Can you share as much as possible about the piece and how you conceived of it?
Jenkins came to my mind without even thinking about it. Everyday I park my motorbike in a garage and behind it there’s the scene that you can see in the design but only with the central chair. It’s curious that everyday I needed to take a look at it as if there was something special in it that I should kind of “protect”. One day the light of the sun was so amazing that I had to run to my house to pick up the camera and came back to capture it. I started with a HDR capture with a warm tonemapping adjustment and after that Jenkins almost appeared from behind the pneumatics and jumped into the chair with his book and glasses, it’s kind of funny but the idea came like this! At this point I worked on creating the universe of a lonely reading rodent, trying to give the scene the life that it needed and I felt everyday I saw it. Basically it is a matter of completing the scene with some captures of real and painted elements that you would believe are really there. Matte painting did the rest; blending images with lights, shadows, colors, and textures.
Would you share three unique things in your workspace that inspire you?
Music, is something that inspires me very much, everybody feels with music, dreams with music, and for artists music is kind of a necessary thing. I can’t imagine myself working without it.
I really like looking at other people works, it always inspires me and makes me feel how much I can still learn. That’s a really deep and respectful sensation. Also, the street. When I need to rest my mind from my work I usually go for a walk. Curiously that is when the best ideas come to my mind. That’s why I always bring a little sketchbook with me no matter what.
What’s the best compliment/most extreme reaction you’ve ever received in response to your work?
“I love your work, will you marry me?” Haha! Now seriously, the best compliment for me is when I finish a course and my students tell me how grateful they are. Teaching people what you know and looking at how they improve themselves is something very special. And I remember when a newspaper published a piec of mine called “Some other time”. I received lots of emails and calls complimenting me on that illustration and asking to buy prints.
What would be on your quintessential mixtape?
Hans Zimmer, Harry-Gregson Williams, Yoko Kanno (especially all the Ghost in the Shell soundtracks) and E.S. Posthumus.
If your art was music, what would it sound like?
Original soundtracks, from films to anime or videogames. Almost all very melodic. The thing is; I usually work while listening to music I’ve selected for the project I’m working on at the moment. I can still remember the music I was listening too on almost all my projects, c’mon ask me!
What do you have as your desktop wallpaper?
A landscape of a lake with snowy mountains and a storm in the background. I always have landscapes.
What are your vices/guilty pleasures?
Taking hours to look at technical tutorials. Searching and creating new resources like brushes, textures, and so on. That’s a good thing but I can do it for hours. And chocolate, that’s a really bad one…
What’s the first picture you can remember drawing as a child?
It was a doodle, impossible to identify with anything. My mother told me that when she asked me about the picture I said: “Can’t you see it? It’s a car!” Children stuff!
If you were a dinosaur, what kind would you be and why?
I love dinosaurs! And I suppose I would be an Archaeopteryx. This dinosaur was the transition from dinosaurs to birds, it was different and original, the first of a new species. I would like to be special too!
What was your last memorable dream?
I was going to a meeting by motorbike when I realized I was wearing pajamas and slippers. Absolutely terrifying…
If you had to change careers, what would be next?
A writer, I love writing sci-fi and fantasy stories.
What’s your motto?
Be always honest to yourself.
