Interview with the 2nd place winner of Derby 59
OpenDesign has been around since Derby 34 where he came in 3rd on his first try. He's back to show us it wasn't a fluke and to tell us a little more about himself.
Shirt.Woot Stats? (first derby / shirts bought / shirts printed)
34 (Canada) / 3 / 2. My first was Canada (derby 34), which I somehow managed to get third place in with "Northern Lights (Take II)". Beginner’s luck, maybe? I’ve only bought three, of which my favorite is probably "Ooooh, Shiney!" by DSladek. I just think it’s a brilliant illustration.
What are you tools of choice?
I mostly use
Inkscape, and I also use
GIMP from time to time. I originally chose open-source software because it offered more features than any software I could actually afford, but over time I’ve come to love the open-source idea and the community behind it. As far as drawing goes I use paper if I’m doing concept art or need intricate line work; otherwise I do a lot of Bezier editing since I don’t have a tablet. The new sculpt tool and Spiro system in Inkscape make it easier to get by without a tablet, but I still want one!
What is your typical process for going about a design?
It really depends on what I’m doing, but most of the time I begin by researching and drawing some concept art. For "Plumeria Paradise" this involved looking at a lot of pictures of Hawaiian tribal tattoos and researching their meanings. I then drew concept sketches of some of the elements I wanted to incorporate, and once I had a solid idea I began drawing paths in Inkscape. Sometimes my workflow looks completely different, but that’s pretty typical for me.
What design or art experience do you have outside the derby?
I’ve always loved art and design, but I’ve only become serious about it in the past couple of years. I mostly do digital work now, which began when I found some photo-editing program on my family’s computer when I was thirteen. One or two years later I dove into 3d art with Maya and then with Blender, an open-source 3d suite. The past year and a half I worked for an architectural graphics studio as a 3d artist, so I actually have more tangible experience in 3d than I do in 2d. I’m now in my first year at the University of Cincinnati studying Transportation Design.
Which artists or designers inspire you?
Franz von Holzhausen is one of the top car designers in the world, and he brings a real passion and excitement to design that I am striving to achieve. His recent concepts with Mazda are simply stunning, and I think serve as an inspiration to designers of all disciplines.
Would you like to do art/design full-time? If so, what is your dream job?
I’d love to work as a designer for a car company after I finish school. The fact that I’m even studying to become a car designer seems like a dream come true —- probably because it is.
Any plans to ever sell your designs using a print-to-order shop like SpreadShirt or CafePress?
Not currently, but maybe down the road.
What advice do you have for new derby artists?
Don’t be discouraged by your designs that aren’t well received. I’ve had pretty good luck for the most part, but there have been a couple of my designs that completely tanked. Not every design will do well, and a lot of the derby rides on luck. Every time I do a design I improve, so I’m better for it no matter what happens!
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