/ Designers Depot – featured artist for the week

Tell us about your humble beginnings, When did you you first realized that you wanted to be an artist?

well… it was when I was just 2 years old 🙂 Seriously – as I remember I always wanted to make some pictures, designs, sketches…

What are your tools of the trade and why?

I’m not geek and I didn’t think that tools are something important.. I use a mouse – the usual Logitech mouse, tablet – an A5 Intous 3 Wacom – I think it’s better for me than the larger A4 tablet. I don’t know why – maybe I like little spaces? I have a lot of traditional pencils, brushes, pens. Some of them are expensive Talens products, others – the cheapest ones. I have a large easel too.

Who or what gives you inspiration?

The best answer to this question is just to say “the whole world around me” and I think it’s really close to the truth. I get inspiration when I’m watching movies, listening music (on my headphones or on concerts), reading books and albums of historical art and browsing newest (flash) websites on the net. And of course my 4 years old daughter gives me inspiration too!

Is your artistic background self-taught or did you go to college to study?

Yes, I did: I graduted from Fine Arts Highschool in Gdynia (department of photography) followed by the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk (department of industrial design).

How do you keep “fresh” within your industry?

I’m not sure I’m still “fresh”…

What are some of your current projects?

I’m living in Warsaw and working as a Digital Creative Director in one of biggest polish advertising agency – FireFly Creation. It means that my current projects are strictly commercial projects like creating for international brands such as Kraft or Nike. Unfortunately, I haven’t have the time to make some “artistic” projects at the moment… I hope it will changed in next year.

Which of your works are you the most proud of? And why?

Rumours About Angels 2 of course – it’s the largest noncommercial projects I’ve even did. It was created in cooperation with Bartosz Hervy (music composer) in 2005. Everything about this project you’ll find on the website.

Rumours About Angels 2 / 12

Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?

Of course they are, for example some old, strange photography techniques such as polaroid, gum etc. I love to merge techniques, mostly the newest like Flash animation and power of action scripts as well with traditional paintings and photography. And I also want to try something completely different: I thing about create a sculpture… maybe combining sculpture, painting and motion pictures on it all? I think It would be interesting.

What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?

Good question, but I don’t know the answer to this one…Maybe never ending movement? Every minute of my life is occupied. I love Red Bull and adrenaline (my favourite sport is downhill) but I’m sure there is something else…

When you’re not in front of your canvas or monitor, how do you spend most of your free time?

My “free time” is composed of trips with my daughter, with my friends or on the bike. My passion is aviation so I hope to learn to fly a glider next year – and now that it’s my biggest dream.

and finally, What advices/tips can you give to the novice designers/ illustrators out there?

I have some advice to give: don’t listen to others, don’t believe in tutorials, ignore the tips – just do what you want. No rules is the rule

Designers Depot, 10.2009