Interview with ARTOONATOR

Time to get to know a bit more about ARTOONATOR. You've seen the work, let's hear a little something about the person.

Give us a short introduction about you.
My name is Arne.
I'm Dutch, and I work as an illustrator for 10 years now. I studied Graphic design, and Illustration at the Rotterdam Art Academy (WdKa). Besides my (freelance) job as an Illustrator I work as an art-teacher.
I live in Rotterdam together with my girlfriend, two dogs and two cats.

Where did you grow up? Tell us a little story about the young you.
I grew up in a middle-sized village in The Netherlands called 'Oud-Beyerland'. So my roots lie in an environment with a lot of nature and farmculture. That explains my preference for old paintingcrafts, because they involve a lot of nature and natural mediums.
When I was a child I began drawing at the age of three. I never stopped loving it. My parents allways say i was an easy child, but that's probably mostly because of the drawing. I was allways behind my tiny desk. Nowadays, my girlfriend doesn't think of me as an easy person, so I'm catching up.
I grew up having a lot of encounters with animals. My parents own a petstore, and i wandered around in the forests a lot.
So my love for drawing and painting wildlife art was created a long time ago.
During puberty I got involved in Graffiti scenes. From there on I developed an interest for stylizing the world around me. The work I do for employers now I do well, mostly because I've got my passion, given by the graffiti-art. (so it's not all vandalism that graffiti brings) And ofcourse the influence of art academy made my work grow into something more mature.

What aspect of yourself really stands out? Any peculiar habits or odd fascinations?
I have a huge fascination for estrangements. Spirituality you might say, but in a very down-to-earth kinda way. I allways try to look at art/ilustration in an intuitive way, but i'm also trying to find the right, down-to-earth explanation for what I sense in a work. But I also look at the world, the people, life, from that optic.
My other weird fascinations are women. I can so figure them out, but I so can't. As George Clooney once said to Catherine Zeta Jones: 'You ffffascinate me' ....That about sums it up.
And one final, but this one kinda belongs to the first one: Philosophy.
So in the end those are all estrangements, which says this about me: I love chaos, yet I hate it.

What is that common every day thing that can really make your day?
Clarity, clear weather, forest sents, open-mindedness, peace.
But i don't think those are really common.

Visual artists and music is like cookies and milk, does music do anything for you?
Music is my harddrive. I love all kinds of music, as long as it is thougt through. It can be tablas-players from India who inspire me, to Marylin Mansons Mechanical Animals. They all have their charms and types of inspiration, as long as the music they make has quality. So usually no producers-commercial-crap like Britney or Christina for me.

Radiohead is, since their 'ok computer' album, my absolute favorite. The melancoly they breathe is deadly to me.

Which artists really influence you?
There are so many people that inspire me, even though I am a real critic. But it's small qualities that touch me.
Examples of artists I love in every work they make/made are:
Sebastian Kruger, John Banovich, Lawrence Alma-Tadema, and several others.

Here on GFX I also spotted a LOT of great talent. At the moment, GFX is what inspires me the most. Interacting with fellow-artists, looking at works in progress and results, discussing techniques. It's the best thing I experienced since Art Academy.

How would you describe your style?
I wouldn't.
I am a broadly orientated illustrator. Ofcourse i do have style-elements, but usually, I just can't choose.
I get bored easily so i change techniques and styles, experiment with them, blending them.
But I have to admit: Sometimes I wish I had a bit more recognisability.
If you want to get an idea on what I mean, look here: http://www.doodle.nl

A plus is: My employers are all people who need to have a full-range illustrator.

What's your opinion about traditional media? Is it an advantage to have experience with real pencils, paint or conventional camera?
You're asking me? The answer is quite obvious in my case. Yes, ofcourse it is important to have felt and experienced traditional media. But that's my experience, and maybe I am wrong. I'm not going to argue about that.
I can only say: I love traditional media because of the real feeling i get out of touching the structure of the material, the sents of the paint and paper, gesso and canvas, charcoal and oils, etcetera. Once you managed to learn trads, it has a unique reality to it, creating digital art can never bring.
But I am absolutely pro-digital art. I'm also working with it. My opinion is: A computer is a medium. But a very complex one. First try to get the drawing skills and insights you need from a 3-dimensional point of view. So you can really experience every aspect of the process. And then start working digital. You'll have a way bigger understanding of the basics when you do. And that will enhance the chance on creating GOOD digital art.
It's all about fundaments.

On the creative side, what are you trying to achieve? Is there a reachable goal you've put your focus on?
Being happy with what I do. Staying real to myself in what I make.
I allways try to deliver superb quality.

Is there a certain ritual that takes place before you start working on something?
Before i start, ideas and vision have to 'ferment' in my head. And when I get the right feeling, which feels like a 'go' signal, I start the concrete process.
By now, I can plan the total process. I had to learn that because otherwise you just can't work with deadlines.

What equipment do you use to create your work?
I allways sketch with a H-pencil, refillable.
The other materials I use variate from charcoal to oils.
Most of the free work I do is made with acrylics, sometimes I add colored pencils.

Have you been educated in what you do? Where did you study and how much do you profit from it?
As I said earlier, I did two specialised studies in art. I can't recommend it enough.
The surplus value of it to one's developement and to becoming an artist who creates mature works is priceless.
(to explain: even illustrations for childrens books have to be mature works, I has to do with breaking loose and learning how to handle the craft emotionally as well as technically)

Wich programs do you use and what do you use them for?
In digital illustration I mostly use Photoshop and Illustrator.

How do you work on improving yourself? Any secrets you'd like to share?
The most important thing I do to 'keep up' is observing my environment. Here's why:
We all depend on reality even if we, as artists, really don't want to. It's a good thing we have a refuge in creating new worlds, but we also have to keep in touch with the world. Because I think that when we don't, the art will die. We need the ideas, the inspiration, and the observations that come from looking and communicating with our surroundings.

And ofcourse I make sure I at least create something every day.

What makes your job so much fun?
It is simply the best, most vibrant, creative, intense, and individual job for me. I love what I do. And that's good, because that's definitely a term for becoming an illustrator.

What is the most exciting (commercial) project you've worked on? What made it stand out?
The most exciting one must have been the latest job I did for Jumbo International.
I made a cover for the box on the boardgame 'Captain Billy Bones', the European version of The American game 'Captain Bones Gold'. It wasn't the most difficult job i did, but it was a lot of fun to work on, and I am really excited about the result.
I can't post it here now, because it's still a secret untill it's published.
Other good assignments I did were for Sluis Petfoods, Hallmark, Rotterdam Zoo, several publishers, etc.
In fact; I like every assignment because they can all be challenging.
You have to make them into a challenge, so you get more out of it than just a payment.

Any final words for the readers?
You artists are great. You can make anything you want as long as you do it with passion.
Even when that means getting all worked up about something that doesn't come out the way you want it to.
Passion for the job is definitely the key. And the rest will follow.