsessed with geek / pop culture and music. I always wanted to make a living from art but never had much focus.

In my late 20s I panicked and went to art college which gave me the skills I needed to continue pushing forward on my own. Currently I do freelance work producing pixel art for video games but I’d like to break into illustration and concept art work.

When was the first time you fell in love with the digital art world? And why?
Strictly speaking it would have started when I was a little kid entranced by the graphics in 80s arcade games. More recently I stumbled across Deviant Art in my mid 20s and was amazed at the level of detail and vibrancy the best digital artists were able to bring to their work. Although I’d always day dreamed about pursuing a career in art up till then I had only imagined working traditionally.

Where are you located now? Do you wish to be somewhere else at this moment, instead?
I live in Yorkshire in the north of England which is good for both sketching and local ale. I’ve not got a burning desire to live somewhere else right now but who knows what will happen in future. There’s lots of places I’d love to visit or travel through – North America and Japan first of all.

What makes your works stand-out or different from other digital artist?
I have a huge tangle of geek and fine art influences that seem to be unique to me.

Have you heard/visited www.somethingwelike.com before? Do you have any inputs to make it better?
Not until I was contacted to do this interview but I like the format and the range of artists featured. I’d like to spend a spare afternoon some time wading through past interviews.

How does working professionally differ from being an amateur in your opinion?
Getting paid would be the most obvious thing! Making peace with working on something that might not be to your tastes, being able to accept criticism and being able to work towards someone else creative vision are all a big part of it.

If you could meet w/ any artist (one) past or present, whom would it be?
Jaime Hernandez of Love and Rockets fame, my favorite comic book artist. Every aspect of his work amazes me – his ultra clean lines, his talent for expressions and body language in his character drawing, the way he brings so many different influences into his stories but keeps everything coherent.

Who (or what) is your biggest influence?
I couldn’t choose any one thing but every time I see a piece of art that takes my breath away there’s a little voice in the back of my head saying “I want to be able to do that”, so it’d have to be that little voice.

What do you wish for this new year?
To make as much progress with my art as I have over the last year.

Tell us several good online resources for digital artist you recommend visiting?
Good online communities and forums will steer your way to anything you could possibly need, CG Hub (cghub.com) and ConceptArt.org are two of the best. Pixel Joint (pixeljoint.com) is one of the best sites out there for pixel art and for all it’s problems I’ve always liked browsing Deviant Art, it’s a great place to go trawling for inspiration.

Do you have a style that you relate to the most?
I like classic American illustration: pulp paperback covers and magazine art, movie posters, golden age comic books, pin-up art, tattoo designs, kustom art etc. There are lots of contemporary digital and traditional artists who have these things tied into their artistic DNA and it always makes me happy to see that style re-visited and re-interpreted.

Can you offer any advice on how to build-up a portfolio / ‘getting your foot in the door’ for our readers wishing to start a career in this line of digital artist ?
I still feel like I’m at the “getting your foot in the door” stage myself but studying the portfolios of artists you admire, noting what they include and what’s missing from your own portfolio is a good place to start.

Make sure your work is out there somewhere even if you don’t think it’s ready yet and never apologize for it‘s quality – if you feel it’s not up to scratch then work even harder! Try and post regularly on forums, make connections over the internet and in daily life – the more you do these things the more opportunities you’ll find yourself faced with.

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Name 3 of your favorite (art) books/ magazines.
Andrew Loomis’ Figure Drawing For All It‘s Worth and Drawing the Head and Hands are two beautiful books to leaf through and the theory behind them is rock solid even if they show their age a little (the “ideal” female proportions include high heels…!).

I regularly buy Imagine FX which is slanted heavily towards traditional sci-fi and fantasy art but features some incredibly talented artists and useful workshops and projects, I’ve learnt a lot from it over the years.

Do you have anyone/company you would like to collaborate/work together?
I’m a huge fan of the video game developers Valve – I recently got hold of a PDF of their employees manual which contains the chapter heading “What If We All Screw Up?” so that’s a company after my own heart.

What are the digital artist equipment(s) do you currently own?
Just a PC with Photoshop and a graphics tablet. I recently upgraded to a large Wacom Intuos 5 after spending years persevering with a tiny post card sized tablet so I can draw with my whole arm now.

Name 3 softwares that you use the most, and tell us the function of each them.
The only software I use is Photoshop CS4. It’s flexible enough for sketching, line drawing, painting and pixel art. There‘s lots of programs I‘d be interested in trying out though, I’d like to learn a dedicated vector drawing package like Illustrator and I like the look of the pro version of Manga Studio for drawing comics.

If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
I have a blog where I write about the things I’m working on (mattwalkden.blogspot.com) and also a gallery on Deviant Art (matt-walkden.deviantart.com).

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Your Full Name
Maruka

Tell us about you.
I’ve been drawing ever since. I’m self-taught, but I still ventured into joining art school.

I attended art school in the United States first, then came back home to continue on art studies- however, I was so disappointed with the way art schools are so limiting so I dropped out, and continued to work on my own instead.

When was the first time you fell in love with anime? And why?
The first time I encountered it was when I was 11. A local channel was airing The Rose of Versailles and Captain Harlock early in the morning. I then discovered my love for classic shoujo and science-fiction anime (what a combination!). However, I barely watch any new titles.

Where are you located now? Do you wish to be somewhere else at this moment, instead?
I am living in my homeland, Puerto Rico. I wish to move anywhere there’s an active and competitive art scene, since over here this movement lacks a lot of action.

What makes your works stand-out or different from other anime artist?
From the point of view of others who have commented on my art, especially those not too fond of the ‘anime’ movement, my work seems to strive on the conceptual, artistic side, rather than touch on the traditional themes found in anime. I wouldn’t have realized that really.

Have you heard/visited www.somethingwelike.com before? Do you have any inputs to make it better?
Before this interview, I hadn’t heard of it, but as soon as I entered (and lurked all over it lol), I really liked the content and the sense of organization here. I say just keep making it better and don’t stop looking for talent.

How does working professionally differ from being an amateur in your opinion?
First I want to say I’m a little in-between. I’m not where I wanna be to be considered a professional yet. I will say however, the longer we work, the more our tools and ideas will change (and improve!).

If you could meet w/ any artist (one) past or present, whom would it be?
Alejandro Jodorowsky. I would just love to have a long conversation with this eccentric genius.

Who (or what) is your biggest influence?
I have a weakness for science fiction and surrealism.

What do you wish for this new year?
Every year I wish for improvement.

Tell us several good online resources for anime artist you recommend visiting?
Oddly enough I don’t look for resources online… I like to spend in art books instead and read plenty of artist interviews to learn of their different techniques. Even for an anime artist, I recommend you buy yourself books/search for resources on different subjects, not just anime related.

Do you have a style that you relate to the most?
I guess you could say due to my influence, I’ll have the shoujo feeling in my work; but there’s much more than that, so I can’t narrow it to one word. There’s a little bit of romance, horror, bizarre, etc.

Can you offer any advice on how to build-up a portfolio / ‘getting your foot in the door’ for our readers wishing to start a career in this line of anime artist?
Whatever goes into your portfolio, make sure you spent time and grace on that piece! Also, please limit the fan-art. Originality and individualism is key in everything.

Name 3 of your favorite anime/ manga characters.
Lady Oscar (Rose of Versailles) & Seth Nightroad (Trinity Blood). I actually don’t watch much anime, so I only have 2.

Do you have anyone/company you would like to collaborate/work together?
I wouldn’t say a name in particular, but I would enjoy working in a game company! Or maybe just doing art for a magazine.

What are the anime artist equipment(s) do you currently own?
At the moment I just work with several digital tools that have multiple purposes. Aside from that, there’s some Copic markers that I own, which are very popular in the anime art scene.

Name 3 softwares (or tools) that you use the most, and tell us the function of each them.
Corel Painter – I paint a lot with this program- the functions of painting in ‘traditional’ style are flawless.

Photoshop – I use it in conjunction with Painter. Alternatively I’ll use it to paint with as well, but no matter the function it is still a very useful program, and compliments any type of artist well.

WACOM tablet – What I draw with. I still own a graphire4, she has lasted me forever!

If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
My deviantART page and blog at the moment: http://myu-san.deviantart.com | http://l-papillon.tumblr.com

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