@splitsaber.exe

Instagram: @splitsaber.exe

1. What's your story? Where are you from?

I'm a graphic designer/producer based a little outside of Atlanta, Georgia. I also work as an overnight technician for a local mobile management company.

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

I would most likely categorize my aesthetic as deeply sci-fi oriented. I genuinely love anything in the science fiction realm and most notably from the 70s. The weathered hardcover books and vinyl art from that decade are some of the most inspiring and phenomenal illustrations I've seen.

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

Even though I don't traditionally do it myself and it's beyond my expertise, I've always deeply admired airbrush art. It'll always be eye candy to me. There is something so ethereal and magical about it. 

4. What is your artistic process like?

Generally my process begins on my iPad Pro in Procreate 5 (which is an insanely amazing application I might add) and then much of the post-processing such as textures and color processing happen on my iMac in Photoshop CS6. Some of my pieces are rough 3D renders I did in Blender and trace over in Procreate. I often get asked about how I achieve my textures and it's nothing too complex, as I get most of my textures from TrueGritTextureSupply. Andrew Fairclough of Kindred Studio is a madman and a genius.

5. Who and/or what inspires your work? 

There are so many traditionalist/digital artists that I adore and who inspire me greatly. Off the top of my head: Phillip Castle, Shusei Nagaoka, Robert Beatty, Keith Rankin, David Rudnick, Yoshitaka Amano, Bernhard Martin and there are just too many to list. My father has been such a huge force in my life. It didn't always start out that way of course because of my own insecurities but my father is an insanely talented individual. What he can do with traditional art/mediums is bewildering and when I was growing up, it was intimidating. He's always been this gentle giant and wise teacher that I've looked up to. I feel so fortunate to have such a creative individual in my life. Not only as my dearest friend but as my father.

6. What role does art play in your life? How does it change the way you view the world?

I was very apprehensive about putting my digital art on social media and not in some self-deprecating artist type of way. I just didn't feel confident enough in it and I also had a mildly traumatic experience with posting some of my early works on Facebook. It truly didn't play a big part in my life until recently as I only had occasionally archived a collection of pieces to show friends. It was something I never took seriously and I was mainly focusing on producing music. Art conceptually, however, has always been an integral part of my life. It enriches everything. 

7. Where did you study?

Albeit I never went to school for art, I first became truly aware of my love for digital art back when the internet was vastly smaller. There were these art sites hosted by Yahoo! GeoCities that really fascinated me and taught me a lot about digital art. It was a resource haven at the time when things were very limited. 

8. Where do you see yourself in five years?

In five years I'm hoping to have my own place with a personal studio setup. Where things could be more streamlined and efficient. My workflow is mildly detrimented by my current space.

9. What about in ten?

In ten years I'd hope I would be building upon the necessary structures in my life starting a family with my partner. 

10. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

I'm always hoping to inspire and invigorate creatives and musicians alike. to make my illustrations companions to their respective creative journeys. I just always love when my designs find a home. Either for their single/album, it's always a perfect marriage of art. 

11. Now, tell us a little more about you as a person: what is your favourite food?

My palette used to be very vanilla but I've currently been obsessed with Persian food. 

12. Favourite book?

Notes From The Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky

13. Favourite genre of music? 

Ugh that's tough. I love most all music from the 90s and early 00s.

14. What are your hobbies? 

I'm borderline obsessed with this mobile card game. Though I don't release much these days I still enjoy making music in Ableton. Films will always be paramount. I love the quick access to parks we have in my area and I thoroughly enjoy hiking. 

15. If you weren't an artist, what would you be?

I suppose I'd want to learn a trade. I'd go to some vocational school and learn a trade. It seems the most pragmatic.