"Once Upon a Time."

Q&A
When did you start using Painter?

 I first used Painter at an animation studio about six years ago. I was working as a concept artist/matte painter and used Painter to paint textures for 3D work. Painter allowed me to create quick concepts for lighting and colors that the art department needed — all the time.

Did you have previous experience in traditional media?

 Yes, I have a background in traditional art. Along with digital media, I still work in traditional oils, pastels, charcoal, and pen and ink. My favorite medium is oil paint on canvas. I am a fine artist first, and then a digital one.

Do you integrate your work in Painter with traditional artists’ materials?

 Sometimes I integrate traditional tools by first drawing my image on paper and then scanning and importing it into Painter for coloring and painting.

How has it been for you to learn about using art tools in a digital setting?

Fortunately, I do have traditional painting experience, so that helps a lot with creating my artwork using digital media. A real artist, with a traditional art background, always has an edge over those who start drawing and painting digitally, with no actual drawing and painting experience.

Has Painter helped you to define your own style?

 It has given me those beautiful tools and brushes that are just like traditional ones. I am happy that, even in the digital medium, I can work as a fine artist and create paintings that are like real oils. By being able to keep working in my personal style, I can work fast and even deliver things ahead of schedule.

"Honestly Pure."

 Painter fits well with my creative process. It gives me the tools to create both realistic work and speedy paintings and concepts for mood, lighting, and colors. I even get what I want for my personal paintings from Painter’s large range of brushes.

What motivates you?

Varied happenings motivate me — incidents, memories past, nature, and even a strong piece of any kind of art.

Which artists do you admire?

I admire Caravaggio for his brilliant, realistic paintings; for the way he captured all those moments in time; and for his theatrical lighting. I like John Singer Sargent’s bold and casual oil paintings; his strong suggestions and thick brushstrokes are to the point and in the right place. I love his spontaneity. In digital media, I admire Craig Mullins’ work.

How has the Internet influenced your art-making process?

 The Internet has given me a lot of exposure. I get to see a lot of art by people from around the globe and share mine with them. The Internet has brought me closer to people and allowed me to keep in touch with them. People get jobs and have made their names through the Internet. The Internet can teach me anything I want to learn. It provides tutorials, insights, life histories of artists, and what-not. I need only to have the will to learn, and the Internet is right there beside me to help.

What advice do you have for artists working with Painter?

 First of all, understand the interface. Study and explore all that it offers. Get the hang of the tools — there are many — and explore all the brushes to learn which ones suit you and what exactly to use for a particular job. Once you’ve done that, life with Painter will be quite a lot easier. Furthermore, try exploring the brushes that are closest to traditional media. They’re a lot of fun.