THE CREATIVE POST - Things that inspire me to inspire you!
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Interview Box
Treefox Cartoons started out as Treefox Creative in 2009, when illustrator and concept artist Todd Heard decided to market his services to potential freelance clients from Muncie, Indiana, USA. At the present, Treefox Cartoons consists of two people: Todd Heard and UK-based Social Media marketer Claudine Claudine Watson-Williams. With an impressive and diverse video showreel (see youtube video above), the company is gaining more and more clients and have plans of building a network of animators and illustrators to work for them remotely.
The Creative Post: What are your creative influences and where do you get your inspiration from?
Treefox Cartoons: (Todd) I have a large collection of “how-to” books in my office. There probably isn’t a book on cartooning I don’t have. I also like comics, but I like comics that are cartoon in nature. I have several of “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” comics. There are also several blogs feeds I follow. The internet is an endless source of inspiration. I have a ton of artist sites bookmarked. I wish the internet that is around today was around when I was a kid. I grew up in Malvern and Benton, Arkansas. I didn’t see a lot of art growing up. But the things I did have were, Looney Tunes Animations, Mad Magazine, Conan and Hulk Comics. Don Martin from Mad Magazine was my favorite cartoonist.
T.C.P.: Can you explain about a regular job creation process. Do you use traditional hand-drawing techniques or is it all digital from concept?
T.C.: (Todd) I usually start my projects on paper. For some reason, I feel less restricted when I’m drawing on paper. If I have funny idea or something that inspires me. I start with those sketches first. If I’m storyboarding I jump back and forth through the script going to what suits me at that moment. I have a couple of drawing surfaces I use. I have a large drafting table and an animation disk. When I’m doing animation, I’ll sketch the major key poses on my animation disk. I use the ACME peg system for animation. So I have to buy special pre-punched paper to sketch on. It’s expensive but it’s last me a long time, so I don’t mind using it.
After I complete the rough sketches, I scan my drawings in at a medium resolution 150 dpi. I don’t need high-resolution scans for my process. My scanner is an old Epson scanner that Epson doesn’t support with new drivers, so I use a program called VueScan as my scanning software. I’m on a iMac.
For cleaning up my drawings, I like to ink in Adobe Illustrator. I used to use the round brush set for pressure sensitivity to create my inked lines. But now I ink with the pencil tool and use the line variable width tool to create the thick and thin effect I like.
For adding flat color, I like to use Live Paint. It works really fast. The part that takes the longest is closing all the shapes, so the fills will happen. I used to animate only in Flash, but recently I started using Toon Boom Harmony. When I first started working in Harmony, I didn’t like it because I was comparing it to Flash’s workflow. But now I like it. Harmony has some powerful deformation tools for animation. It also allows you to control the thick and thin of your lines. So my animation work looks just like my illustration work. Harmony is expensive but if you have projects to use it on, it’s worth the expense.
T.C.P.: What has been your most challenging project so far and why?
T.C.: The most challenging projects I’ve ever worked on, were while I was working for Garfield. I used to create interactive games and activities for their educational web site ProfessorGarfield.org. What made it so difficult was that I had to program the games in addition to creating the artwork. The games were created in Adobe Flash using Actionscript 2.0. Creating the artwork was easy for me but programming was tough. I guess I’m not hard-wired that way.
T.C.P.: What have been your main achievements/works you’re are most proud of?
T.C.: (Todd) Before I worked for the Garfield studio. I co-designed an exhibit for the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. I was proud to have worked on that project, especially when I attended the opening. The other thing I’m most proud of was my work at the Garfield studio. Mainly because I was able to teach myself programming. Even though I never became great at it.
T.C.P.: What advice would you give someone who would like to work as a cartoon illustrator?
T.C.: (Todd)I’ll quote my friend and cartoonist David Reddick. “Draw like the wind, Bullseye!” Never stop drawing and keeping a sketchbook full of ideas. It’s your “life blood” as an artist.
Creating art is a skill that needs to be developed and maintained. Don’t let other things distract you from being the best artist you can be. Hard work, dedication and desire are more essential than raw talent.The other important thing is… seek out your inspiration, study it, take away the lessons you can learn from others. When I was younger I used to tell myself I didn’t want to be influenced, I wanted to be original. But the fact is we are influenced by everything around us. Allow yourself to be influenced and inspired by other’s work. You’re own style will take over from there.
T.C.P.: What are your future projects?
T.C.P.: (Todd) More animation. I’m currently working on a series of animated shorts for my client. So hopefully I will continue to do more. I’m having a good time making them. We’re also trying to pursue additional clients through SEO and social media. Currently I’m working on a training video for CartoonSmart.com teaching Harmony 9. That’s being going slowly since I am so busy these days.
Please see below a small gallery with some of Treefox Cartoons artworks. Click on any image to zoom in and click again to go back to the article. More info at http://www.treefoxcartoons.com
6 comments 
by Frankula.
I am sure that not even the same Francis Geralds, aka Frankula, would have imagined that after his retirement from the Chemical Industry he would be wowing the world with his extraordinary and unique digital artworks. As he tells me, it all started short after he stopped working, when he was encouraged to buy a computer and was introduced to Photoshop at his home in Cumbria, UK. “I found this programme to be so intriguing I just had to explore more.”, he says.
It is fair to say, however, that he had some experience with the traditional methods of artmaking. “I think I must have tried every medium since I was early school age. I enjoyed every transition from one to more advanced techniques….pencil, water colour, oils,inks….yes! Inks in airbrushing I think were the most exciting of all forms, especially when sprayed on to high quality gloss paper.” After living and experiencing several decades of different artistic moves and techniques, Geralds can also see the advantage of the Digital Age; “I like Digital art from a point of view that there is No Mess, work can be redone or changed without a new canvass and the work is sharp and realistic. For me this is the best form. The digital work is ideal for Advertising but I would prefer a hand painted picture hanging on my wall. As far as I’m concerned I like all forms of Art and can find no disadvantages to any form but, they all have their place.”
The Creative Post: What are you influences, people or artistic movements that inspire your work?
Francis Geralds: I have always loved Art and anything from pop art on Record Album covers,comic book artists to fine art of The Masters. Artists that have had the greatest impression on me. William Blake, The Airbrush works of Michael English…during the 70′s and in the 80′s the wonderful imaginative works of H.R.Giger. Art is all around us and in everything we do.
Shop Window Displays, Product packaging, Magazines and of course Nature itself; the list is endless.
Francis Geralds
T.C.P.: Most of your work, have a Sci-Fi, fantasy theme/atmosphere, what are the reasons behind this?
F.G.: Hahaha well now Laura you have me stumped there…. I suppose Sci Fi and fantasy can be lumped together. This type of Art allows us to break free of the constraints of traditional work such as scenery,still life etc. I think to some extent a lot can be explained away when creating Sci Fi or Fantasy though, the works must still have structural credibility along with perspective otherwise the Picture just doesn’t work.
T.C.P.:How do you see the future of art expression, do you think it has been devaluated because of the use of enhancing softwares like Photoshop etc?
F.G.: All forms of art have their place, there is still a freedom of choice in whatever method that we feel happiest with.The fact that there are so many art programs on the market to-day shows there is a demand.Art should be available to each and every one of us and in whatever form we choose. I feel that the digital programs have brought art closer to us all and a sense of satisfaction in knowing we have created something of our own. The traditional and digital work very well alongside each other.
I know there has been a lot of controversy over the use of Photoshop techniques in advertising particularly where ‘Models’ are concerned.What should we do? do away with digital programs,Computers and for that matter Camera’s! and all because of a few people who are unable to differentiate or separate fantasy from reality.Education is the way forward perhaps a footnote may be better, saying…”The model has been digitally enhanced in order to display the product”. Personally I Applaud the use of digital programs in advertising we do not want to go backwards to the drab dreary days of the 40′s and 50′s. On this matter I feel I have said quite enough.
T.C.P.: What are your current projects?
F.G.: I just never know from one day to the next what will take my interest. I often find myself creating a picture from doing an exercise or experimenting with different effects and then thinking ..”…Hmmm! I wonder what would look good with this?”….it is then that ideas begin to form. Having produced a basic picture I leave and come back to it in a day or so and, if it still looks good… I continue to add and enhance. I usually spend at least a week on a picture before posting to an Art site.
Thanks Frankula for this great interview.
by Frankula.
Please see below a small gallery with some of Frankula’s artworks. For more please visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/
Well, it’s true that these days almost everyone can use Photoshop. But there is a few who really CAN use the software in its full, and that control over the Adobe program shows great results. Keith Balanis is one of those few people who CAN, and his story seems to prove that determination along with natural talent is the right combination for success.
35 year old North American Balanis, moved to Tucson, Arizona, from his birth place Las Vegas in 1999 along with his wife and 5 dogs in the search of a career change. After graduating on Architecture and realising that the profession lacked the creative flair he desired, he studied Advertising Art at The Art Center, now the Southwest University of Visual Arts. His determination and passion to pursue a career on what he loves doing took him to his current job today, as a graphics specialist for a mine training and consulting company creating graphics and animations for training manuals.
His artworks are versatile and challenging, but what really got my attention were his “metamorphosing” images like the one above these lines.
The Creative Post: When and why did you start designing?
Keith Balanis: Not really designing, but I have been drawing off and on ever since I was 5 or so. Drawing and illustrating has always been something that I’ve done as a way to transfer my imagination to paper. Or now a computer monitor, if you will. As far as actually designing, I never really did much of anything until I went The Art Center. Being in an advertising art program helped me learn about color theory, how to lay out ads, product branding, and many other things. Unfortunately, at my current job, I don’t do much designing in the traditional sense of the word. Which is why I like to create photomanipulated images for myself, as well as for worth1000 contests. Doing this on the side gives me a way to be creative when my job sometimes doesn’t allow me to be. I get a great feeling when I create an image that makes people say, “Wow!” or “How’d you do that?”. Reactions like that make me feel proud of the work I’ve done and honored that people enjoy something that I’ve created. That’s one of the reasons why I do what I do, other than just enjoying “escape” into the wonderful world of Photoshop.
T.C.P.: What are your main influences and inspiration?
K.B.: My inspirations for my images mainly come from things I see, usually while browsing the internet. There are many other artists, some on worth1000 and some on deviantArt, that influence how I go about creating my images. They also influence me with their techniques and styles, I usually see an image and want to emulate a certain aspect of it. Either it’s the lighting, shadowing, colors, or an overall feeling that’s evoked.
T.C.P.: What part of designing you like the most?
K.B.: The part I like the most about designing is how it affects the viewer. I love to create images that make people laugh, or makes them happy, or even sad. I’ll play with different colors, atmospheric effects, or different imagery, to obtain different results. It’s fascinating to me how any combination of colors, or certain atmospheric effects, can cause someone to feel a certain way. It’s almost like the creator of the image has control over the viewers’ thoughts and emotions. That’s the one thing that I enjoy the most about designing.
T.C.P.: Where do you see yourself in the future?
K.B.:In the future I don’t really see myself doing anything different than what I’m doing now. I enjoy my job and I’m sure I’ll be there for a long while, but I’ll still be doing my illustrating and phtotomanipulating on the side. Preferrably I’ll be doing some freelance work on the side. I don’t want to be a starving artist forever, lol. T.C.P.: What are your projects in the present?
K.B.:Presently I don’t have anything going on as far as photomanipulation goes. I usually go through spells where I’m full of ideas and inspiration, then there are times where I don’t have much inspiration or desire. Unfortunately I’m in that low-inspiration period, but I’m sure I’ll come out of it. Doing this interview definitely seems to be helping. 
Although I don’t have anything
Keith Balanis
going on with photomanipulation, I have been working on a couple simple animated 3d images for my wife’s website, so I haven’t been completely away from art.
Portfolio can be viewed at: http://all.worth1000.com/artists/Pac0daTac0/portfolio and http://pac0datac0.deviantart.com/
Click on any of the images below to enlarge gallery. To go back to article, click on the enlarged image!
Probably unbelievable for anyone in our century but seriously true, domestic violence might be happening just now, as you read these lines, in a house near you. REFUGE, the UK’s largest and longest serving domestic violence charity, has teamed up with young director Mark Tintner and production company Birthmarque to celebrate the organisation’s 40th anniversary with a viral campaign called ‘Raging Beauty‘.
The film, features a solo performance by the current nominee of the “Critics Circle Dance Award”, prima ballerina of Matthew Bourne’s Company, Michela Meazza. Through an expressive and emotional dance, Meazza represents an scene of the complex issue of domestic violence with an interesting use of the lightning and photography.
Australian Mark Tintner, director of the film, tells us more about this project through an exclusive interview for The Creative Post.
Born in Sydney, Tintner left Bondi Beach for Europe when he was 19, He then moved permanently to London, where he worked his way up at the theatre: starting from rigging, ushering and house managing, to stage door and producing in prestigious venues like Sadler’s Wells Theatre or The Barbican. He also got into stage few times, acting in shows at the National Theatre, the Old Vic Theatre and the Public Theatre in New York. ‘Raging Beauty’ comes after a great success with his previous film as director, ‘In the Night We Trust’, which received a ‘shots New Director 2011’ nomination and special commendation.
Mark Tintner
The Creative Post: When and why did you decide to become a film director?
Mark Tintner: I have been directing for just under 2 years, it’s something that felt natural based on my previous experience and interests it has been quite a natural progression for me. This role feels right. My first short film that I wrote and directed received a number of nominations including Best Female character at the 2010 London Short Film Festival and in 2011 I was nominated for the ‘shots New Director Award’. I set up a micro production company called birthmarque to showcase the work I write, direct, co-produce and art direct. I also love working with actors – which helps!
T.C.P.: What are your influences and what inspires you?
M.T.: This is an interesting question for me because as an artist I try and find influence and inspiration from literally everything that crosses my path. I am a very visual person and find influence in a number of mediums but the main theme of inspiration is narrative. Drama is influenced by reality and I am interested in creating reality in drama. There are a number of successful people that inspire me, but similarly many ‘unsuccessful’ people inspire me too.
T.C.P.: What was your biggest challenge with this project, Raging Beauty?
M.T.: This project wasn’t challenging in terms of the practicality of film making, the challenge was to make the final story emotive, effective and justified to the sufferers of domestic violence. I didn’t want RAGING BEAUTY to be a kitchen sink drama. The challenge was for it to be hard hitting and personal.
T.C.P.: How was the cast process? Did you already have Michela Meazza in mind for the role?
M.T.: This project was for Michela. We are friends. We talked about making work and very quickly it came together. I have seen a lot of her work and knew her talent and commitment to that work. I asked Michela to choreograph a routine based on the subject matter, constraints of the space physically and references I sent her based on different characters both perpetrator and victim. Michela plays at least 3 different characters in this film. Man, woman and child. I had written a script but had no storyboards prepared for this project. I wanted an improvised approach to this, which was crucial and so effective in capturing the reality of the situation. I cut the story together in post production.
T.C.P.: What are you next projects?
M.T.: I am quite excited! I have three 3D projects in post production. 3D is a bucking bronco, it takes patience because of all the technology involved. I hope to have them finished in January 2012. There is also interest for me to direct a fashion based film I have written.
T.C.P.: What advice can you give for anyone who wants to work as a film director?
M.T.: It’s too early in my career for me to give sweeping advice on film direction, but for me, I never under estimate production value and that my next project should always be better than the last.
RAGING BEAUTY will be released during “16 Days of Action” which run from the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25th November) to International Human Rights Day (10th December). More info at www.birthmarque.com
Christa Vi by www.boberika.com ©
It was by chance and through common friends that I get to listen Christa Vi’s music. The first notes of her debut single “Your Heart” captivated me straight way, something that rarely happens to me these days. It might be because Australian Christa Vi is a genuine singer/songwriter and musician, and you can feel that dedication and love on every verse and instrument sound on her songs. Though she started writing and singing on her teens, back in her original Adelaide, and even after she managed to have some of her songs along with her band back then to be listened in some local radios, 2012 will be the year for the artist, as her debut EP will be released, with the help of producer George Shilling who’s worked with artists like Primal Scream, Teenage Fanclub, Yazz and Coldcut amongst others.
When I asked her about her main influences in her music, folk and electro music came to her mind at once. She gives me names like Massive Attack, Portishead, Joni Mitchell and Simon & Garfunkle, though more recently, she’s been into ‘female artists like Lykke Li, Florence and the Machine, Feist, Au Reviour Simone and Sia. I like artists who write heartfelt pop/folk songs but also incorporate some electronic elements and interesting eclectic instrumentation into their music….’
The Creative Post: What is your biggest achievement as a singer/performer and why?
Christa Vi: I think my biggest achievement will be when I finally get my debut EP finished and released next year! I have wanted to do this for a long time – finally it is happening and I’m really happy with the music I’m producing! Back in Australia my band at the time did release an EP, but this time it’s just me and all the songs and production ideas are mine, along with help from my producer George. George and I play all the instruments on the recordings along with some programming, which has been great fun – including George on Cello and bass and us both on guitars, various vintage synthesizers, percussion, even an accordian, Autoharp and stylophone!
T.C.P.: Tell us a funny story around any of your gigs?
C.V.: Nothing much crazy has happened during Christa Vi gigs so far. But once I had to play a jazz gig at a dinner party for a whole lot of doctors on Halloween and it was fancy dress. It was funded by a drug company so they all got very drunk – it was quite surreal seeing all these doctors dressed as skeletons, witches and pumpkins drukenly dancing the night away in a suburban restaurant to Frank Sinatra!
T.C.P.: What can we expect when we see you playing live?
C.V.: Sometimes I do small acoustic gigs with talented guitarist and singer Allan Cuevas – these performances are more low key and folky. When I’m with my full band, which sometimes includes my producer George on cello and percussion, its a lot more poppy and I think my songs work best with a full sound. We have fun and like to swap instruments around a bit…..
T.C.P.: What are your future projects?
C.V.: I’ve recently collaborated with a producer/DJ from Brooklyn, NYC called Wealth. I’m really happy with the song we’ve done and I believe it will be on his forthcoming album so watch this space…. I’ve also been busy getting remixes done for my first two single EP releases. Remixes range from NuDisco and Post Dubstep to Indie Electro so I’m excited to hear my songs translated into different electronic genres. I’m lucky to have some great producers/bands involved including Reggie Pepper, Asa, Eleven8, Show Your Shoe, Superclass, Mint and The Dark Lights. The first remix for my single ‘Your Heart’ by Swiss producer Show Your Shoe is up on his soundcloud account and has been getting quite a bit of blog attention lately which is really exciting. Check:
http://soundcloud.com/showyourshoe
Christa Vi by www.boberika.com ©
T.C.P.: Do you feel nervous before playing? What relaxing techniques you use to prepare yourself?
C.V.: I always feel a little nervous before performing so I try to visualise the gig going well. But I find that if I think about the performance too much I seem to forget everything I’ve planned to do or say when I’m on stage -my mind kind of goes blank! Best to just try and go with the flow I think!
T.C.P.: Who would you dream to play with (dead or alive!)?
C.V.: I’d say Bjork would be my no. 1. She is such an incredible artist. Although I would be so overwhealmed I probably couldn’t sing a note in her presence!
T.C.P.: What sort of things/events/people inspire you?
C.V.: I love going to art exhibitions and find that I get inspired by visual art that evokes feelings that I can tap in to with my music. I love the idea of collaborating in some way with visual artist as well as other musicians. The cover art for my single releases will feature images of some beautiful sculptures by Australian artist Amy Joy Watson….
T.C.P.: How do the networking sites and social media help you to promote your work?
C.V.: They are very important – I don’t think I would have achieved anything recently without the internet and social networking. I have made most of my musical contacts via Facebook, Soundcloud and even Twitter recently… There is so much you can do yourself, just sometimes if feels you are spending a really long time in front of a computer! It’s exciting to see how internet music blogs can pick up on your music and help you take it to the next level…
T.C.P.: What advice could you give to anyone who wants to start up in the music industry?
C.V.: Just believe in your work and have confidence to do it honestly. FInd people to collaborate with who you respect and share a love
for music.
Thanks for your time Christa Vi!
Listen here to Christa Vi’s debut single “Your Heart” :
More info and music by Christa Vi here: http://www.facebook.com/ChristaViMusic
The Dark Lights (Photo by Boberika ©)
The Dark Lights fickered to life as a home studio experiment by technically minded Aussies Matt Ho, Rach Ho and Alan Grillo. A 2010 relocation to London found them their perfect foil in East End boys Paul Andrews and Paul Hayward, who bought soul, energy and cockney cheek to the mix. Starting out at a brooding place inhabited by the likes of Interpol, The Dark Lights pick up some beats and pop hooks akin to New Order, before weaving their way through the dancefloor with the energy of The Presets, taking in the best bits of the 80’s, 90’s & now along the way. The result is a fusion that is innovative, danceable and far from comparison. Their electric live performances wrap Rach’s layered soundscapes around Paul A’s heartfelt vocals with the experimental melodies of guitarists Matt and Alan, and Paul H’s tight drums driving the pace.
The Dark Lights are doing a UK tour in late 2011 in support of their debut 7” single release “X-ray Spectacle 1″. Rachel Ho (bass) kindly used one of their band breaks to answer my questions on the following interview.
The Creative Post: What are your main musical influences: people/bands/artists you look at?
The Dark Lights (Rachel): Friendly Fires, Arcade Fire, Bloc Party, Interpol, Broken Social Scene, Hot Chip, Clock Opera.
T.C.P.: What is your biggest achievement as a band and why?
T.D.L. (Rachel): I would say our single launch in London last week. It all came together. It’s the first vinyl any of us has done before. We sold out the show in pre sales the morning of the gig. It felt like we were hitting our straps in the live show. All in all, the night felt like all our hard work in the past 12 months had paid off. Plus it was a very fun night indeed!
T.C.P.: Tell us a funny story around any of your gigs?
T.D.L. (Rachel): When we played in Scotland one of the guys that saw us play took us to see his friend at a ‘Show Girls’ bar after the gig. It was a strip club. It was a pretty funny experience.
T.C.P.: What can we expect when we see you playing live?
T.D.L. (Rachel): Moody. Soulful. Crazy. Fun. Paul A, our singer, lets it rip out the front, backed by Matt & Alan doing crazy things on guitars and synths. Hopefully all held together by Paul H on drums and myself on bass. And now we have gone a little overboard with percussion. You can never have too much.
T.C.P.: What is next in your tour and what other future projects you have?
T.D.L. (Rachel): Manchester this weekend, then Coventry & Leicester in a few weeks, then back in London just before Christmas and Brighton in the new year. We plan to release another single sometime next year too and hopefully get on some festivals.
T.C.P.: Do you feel nervous before playing? What relaxing techniques you use to prepare yourself?
T.D.L. (Rachel Ho): Generally not. Practice is the best technique!
T.C.P.: Who would you dream to play with (dead or alive!)?
T.D.L. (Rachel): For me personally it would be Bloc Party. Everyone in the band would have a different dream artist to play with. I think as a band we would all agree on Arcade Fire.
T.C.P.: What sort of things/events/people inspire you?
T.D.L. (Rachel): As a collective we like beer, bicycles, tattoos, rustling paper sounds, bush jumping, conspiracy theories and cheap musical toys. Inspirational.
The Dark Lights
The Dark Lights (Photo by Boberika ©)
Paul Andrews – Vox, Mini organ, Hitting things randomly
Matt Ho – Guitars, Synth, Vox, Weird effects
Alan Grillo – Guitar, Synth, Noise control
Rachel Ho – Bass, Magic show
Paul Hayward – Drums, Yells
More info at: www.thedarklightsonline.com or find them in myspace.com/thedarklightsmusic
This summer I attended to the Ravensbourne School Postgraduate Degree Show. This is a school based in Greenwich, London, specialised in Digital Media and Design studies, with courses on fashion, television and broadcasting, interactive product design, architecture and environment design, graphic design, animation, moving image, music production for media and sound design. I had the pleasure to chat with some of the Postgraduate students. I will be posting these interviews during the next few days.
Let me introduce you first to Erica Choi, a South Korean bright girl with studies on Graphic Design and experience on Editorial Design. But what mostly defines Erica is her strong belief on the role that designers have with the Environment and for that reason, some of her latest projects are based on the concept of ’Green Design’. “Recently I worked on brand identity about Boskke which sells up-side down planter. The work was very much enjoyable. Boskke brand has been taking as my personal project which has to be kept as private. Other my work I really enjoyed is about green washing. As a designer, I feel responsible for miscommunication of eco-friendly products. Also I am sick of graphic designers has been called as ‘liars’. Through this poster, public realise some eco-friendly product or company could possible it is not really ecological. This is the point ‘Real’ can the ‘Fake’. Also, Designers could challenge current policies on green washing and be more selective in taking jobs from clients. This is the massage of this art work.”
And for Erica Choi, being a designer means . As she tells me “I believe graphic designers got a big job for the planet and people in the world to
communicate with visuals. I would like to be one who make clear communication with great concepts also keep it as minimal design.”
Choi has also a great interest on Typography: “Through my long practice of calligraphy since I started learn oriental calligraphy, it constantly reflects my work I guess. Still enjoying to write something with brush not only asian typical brush, but also paint brush. One more influence would be modernism. Such as British graphic which is normally designed simply and keep it as minimal has always been my passion and makes me really thrilled.”
Erica knows is uncertain about what the future might bring to her career, but she is clear on the path she would like to take: “My goal as a designer is finding a balance between work and my passion and my soul. We all know keeping clients have same interests with me would be unusual thing and difficult job, but it would always welcome to work with people in art industry (such as musicians) and company has right policy about environmental.”
Good luck Erica! Thanks for your time.
You can find out more about Erica Choi here:
http://ericachoi.co.uk/
Marcos Cabota Samper
Eleven years have passed since I met this clever and incredibly funny man whose impersonations and sense of humour have made me burst into laughter so many times in the past. Marcos Cabotá Samper is a Spanish film director currently debuting as co-director of the comedy “Amigos”. This is the story of three old friends who find themselves fighting with each other when their lost friend’s will is open to reveal his ultimate betting game, one where the winner will become the heir of his fortune. Marcos Cabota Samper is also the co-writer of the film along with his co-director Borja Manso. A long and exciting journey, just as much as Marcos’, who surely also has ahead a long and prosper future in the film industry.
The Creative Post: Who is Marcos Sabota?
Marcos Cabotá Samper: I was born in Mallorca. Since I was very little I had a thing about being behind cameras.Then I did my degree on Communication and Media in Madrid and I studied Film Direction in Los Angeles. I did my first professional work there and then I came back to Spain to work on the filming of “Amigos”.
T.C.P.: What are your influences and why?
M.C.S.: When it comes to direction I would say Robert Zemeckis is a big influence in my work, specially on how he treates every shot and how he integrates them in the film story. He is an idol for me. Speaking in general terms, my biggest influence is Michael Jackson, who has always been and example of perfectionism and constant challenge to overcome any problem. Fabolous!
T.C.P.: Where do you find inspiration?
M.C.S.: n any Michael Jackson’s song…Also in any common life situations; I only need to exaggerate them and take them to an extreme for artistical purposes.
T.C.P.: What is the piece of work you are most proud of?
M.C.S.: Obviously the film “Amigos”. I am quiet proud of the final result.
T.C.P.: How the latest digital technologies and the social network tools have helped you in your work?
M.C.S.: The digital technologies have been essential on my work, specially for the creation of “Amigos”. But to understand why you have to watch the film! In regards to the social network tools, they have helped to promote my work, basically.
T.C.P.: What projects you have in mind for the next few months?
M.C.S.: If it everything works as it should, I sam planning to make another film, hopefully. And this time it will be far different from a comedy but a thriller.
Gracias Marcos!
Amigos poster
Film Title: Amigos
Company: Telecinco Cinema
Director: Borja Manso and Marcos Cabotá
Script: Borja Manso and Marcos Cabotá
Cast: Ernesto Alterio, Diego Martín, Alberto Lozano, Goya Toledo, Manuela Velasco
Genre: Comedy
Release: July 2011
Trailer below.
J. Pellon posing with one of the many books he has published on Surfing
Surfer, musician and writer, Jose Pellon is a multidisciplinar artist from Spain that you could find one day playing his guitar in front of an audience (he recorded several successful albums back in the late 80′s and early 90′s with his band Melopea and he is still an active musician); behind a camera taking photos the next day, painting on canvas the following one or maybe on his computer, writing one of his guides on Surf (he has published several books and magazines on this sport that he also practices, along with fiction books).
His wide creativity is what drives him as he explains when I asked him to describe himself: “Who is Jose Pellon? Truth is I don’t know. Maybe a human being lost in his ways, searching for himself again and again through his works. Someone also confident that he will never find himself because his disorientation is stronger than his own will.”
T.C.P.: What happened to Surf after the 90′s and in the 21st century?
J.P.: Surf has the same problem as me: it is lost in its ways and no matter how hard it tries to look for itself again, it will never be as before, even if the surfboards come back as a “retro” item like many current trends today.
T.C.P.: We are in the Digital Era. How the new technologies (digital photography and social media) have influenced you and helped on the production and distribution of your works?
J.P.: Since I stopped using diapositives I feel less artist-photographer, because I have thousands of shots if I fail the first one. It is much easier now. Digital photography saves you time and money and can be distributed immediately and that is a plus. The downside is that when making good photos was expensive and difficult there were real good photographers with natural talents. That was the good thing about analogical photography.
T.C.P.: What are your main influences and what really inspires your work?
J.P.: I am not going to deny my influences from the 70′s rock movement and Pop-Art style. But also I will say that anything can inspire me, from a fly flying above a car and setting off a rader or a political scandal. Everything turns me on and inspires me.
T.C.P.: What are your future projects?
J.P.: Publishing the new issue of my magazine Surf Land, another one about sailing, a new fiction book that I have in mind and a photobook. Ah! And I am waiting for the Kitesurfing and Windsurfing Spanish guide to be released soon as I have just given it to the publisher.
And Jose leave us with two statements: Punk is not Dead y Hey ho Let’s Go!
Thanks Jose and good luck with your projects.
See some of Jose’s photos and artworks in the small gallery below. To go back to the article please click on any of the gallery pics. Enjoy!
Me and Vanesa at Zeppelin bar where her 'Gold' series was shown last year
The greatest talents don’t need to be found only in big cities. Back in my hometown, the small fishing town in the north coast of Spain called Santander – more internationally popular these days for the bank society called after its birth place -, several artists and creative minds are raising and sharing her/ his work quiet successfully. Vanesa Cabeza Cobo is one of those passionate individuals whose interest on creativity and art have pushed her to pursue her dream of showing her work with a fantastic response from the audience.
She defines herself as “an activist, nonconformist individual highly interested in art and crafts since birth”. Though she admires classic artists like Da Vinci; or has a general interest in Pop-Art or the Advertising Art from the 70s and 80s, she admits one of her school teachers has been her biggest influence as she got to learn through him the principles on Archeology, History and Photography. Also she is a big follower of Antonio de Felipe and Rebeca Saray. After completing studies on Fine Arts and Graphic Design, she got a job as Graphic Designer for a well-known free magazine, Marejada, with distribution within the region that allowed her to build a huge database of contacts, some of which are still regular clients of her r. It was through that magazine how I met Vanesa, as I used to have a regular column called “Conexion UK” where I would write on Music, Fashion and latest trends in London.
Last year, Vanesa presented her collection of acrylic paintings, a compilation of 25 illustrations in black, white and gold, each one of them representing comic icons such as Superman or Batman plus popular movie characters such as Edward Scissorhands or Chaplin.
The Creative Post: How did you chose the theme for this exhibition?
Vanesa Cabeza: I wanted to create some acrylic work in a pop-art style. When thinking of the theme I took into consideration my main and principal audience, that is, my friends, and their main hobbies and interests. The result was painting these 25 characters from movies and comics. Each one of these were carefully created thinking on a friend in particular, on each person’s childhood idol or favourite comic character.
C.P.: What are your next projects?
V.C.: I still get some freelance work and commissioned work from time to time but generally I am in the search for regular employment like millions of Spanish are doing at the present. I am in the process of creating a new collection but need to get some funds first. I am also very much involved in Photography projects so, who knows, maybe my next exhibition will be based on Photography. Time will tell…
Below are some of the images from “GOLD“.
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