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Artist of the Month for October, 2018:
DUO
Renderosity members have voted duo as the October Artist of the Month. Duo is a long time Renderosity member and has contributed hundreds of artworks to various galleries. He has over 800 followers and has thousands of views for his works. Duo specializes in science-fiction themed work. He has professionally designed book covers and many other types of graphic arts.
We are delighted that duo took time from his work to talk with us about his working methods, background and goals as an artist. Thank you, duo!
Be sure to watch the video gallery of 10 of duo's gallery works. And if you have the time stop by his gallery which I know you will enjoy especially if you are big science fiction fan.
Interview with Artist of the Month - DUO
Renderosity: Congratulations, duo! How do you feel about being voted the Artist of the Monty for October?
duo: I'm on Renderosiy since 1999... I'm feeling fine! ;)
Tell us how you got started in creating digital art? What is your background?
duo: My name is Luca Oleastri and I live in Italy. I graduated with a degree as a Surveyor, so my artistic talent comes from within, as I have had no formal artistic education. I’m a totally self-made man, both as a 3D artist and in my professional non-artistic life. In the 1980s I created a Special Effects company, where I worked for 10 years as a model maker and designer.
From the 1990s to the 2000s, I worked in the publishing field: first as journalist, than as Editor-in-Chief… and after, as a publisher in my own publishing house. During the years I’ve covered all those professional roles counting only on my personal abilities, and my curiosity in every professional field that I’ve touched. In the last two decades my creativity and my professional skills has leaned towards computer graphics and 3D illustrations in particular — with which I wanted to create professional artworks for books and magazines. I'm happy to say that this objective has been fulfilled, with hundreds ofworks sold worldwide to private and corporate clients (see my website www.rotwangstudio.com).
Currently I'm building my worlds in Bologna, Italy, where I share a home with Paola and our cats Leeloo and Artù.
Science fiction is your main theme: why is that genre so interesting to you?
duo: Becoming a genre illustrator has been one of my dreams since I was young. I’m an avid reader of science fiction. The majority of the science fiction books that fill the shelves of my home library were purchased because of their cover art. I’m also a collector of Sci-Fi and fantasy illustration books (I have nearly every illustrated book that was published—worldwide), and over the years I have spent a lot of time studying and admiring them.
You primarily use Poser and Bryce to create scenes. Why have you chosen these programs instead of others?
moebiustraveller: As model maker, at first, I created spaceships and dioramas from scratch. I tried to reproduce the mood that I saw in the illustrations that I loved. Yet, even when I was able to reach heights in the field of plastic modeling, I never managed to get exactly what I imagined. I then tried my hand at recreating my visions with an airbrush. However, I soon found out that it was a medium requiring enormous skills; not allowing for error or afterthought.
In 1997 I discovered Bryce 3.1. I simultaneously discovered that digital art was the media that was for me… It was at that moment I became a Bryce “otaku.” Later I also get closer to Poser. These two softwares, although certainly dated, still today allow me to do my works very quickly and speed is essential in my job. I use also any other strange 2D and 3D programs that would allow me to speed up my work. I love to use strange and little-known software, such as GroBoto, and many other unusual programs.
I also use Adobe Photoshop, a lot! In my works of art, my goals are not to achieve photorealism, but to produce illustrations. Working within Photoshop, I will often remove details and make everything less cold. Anyway the important thing is the final result
What is the workflow on a typical project? For example, your recent Alien Factor. How did you create this evocative scene?
duo: I don’t use sketches. My works came from visions that change during the implementation of artwork, directly in 3D. Sometimes I start putting something down, then I change everything. This is one of the reasons I still use Bryce. Only “good old” Bryce gives me the creative freedom that no other sophisticated 3D software can give. I’ve also used Maya. But, with Maya, to do something “displayable” takes hours, and sometimes my customers want to see their vision come to life in minutes, not days. On the other hand, Bryce cannot do all the things Maya does. However, after ten years of “Brycing,” and with the help of Photoshop, I can force Bryce to do things that it should not be able to do.
Who are some of your influences? Do you have a favorite science fiction artist?
duo: I have an artistic “hero” and some artistic muses. My artistic “hero” is Syd Mead. For decades, he has been the best car concept designer, as well as the best movie concept artist on the market (his work can be seen in the movie, Blade Runner). His style, with his "new era of design" concept, is nearly unattainable for me and for the media that I use.
As for my style, even though I use "modern" technologies, I am extremely influenced by great science fiction and fantasy illustrators of the '80s like Chris Foss, Peter Elson, Syd Mead, Angus McKie, Chris Moore, Jim Burns and Fred Gambino, who have set an aesthetic standard that lasts until today not only in terms of science fiction aesthetics, but also in the design of modern objects and technologies.
Any words of advice for Renderosity members who might just be starting out?
duo: Just keep trying and produce a lot of images to practice. Take a good look at the works of the great genre illustrators and be inspired by them, especially as regards the framing of the scenes and the palettes. Do not try to invent the wheel again.
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