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3Dtotal: Your website describes you as a “Three Dimensional Graphic Character Artist Extraordinaire!” This is a great title and I would like to know how you think your work differs from the more standard 3D character images we see?
Roman: That title wasn’t meant too seriously [Laughs]. I just really don’t like to be categorized, so I had to take such long title! I suppose my work differs from others in terms of the themes and subjects I tend to choose. The colors and aesthetics I choose seem different too; I like it to be bold and edgy. Some people like it, some not. For instance, my “Booty Princess” will not appeal to everyone, although I believe it’s closer to the actual sensuality of a woman then other photo-model-based works you will find around. I tend to stay away from CG clichés such as Sci Fi and Fantasy, as they don’t hold any interest for me. I like imperfection, true beauty and I take my inspiration from present day fashion and culture, with a touch of
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nostalgia. And as I don’t really approach my work as being “3D”, whatever gets the job done works. 50 percent or more of the “magic” happens in Photoshop. I don’t like to texture and play around with render settings for my personal work too much, so I keep it simple and straightforward most of the time. Some works are even screengrabs straight out of Mudbox and then painted over (ie. the “EVIL” trio) Other works may be intended for animation so then my approach may differ. For instance I just picked my “Boxeur Feminine” (2005) stuff up again for a short animation, cleaning it up, reworking and taking it to a different level. 2010 will be a new start for me, having put my personal work to one side for the past year or so. I’m also now trying to take my creativity away from the computer screen and transforming it into a more tangible form. |
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3Dtotal: It’s great to see such original work and as you say, less of the clichés. Do these preferences also apply to other art forms, such as the type of movies you like? As there are so many Sci Fi and Fantasy films out there, do you tend to avoid these?
Roman: I don’t try to avoid anything, but since I was a kid, I’ve never really been able to relate to dragons or spaceships. I did like movies like Star Wars and The Goonies back then, so I guess an appreciation of Sci Fi/Fantasy is somewhere in my system. But my interest was more in films such as Back to the Future and old Japanese animations that were broadcasted back then. Nowadays I also like to watch more films and animations that aren’t coming from the big studios. I've not checked out any of the big CG animation films since The Incredibles; it just doesn't attract me. The last movie that inspired me was Songs from the Second Floor. But I'm not much of purist; I consume everything that crosses my path and as I'm not good with names, I just archive images in my mind [Laughs].
3Dtotal: Where are you working now? What is it like? And does your boss ride you like a slave!?
Roman: For the past year I have been working for a new Dutch company in Amsterdam, Virtual Fairground. Managing an art team for the first time is quite different from working on my own and away from my |
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specialty, which are characters. It's a good creative atmosphere and I work with both old and new colleagues, so that’s good. I really don't like to be ridden though! I still try to do personal and illustration work in my own time, to keep me focused and sane. I think it's good to have phases in how you “plan” your professional life, so having some freelance and personal work to do away from the office is important for me. Also doing |
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“nothing” is important!
3Dtotal: Do you have much creative freedom with your projects there? And do they embrace some of your alternate ideas?
Roman: Well what can I say ... it really depends on the project, but I get my space and input. In the position I'm at now it's up to me to take the creative freedom and try to find the limits. With projects that target a specific audiences it's sometimes hard as the there are many more factors then just my personal preference. Some of the time I have to tone down some of my ideas, but I never feel forced to neglect my instinct and that’s cool. At the moment I’m also taking a lot of enjoyment from getting the best out of my team, while enjoying the process and the office hours.
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