Digital
Artworks |
Your work is outstanding for it's strange atmosphere and surreal
imagery. It is both thought provoking and emotionally charged. What type
of software and hardware do you use?
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Sadbatu |
I'm using a Pentium II with 300 Mhz,128 MB, SCSI u2w, a Matrox
Millennium G200 graphics adapter and a 19'' screen which I run at
1280x1024 pixels resolution.
I'm working with the great Wacom Intuous-Tablet [14,8x10,5 cm] that
provides a pressure sensitive pen. The mouse is a input device I never
use.
My system is based on Windows 95b. Truespace 3.1, a very easy to use
tool is getting in the foreground more and more but mostly I create my
pictures with Metacreations' 'Painter 5'. If one wants to become a
digital painter, he should forget any other program.
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Digital
Artworks |
Images such as "Firetram" and "Selected to Die" are very emotionally
stimulating. Where do you get your inspiration? What artists have
influenced you?
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Sadbatu |
I'm inspired by the reactions evoked through many things which I am
surrounded with. Since I live in Munich, a 1.2 million inhabitants town,
my inspirations are gray concrete buildings, cars and strange people.
For example being confronted with homeless people in a subway-station
can be inspiring, too.
Movies inspire me as well. I love the work of Terry Gilliam such as '12
Monkeys', 'Brazil' and 'Time Bandits'. Ridley Scotts 'Alien' and
'Bladerunner' also belong to my favorite films. In my sight the best
movies ever, are 'Orlando' and 'Europa'.
For me it is necessary to listen to music I like a lot while I'm
painting. For example 'Living Sacrifice' or 'Strapping Young Lad'. It's not only
heavy metal but also trip-hop and electronica ['Massive
Attack', 'DJ Krush', 'Brainchild', etc.].
Artists that I'm influenced by [among others] are: Markus Wittl
[digital], Rodney Matthews [real media], Roger Dean [real media], H. R.
Giger [mixed] and Michael Whelan [mixed].
'Selected To
Die' has no particular inspirations. It depicts the
possibilities, mankind offers itself to select whether a baby should be
born or not. In my opinion abortion is not the right way. I know that
this is a very complicated topic but in my sight, a people [Germany, the
Australia or what country ever] has to provide the needed things to help
a family, a young mother or father to get the child growing up
right. We can't say 'you mustn't abort your child, but we can't help you' and
don't think further. I think we can say 'there's no need for
abortion, because we will help you'.
If there was no hunger in our world, we wouldn't need a organization for
that.
'Firetram' was inspired by a journey by train. There is no concrete
message. One thing may be of interest for you. I started to do sketches
on the idea the night before the big ICE-crash of Eschede happened [101
dead]. It was a very, very strange feeling.
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Digital
Artworks |
Do you see the image in your mind before it is created or do you work
with an image until it becomes something that you are happy with even though
it may not be what you originally planned?
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Sadbatu |
It changes sometimes. Mostly I know quite well what I want to draw. My
painting 'Lifeline' was created 'by accident'. I knew the picture needed
a stairway. That was the only intention besides the fact that it had to
be dark.
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Digital
Artworks |
What techniques do you use to create an image. Do you have any secrets
you would like to share with others?
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Sadbatu |
A picture of mine starts at zero. A black 500x500 pixel
screen. After that I sketch my idea. If it fits I resize it to a secure measure.
The picture 'Tower Of
Holyness' was mixed. I created the stairway with Truespace in 3000x3000 pixels resolution. No textures were
used. This was done, as you may know, because it is very complicated, to use
perspective within paint-programs. I knew I didn't want to work as hard
as I did on 'Bureau' which was entirely painted. The crackles, ripples
and scratches and everything else on 'Tower Of
Holyness' was painted.
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Digital
Artworks |
How much time do you spend online? What are some of your favorite
websites?
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Sadbatu |
I spend about 45 hours online monthly. In Germany surfing the net is
quite expensive. 45 hours cost about 65 Marks [circa 32 US$].
Favorites:
http://www.wittl.de
a great digital artist and friend.
http://members.teleweb.at/gric/
Peter Gric is an Austrian miracle.
http://www.global.co.za/business/kors/index.html
Stanislaw Kors is a surreal artist.
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Digital
Artworks |
Do you spend much time looking at other artist's work, such as the
images on Digital Artworks?
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Sadbatu |
Yes, I do. I visit every new entry of Slawek Wojtowic's artist-list:
http://home.interstat.net/~slawcio/artsf2.html
I look at every artists work as I come across.
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Digital
Artworks |
How much time do you spend working on your images each day? How long
does it take you to complete an image?
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Sadbatu |
I'm working about 5 hours a day. Sometimes even the whole day.
How long I take to finish a picture depends on my mood or how strong my
inspiration is. Sometimes pictures remain unfinished for some weeks when
I get new ideas.
As a conclusion I'd say, about one or two weeks. 'Lifeline' was finished
in three days.
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Digital
Artworks |
Have you done any commercial work?
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Sadbatu |
No, I haven't. I've made the design for a website:
http://www.getraenkeservice.de
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Digital
Artworks |
Do you feel that digital artwork has the same status as traditional
"fine" art?
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Sadbatu |
Of course. I think it is not right to say that someone's work is no art,
for it is created with a computer. In my opinion, art starts in the
heart. What about disabled people who aren't able to paint with a
brush, a pencil or what ever. The computer is a tool. Nothing else. It
doesn't matter if an artist is healthy or handicapped. It doesn't matter if an
artist uses spray-cans and creates graffiti's, or if he is building a
tower of melted floppy disks. Art!
No computer has ideas or inspiration. It is always a creative process
and I'm very happy that computers will never be able to feel.
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Digital
Artworks |
What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
|
Sadbatu |
First of all I want to become a better painter. I'd be glad to sell my
pictures.
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Digital
Artworks |
Thank you.
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