Digital
Artworks |
Darren
you mention on your site that you also posses skills in 2D
design, evident by your image "King".
What medium did you use before you went digital?
|
Chapman |
For
about 10 years I have been using simple paper and pencil to do
my sketches, I did have a brief dabble with water-colours but
the process always seemed a little too slow for my style of
work.
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Digital
Artworks |
Your
Spitfire
series... very impressive. Astounding work for Bryce
modeling. I have noticed some Rhino work in a few of your
other images. Why did you elect to construct such a complex
model in Bryce if you do in fact have skills in the much more
powerful modeller, Rhino?
|
Chapman |
The
one thing I like about working with Bryce 4, as a modeller, is
that the models you make are always "Live". What do
I mean by that ?
With Rhino if you create an
object using Boolean functions, you cannot independently
adjust the placement of the objects you have just joined
together at a later time in the construction of the model.
With Bryce 4, you can always move the Boolean objects
separately to make any final position adjustments regardless
of how far you are into the final stages of construction. I am
also still learning the finer point for Rhino, and still find
it easier to make particular objects it Bryce 4.
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Digital
Artworks |
In
your still life images, The
Orb, Thy
Sword, it is amazing how your presentation turns objects
into art. After you place the objects into the images how much
work is devoted to placement, light, and atmosphere to achieve
the resulting look you give your images?
|
Chapman |
I
have always felt that the key to any good scene, regardless of
how simple the subject matter, is lighting. You can have a
potentially great scene totally destroyed by the application
of the wrong type of lighting. I, myself, spend at least 25 %
of the total time it takes me to do a given piece of artwork,
adjusting the light position and intensity, shadow intensity,
material ambient level and the general overall light level.
Sometimes this can add up to many hours just for this aspect
of the artwork alone.
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Digital
Artworks |
My
personal favourite is "Forgiveness".
It's simplicity is beautiful. Sometimes less is more. Is that
image from the heart or is it an accidental masterpiece?
|
Chapman |
I was trying to convey a very
powerful message to the viewer, that they could interpret
themselves, based upon the feeling the piece triggered in them.
I found that by having only one
subject, the viewers attention was fully focused upon that
message without distraction.
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Digital
Artworks |
Some
of my favourite artists are Norman Rockwell and Peter Max .
Are you influenced by any other artists?
|
Chapman |
There are two artist that have
influenced my work and inspired my to strive to become a
better artist, they are Graham McKenna http://www.grahamprismatic.free-online.co.uk/
and Willi Hammes http://www.3dluvr.com/themaxer/
Both show very good attention
to detail, and product very realistic artwork. I would hope
that one day my work could approach there standard.
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Digital
Artworks |
You
see a lot of images inspired by movies or other media sources.
Where do you find most of your inspiration?
|
Chapman |
In
today's sophisticated world, where we are constantly bombarded
with literally thousands of images per day via television and
other mass media devices, it is almost impossible for me to
say where I get my inspiration from. I may see something on
the television, hear something on the radio and it may start
off an idea that I use, that may, or may not end up as
something later on. I try not too limit my self to one source.
|
Digital
Artworks |
Now
for some technical stuff.. Lets have the low-down on your
system.
|
Chapman |
I
currently use a computer custom built by me with the following
components
Intel pentium III 600 MHz, Asus
440BX Flagship motherboard, 256Mb memory, Creative labs
TNT2Ultra Display card, Diamond ultra 26Gb hard drive, 19in
CTX monitor. Software Bryce 4, Poser 4, Rhino 1.1, Photoshop
5.0
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Digital
Artworks |
Have
you any formal education in design and does your career
involve design?
|
Chapman |
I
have no qualification in design. I currently work for a medium
size printing company, that specialise in producing
books for the academic and
scientific research community. I work in the manufacturing
department.
|
Digital
Artworks |
If
you had to choose an image by any other artist what would it
be and why?
|
Chapman |
It
would be "The thinker" by Graham McKenna http://www.grahamprismatic.free-online.co.uk/page16.htm
I just think technically it is
amazing. As a work of art I think it is one of those images
that make you go "WOW"
His use of lighting, texture
and the model work are a real inspiration. His style manages
to make the artwork look as if it is not been produce with a
computer.
|
Digital
Artworks |
What
else do you do online?
|
Chapman |
Up
until recently (about six month ago) I was really into the
Quake 3, Unreal tournament scene, but now the computer art bug
has really bitten, I hardly ever play online at all now. I
still like to keep an eye on the latest computer technology
though.
|
Digital
Artworks |
Thank
you.
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