Digital Magazines

Dangerous Ink meets the mega talented Heiko Windisch and asks what’s the deal with the pandas in space?

All images © Heiko Windisch

Hi Heiko, how are you today?
Hello! I’m fine! I’ve been working on a triptych for an upcoming show that’s dealing with biblical and non-biblical beasts. Apart from that, I’m doing preparation work for a big scale drawing that I’ll actually start working on in a few weeks.

When did you first start making art?
I was a quiet kid, so whenever I wasn’t outside playing I was doodling and drawing away indoors. Later in school I was drawing in class whenever I was bored. I felt most at ease in art class, because it all came naturally to me. I’m very happy to be able to draw to make a living.

Your work features Pandas in space, skeletons riding giraffes and other strange creatures. How do you come up with your ideas?
I’m trying to build my own mythology, with my own vocabulary while constantly trying to expand my range. It wouldn’t really interest me to get too realistic or mundane, that’s why I always try to give my work a sort of otherworldly twist.

How do you go about creating your work?
Most of my work starts as pencil-on-paper. It then depends on the type of project where I’ll take it from there. Most often I’ll ink the pencil sketch, scan it and colour it in in Photoshop or Illustrator, sometimes I scan the pencil sketch. I’ve been working in vectors more and more lately, if only because it gives me greater possibilities and generally works well with the way I draw and go about creating pictures. Often times I get an idea without a set medium in mind, and it’s only later in the process I begin to push it in a certain direction.

You’ve already had your work feature on threadless tees, I can see your work as toys, jewellery, children’s books and more. Any plans to move into other fields?
One long-term goal would be creating a brand for my work and sell merchandise of it, or to have my own studio/store somewhere. Or to do the same with other artists who would like to do the same. I’ve got a big to-do list.

To see more of Heiko’s work check out heikowindisch.tumblr.com facebook.com/heikowindisch, heikowindisch.com/blog, society6.com/heikowindisch

Dangerous Ink talks to the amazing Charlie Immer to find out more about his candy-coated pain…

Hi Charlie, what’s new with you?

I’m currently working around the clock on my upcoming solo show at the Last Rites Gallery in NYC. The show is called PEELED and it opens June 5th. Lots of skeletons and goo.

When and why did you first start making art?
I’ve been making imagery since I was in preschool and I will admit that what I did then is very similar to what I do now. Medical Illustrations and Cartoons (Silly Symphony) are where I draw a lot of inspiration then and now.

How do you describe your work to those who haven’t seen it before?
Violence minus the pain coated in candy.

So what sort of reaction does your work usually receive?
People usually react positively and they smile. I am very glad when they smile or laugh especially at the more graphic paintings.

How do you go about creating your work?
I use a technique similar to the painters of old. Glazing Oil paints and building up opacity gradually – pushing and pulling the darks and lights. My paintings can take a week and a half to a month to finish.

What’s next for you?
After my show in June I will take a very small break and then I have a few groups show in the fall. Then I have a solo show at Roq La Rue in August of 2011.

Get a piece of Charlie here virtuartgallery.com/home/charlie-immer and see more of his work here charlieimmer.com

All images © Charlie Immer 2010

English Illustrator Iain MacArthur has two very distinctive styles, one surreal and fantastical and the other photo-realistic; we talk to him to find out which is closest to his heart

Hi Iain, what are you up to at the moment?
Aloha, I’ve been rather busy with commission pieces and also some new stuff that I’m uploading onto my website. Been working on 2 projects this week. One for on a shirt commission for a dude in the Caribbean and the other one for Nike on a footlocker tee project for the summer. Whilst juggling that I’m also working on some more big scale surreal portraits.

All images © Iain MacArthur 2010

When and why did you first start making art?
I was a drawing maniac when I was a little whippersnapper, doing little doodles on the side of my schoolbooks in class. Though I always got told off for it, I couldn’t help it, it was a habit something for me to do when I was bored. I found it hard paying attention in a class that wasn’t interesting to me. I got into art passionately when I was in college. That’s when I wanted to do illustration and painting as a career. Artists like Max Ernst, Alfonse Mucha, and Bruno 9li where one of many artists that inspire me to do become an artist.

What inspires you?
I get inspiration from elements surrounding me, things that catch my eye like furniture patterns and geometrical patterns. I also like to look at birds or animals for inspiration; most of my work has animal reference.

You have two quite different styles, one quite surreal and fantastical and the other more photo-realistic, which do you prefer creating?
I do love drawing photo-realistic portraits in my spare time, just like making things look perfect when drawing faces or figures. Usually it takes me the whole day to finish drawing a portrait but when I’m finished I’m never satisfied from the way it looks. I’m my own worst critic. I guess some artists are like that with their pieces.

Though drawing realistic portraits are fun to do I also like integrating intricate patterns into the pieces to make it stand out more. Make it look like something is coming out of them like there inner self or it could be there emotion of happiness.

How do you go about creating your work?
When creating a piece it depends I mostly use pencil and pigment pens to construct my subjects. It’s a long process. When I do color images I use Photoshop and color it on there with a drawing tablet. I listen to music, which helps a lot when I’m drawing. It gets me motivated and focused on what I’m drawing. I like working on a big scale, at the moment I’m working on A2 or A3 but I’m pushing myself to go bigger.

What have you been listening to?
Anything with a good beat and rhythm gets me going in. At the moment I mostly listen to daft punk, beastie boys, battles and vampire weekend. I’m really getting into vampire weekend’s new album.

What’s next for you?
Hmm… possibly making big scale portrait pieces and getting them in exhibitions if I can. I would love to do that this year! And also want to do more commission work for magazines or poster designs, at the moment I’m doing shirt commissions which is good but want to broaden on doing different types of commissions, if I’m lucky (fingers crossed).

See more of Iain’s work at www.iainmacarthur.carbonmade.com

Check out the work of Berlin trio Falk Hoger, Attila Szamosi and Lars Wunderlich, collectively known as Peachbeach. They create awesome illustrations and designs you can drool over, wear and stick on your walls.

Want some? See Behance, Flickr, Twitter, Myspace and Facebook

All images © Peachbeach 2010

We meet the artist and comic creator Barnaby Ward aka Somefield and talk movies, animals and the end of the world

Girl and Snail • All images © Barnaby Ward 2010

Hi Barnaby, how are you today?
Pretty good thanks. I have a few projects going on at the moment. I’m primarily focused on concept design for an upcoming CGI kid’s movie, which just started production. I’m also developing some new comics projects after being on a bit of a comics hiatus.

Lets go back to the beginning, when did you first start making art?
I’ve been drawing my whole life. It’s hard to determine what started it or what keeps it going. It’s all very impulsive, and I don’t have much control over it.

Humprey

Read the rest of this entry »

Iunewind is an award winning Russian artist and designer who has been working steadily for a number of years. Sadly he has also been ripped of by unscrupulous ad agencies, which unfortunately is an all too regular risk for freelancers.

One of the great series of images on his site are colour swatch landscapes such as these. If you get some time it’s definitely worth a look, and these great images are also available as free wallpapers. Nice.

Image © iunewind

Rachel Caldwell (Thirsty Fly) resides in Philadelphia, USA with her husband and son. She grew up in the freezing mountains of northern New Hampshire and is the daughter of a realism painter. She seemed destined for art school when at the young age of 7 she famously smeared her finger through her dad’s oil painting! In college Rachel studied printmaking, drawing, and graphic design and holds a B.F.A. in Communication Design from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania where she won a national Clio award in advertising.

Since 1997 she has been employed as design director for a large financial company where she has won numerous awards including an IABC Gold Quill Award and the Grand Award of Excellence from the Advertising Club of Delaware. In 2006, she began drawing more seriously and started a freelance illustration career. Her clients include Fender Musical Instruments and Teefury. She also teaches graphic design on an adjunct basis at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

You can see more of Rachel’s work on here site – http://thirstyfly.blogspot.com/