.
Another picture I took in Braives (Belgium) a few weeks ago. Model: Caroline Madison. Caroline was looking great with the sun behind... The above photo has been shot with the Samsung NX11, provided by Samsung Electronics. Co., Ltd.
It was the end of the day, there was a beautiful sunlight. I took this picture in Braives (Belgium) a few weeks ago. Model: Caroline Madison. The above photo has been shot with the Samsung NX11, provided by Samsung Electronics. Co., Ltd.
.
.
You are not an average or ordinary artist. Your work is quite unusual. How come that you have decided to be so different?
This was not really consciously decided. I’m a person willing to express ideas and feelings with the world. If I wouldn’t, I would die instantly. My purpose has always been to be provocative but in a positive and inventive way. I want people to think: “Damn, yes it’s possible!”.
How hard is it to be such an artist? I suppose it takes a lot of time to be so creative and innovative?
Being creative is my favorite part of the job, I’m getting used to it but it’s a full-time commitment with many sacrifices and many satisfactions too. Anything that’s more technical, mechanical and repetitive tends to annoy me very much and I always try to avoid it. Being imaginative and finding original ideas take a lot of time and energy, yes.
Can you describe how you are creating portraits in digital circlism and where did you get idea for that? How many of these portraits did you make?
“Digital Circlism” is a mix of Pop Art and Pointillism. It is created with digital tools usually featuring celebrities. It is made of thousands of flat circles on a black background. Each circle has a different color, a different size and a different tone. I often make a photomontage first using a bunch of references, then a digital painting and I finally apply my "digital circlist" technique. When making a portrait with circles, it is important to focus on the dynamic movement of someone's face. I place each circle one by one, there is no automatic process, it's a time consuming method). Several softwares can be used to achieve “digital circlist” images.
I’ve only made 13 portraits so far as it is very time consuming. It takes between 100 and 180 hours for a single portrait. I started my first image with digital circles in February 2010. It's still a new technique, evolving all the time. I started it with flat circles, I might be creating other patterns soon.
Finally, I've been making all kinds of portraits since more than 15 years. I wanted to develop a very original technique. As I've been working with digital tools recently, this came quite naturally.
Your project Pencil vs Camera got a lot of attention in media. How about that, are you still involved in that project and how much time you needed to have a collection of those photos? How do you make them?
Yes, I’m still working on it, definitely. I started the series in April 2010. I’ve made some 70 “Pencil Vs Camera” images so far and I intend to make 100 at least. It will be finished in a few months. So the full series will have required some 2 years of work. It’s quite long in a lifetime.
I was humbly pleased to see the huge impact of “Pencil Vs Camera”. If I die today, this is certainly the only thing people will remember of me. But there is always a way to do better and keep it going…
Which tools do you use for digital circlism and which ones for Pencil vs Camera?
“Digital Circlism” is 100% digital so I mainly use digital tools… A computer (MAC OS X), a digital graphic tablet (Wacom Intuos 4) and softwares like Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.
“Pencil Vs Camera” is half digital (photography) and half traditional (hand made drawing) so I use cameras (Nikon, Samsung and Sony) paper and pencils (different brands).
Where are you looking for inspiration?
Nature: Nature is a god for me. I could spend days walking in empty fields, forests, deserts or mountains. I would never be tired of admiring all the beauties and landscapes Earth can offer. I find comfort and balance in natural places when I feel sad or depressed.
Human intelligence: All the accomplishments of Mankind… There are a lot of things to include in this category: Knowledge, Culture, Sciences, Arts, Music, Architecture, Engineering, Computers, Technology… When I see a skyscraper for instance, I see it like a huge sculpture and I’m really impressed by the quantity of work, genius and human mastership involved. There are so many examples and sub-categories.
Human societies: Interactions between people and the way humans find amazing solutions to complex problems have always intrigued and inspired me.
Personal stuff: I’m also inspired by many small events in my life, my family, my friends, the people I love.
Can you live from your art, are you working somewhere or are you one of those privileged artists who can make a living from their art work?
It has taken several years before I could eventually manage to make a living out of my creative work. I have made in the past plenty of little jobs that didn’t satisfy me at all. I’m now a full-time artist, I have no direct boss, which is awesome. I feel lucky for that. My only boss is the public I'm making art for. But as I said, it took many years to get there, and it's not the end.
What do you think about using new and trendy technology in art? There are some "old school" artist who feel that art isn't really art if you are using super-modern gadgets to create some piece of art? Do you think that they are exaggerating?
I think artists need to be a mirror of the society they live in. So, if it's for the better, why not using all the technological tools available to make new kinds of artworks?
Will your future art career be as innovative as it is today, do you think you will have enough ideas in the coming years to work in the way you are working now?
That’s an excellent question. I know that I’ll have to find new and fresh resources to fill my creative well because I don’t want to lack of ideas. This means I might do a 1-year break and live some new experiences.
Are you afraid that one day you will run out of ideas?
As mentioned above, this is a fear I have sometimes. I don’t want to be redundant in my creative works. So I’ll have to find a solution if I ever run out of ideas in the future.
This was not really consciously decided. I’m a person willing to express ideas and feelings with the world. If I wouldn’t, I would die instantly. My purpose has always been to be provocative but in a positive and inventive way. I want people to think: “Damn, yes it’s possible!”.
How hard is it to be such an artist? I suppose it takes a lot of time to be so creative and innovative?
Being creative is my favorite part of the job, I’m getting used to it but it’s a full-time commitment with many sacrifices and many satisfactions too. Anything that’s more technical, mechanical and repetitive tends to annoy me very much and I always try to avoid it. Being imaginative and finding original ideas take a lot of time and energy, yes.
Can you describe how you are creating portraits in digital circlism and where did you get idea for that? How many of these portraits did you make?
“Digital Circlism” is a mix of Pop Art and Pointillism. It is created with digital tools usually featuring celebrities. It is made of thousands of flat circles on a black background. Each circle has a different color, a different size and a different tone. I often make a photomontage first using a bunch of references, then a digital painting and I finally apply my "digital circlist" technique. When making a portrait with circles, it is important to focus on the dynamic movement of someone's face. I place each circle one by one, there is no automatic process, it's a time consuming method). Several softwares can be used to achieve “digital circlist” images.
I’ve only made 13 portraits so far as it is very time consuming. It takes between 100 and 180 hours for a single portrait. I started my first image with digital circles in February 2010. It's still a new technique, evolving all the time. I started it with flat circles, I might be creating other patterns soon.
Finally, I've been making all kinds of portraits since more than 15 years. I wanted to develop a very original technique. As I've been working with digital tools recently, this came quite naturally.
Your project Pencil vs Camera got a lot of attention in media. How about that, are you still involved in that project and how much time you needed to have a collection of those photos? How do you make them?
Yes, I’m still working on it, definitely. I started the series in April 2010. I’ve made some 70 “Pencil Vs Camera” images so far and I intend to make 100 at least. It will be finished in a few months. So the full series will have required some 2 years of work. It’s quite long in a lifetime.
I was humbly pleased to see the huge impact of “Pencil Vs Camera”. If I die today, this is certainly the only thing people will remember of me. But there is always a way to do better and keep it going…
Which tools do you use for digital circlism and which ones for Pencil vs Camera?
“Digital Circlism” is 100% digital so I mainly use digital tools… A computer (MAC OS X), a digital graphic tablet (Wacom Intuos 4) and softwares like Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.
“Pencil Vs Camera” is half digital (photography) and half traditional (hand made drawing) so I use cameras (Nikon, Samsung and Sony) paper and pencils (different brands).
Where are you looking for inspiration?
Nature: Nature is a god for me. I could spend days walking in empty fields, forests, deserts or mountains. I would never be tired of admiring all the beauties and landscapes Earth can offer. I find comfort and balance in natural places when I feel sad or depressed.
Human intelligence: All the accomplishments of Mankind… There are a lot of things to include in this category: Knowledge, Culture, Sciences, Arts, Music, Architecture, Engineering, Computers, Technology… When I see a skyscraper for instance, I see it like a huge sculpture and I’m really impressed by the quantity of work, genius and human mastership involved. There are so many examples and sub-categories.
Human societies: Interactions between people and the way humans find amazing solutions to complex problems have always intrigued and inspired me.
Personal stuff: I’m also inspired by many small events in my life, my family, my friends, the people I love.
Can you live from your art, are you working somewhere or are you one of those privileged artists who can make a living from their art work?
It has taken several years before I could eventually manage to make a living out of my creative work. I have made in the past plenty of little jobs that didn’t satisfy me at all. I’m now a full-time artist, I have no direct boss, which is awesome. I feel lucky for that. My only boss is the public I'm making art for. But as I said, it took many years to get there, and it's not the end.
What do you think about using new and trendy technology in art? There are some "old school" artist who feel that art isn't really art if you are using super-modern gadgets to create some piece of art? Do you think that they are exaggerating?
I think artists need to be a mirror of the society they live in. So, if it's for the better, why not using all the technological tools available to make new kinds of artworks?
Will your future art career be as innovative as it is today, do you think you will have enough ideas in the coming years to work in the way you are working now?
That’s an excellent question. I know that I’ll have to find new and fresh resources to fill my creative well because I don’t want to lack of ideas. This means I might do a 1-year break and live some new experiences.
Are you afraid that one day you will run out of ideas?
As mentioned above, this is a fear I have sometimes. I don’t want to be redundant in my creative works. So I’ll have to find a solution if I ever run out of ideas in the future.
(*) Jutarnji list is a daily newspaper in Croatia.
.
.
At what age did you become interested in drawing?
I think I was 11 year old or so. At that age, I knew that drawing would change my existence and that it would become the primary way to express my ideas and my conception of life.
What other mediums have you used or keep using?
To mention just a few, I’ve tried many different mediums like pencils, ballpoint pens, pastels, acrylic, oil, watercolor, ecoline and ink, on paper or on canvas. I’ve also made some sculptures and I’m more into photography, painting and digital art now.
Tell us what those mediums offer you. What makes you want to work with them?
Each medium offers something particular. It’s also nice to mix them together to get unexpected results. I used to work only with simple tools, easily available. I’m now trying more and more to prepare my projects in advance and to make unusual combinations with the instruments I use (See my most recent work “Flesh and Acrylic”, for instance).
Before your series “Pencil Vs Camera”, what other forms of creativity have you tried?
I’ve done in the past other series that have had less impact than Pencil Vs Camera, like “Wild Animals Downtown”, “Chess Art”, “Digital Caricatures” and others. I never know how the public will react to my new works so I try not thinking too much about it. But when I see that people really don’t like something I’m doing, I just stop and start something else because I want to make art for people, not for me. I’m trying to make it understandable by everybody.
How did you get to the kind of art you are doing now ? What triggered it?
Pencil Vs Camera is a mishmash of my two favorite disciplines: drawing and photography, so this series came quite naturally. Before starting this project, I saw some artists merging a photo in a photo or a drawing in a drawing, but I had never seen a drawing in a photo. So I thought there was a perfect opportunity for me to bring something new and creative.
Which are your favourite themes and subjects?
In Pencil Vs Camera, the main themes and values I want to share are love, friendship and happiness. I like to focus on architecture, portraits, nature and animals (a bit of everything). This series mixes imagination and reality in a simple way with simple tools. The only boundary is my own perception of the world, my own imagination. I like playing with illusions, visual tricks and surrealism. Finally, my hand is always visible. I think it emphasizes the connection between the viewer and the action happening on the little piece of paper.
When you include people in your works, do you try to do it without them noticing, do you tell them or give them a hint of the situation, or it's not relevant?
When they are famous, there is usually no problem at all, because these people are used to see their personal image exploited, as long as it remains positive. When they are random people I meet in the street, it’s more delicate, I have to make sure we don’t recognize them too much. If we can identify their face, I have to ask them the permission to have their image potentially published in the entire world.
How do people react when they realize that you're drawing them or are asked to serve as models?
They are often surprised and intrigued but still very positive and willing to collaborate.
What's their reaction after seing the final result?
Most of the time, they are very happy with it.
When you decide to start one of your artworks, how do you plan your day?
I often find ideas before going out and starting a new project. I just decide a bit in advance where I’ll go and I do the sketch on the place where I’ll take the final picture. If needed, I do the drawing home, at my desk, more comfortably, and I come back later to the scenery where I intend to take the photo.
Do you have plans to make this kind of creative work with other mediums?
Good question. I might be doing “Pencil Vs Camera XXL”, which means that I might use some huge paper on wooden panel (several meters long) and ask several people to carry it in front of a nice landscape, then make a giant drawing on it and take a final picture…
What would you like to try next?
I just started a new project called “Flesh and Acrylic”, in which I paint abstract shapes with acrylic on a life model. I think this series has a big potential too, but it’s only the beginning.
I think I was 11 year old or so. At that age, I knew that drawing would change my existence and that it would become the primary way to express my ideas and my conception of life.
What other mediums have you used or keep using?
To mention just a few, I’ve tried many different mediums like pencils, ballpoint pens, pastels, acrylic, oil, watercolor, ecoline and ink, on paper or on canvas. I’ve also made some sculptures and I’m more into photography, painting and digital art now.
Tell us what those mediums offer you. What makes you want to work with them?
Each medium offers something particular. It’s also nice to mix them together to get unexpected results. I used to work only with simple tools, easily available. I’m now trying more and more to prepare my projects in advance and to make unusual combinations with the instruments I use (See my most recent work “Flesh and Acrylic”, for instance).
Before your series “Pencil Vs Camera”, what other forms of creativity have you tried?
I’ve done in the past other series that have had less impact than Pencil Vs Camera, like “Wild Animals Downtown”, “Chess Art”, “Digital Caricatures” and others. I never know how the public will react to my new works so I try not thinking too much about it. But when I see that people really don’t like something I’m doing, I just stop and start something else because I want to make art for people, not for me. I’m trying to make it understandable by everybody.
How did you get to the kind of art you are doing now ? What triggered it?
Pencil Vs Camera is a mishmash of my two favorite disciplines: drawing and photography, so this series came quite naturally. Before starting this project, I saw some artists merging a photo in a photo or a drawing in a drawing, but I had never seen a drawing in a photo. So I thought there was a perfect opportunity for me to bring something new and creative.
Which are your favourite themes and subjects?
In Pencil Vs Camera, the main themes and values I want to share are love, friendship and happiness. I like to focus on architecture, portraits, nature and animals (a bit of everything). This series mixes imagination and reality in a simple way with simple tools. The only boundary is my own perception of the world, my own imagination. I like playing with illusions, visual tricks and surrealism. Finally, my hand is always visible. I think it emphasizes the connection between the viewer and the action happening on the little piece of paper.
When you include people in your works, do you try to do it without them noticing, do you tell them or give them a hint of the situation, or it's not relevant?
When they are famous, there is usually no problem at all, because these people are used to see their personal image exploited, as long as it remains positive. When they are random people I meet in the street, it’s more delicate, I have to make sure we don’t recognize them too much. If we can identify their face, I have to ask them the permission to have their image potentially published in the entire world.
How do people react when they realize that you're drawing them or are asked to serve as models?
They are often surprised and intrigued but still very positive and willing to collaborate.
What's their reaction after seing the final result?
Most of the time, they are very happy with it.
When you decide to start one of your artworks, how do you plan your day?
I often find ideas before going out and starting a new project. I just decide a bit in advance where I’ll go and I do the sketch on the place where I’ll take the final picture. If needed, I do the drawing home, at my desk, more comfortably, and I come back later to the scenery where I intend to take the photo.
Do you have plans to make this kind of creative work with other mediums?
Good question. I might be doing “Pencil Vs Camera XXL”, which means that I might use some huge paper on wooden panel (several meters long) and ask several people to carry it in front of a nice landscape, then make a giant drawing on it and take a final picture…
What would you like to try next?
I just started a new project called “Flesh and Acrylic”, in which I paint abstract shapes with acrylic on a life model. I think this series has a big potential too, but it’s only the beginning.
(*) The Art Inquirer is a blog intending to be a source of information for artists and art lovers.
(See it on DeviantArt)
This is the second part of the project I worked on 2 weeks ago. Wild part... Featuring Caroline Madison, a great and hard working model. The above photo has been shot with the Samsung NX11, provided by Samsung Electronics. Co., Ltd. (See the first part).
.Details and extra pictures (backstage):
.
.
.
© 2011 - Ben Heine
.
.
This is the first part of a project I worked on last week. Featuring Caroline Madison. I'll post the second part in a few days... Following several questions, let me explain a few points: I think Caroline's silhouette stands out more without the black lines. Furthermore, the black paint I used was different and a bit toxic so I didn't want to put it on her skin. This image is only the first part of the project, the second part becomes completely abstract...
Certainly it's not recommended to cover your skin with paint repetitively, I first tried on several parts of my own body, no pain, no irritation... Caroline didn't have problems either. Acrylic paint is water-based so the majority of the substance is not toxic. Acrylic paints with cadmium can be harmful because of the heavy metals they contain. I use acrylic WITHOUT cadmium.
Finally, Caroline is an exceptional model. She is a serene, passionate and determined person. The above photo has been shot with the Samsung NX11, provided by Samsung Electronics. Co., Ltd.
Certainly it's not recommended to cover your skin with paint repetitively, I first tried on several parts of my own body, no pain, no irritation... Caroline didn't have problems either. Acrylic paint is water-based so the majority of the substance is not toxic. Acrylic paints with cadmium can be harmful because of the heavy metals they contain. I use acrylic WITHOUT cadmium.
Finally, Caroline is an exceptional model. She is a serene, passionate and determined person. The above photo has been shot with the Samsung NX11, provided by Samsung Electronics. Co., Ltd.
.
Detail and work in progress:
.
.
Featuring my friend Davide Gentile. He is an Italian film director. This is a "Pencil Vs Camera" work I made near Braives' church. He is holding a camera with a huge lens (it's not a futuristic gun, lol). If you wish, you can view a detail here. The above photo has been shot with the Samsung NX11, provided by Samsung Electronics. Co., Ltd.
(See it on Flickr)I took this picture in Braives (Belgium) a few days ago. Model: Caroline Madison. The above photo has been shot with the Samsung NX11, provided by Samsung Electronics. Co., Ltd.
Another picture I took in Braives (Belgium) a few days ago. This field was beautiful with amazing tracks and trees perfectly placed. The above photo has been shot with the Samsung NX10, provided by Samsung Electronics. Co., Ltd.
Featuring my friend Sasha. I took the picture and made the sketch in Braives (Belgium). If you wish, you can view the work in progress and Sasha's face. Thanks Sasha.
A quick improvisation I made a few days ago in the countryside (Braives). I just felt like climbing on some giant cloud and forget everything. This rather messy sketch is, in some way, related to that other one. Where is Heaven located? Higher always higher. The above photo has been shot with the Samsung NX11, provided by Samsung Electronics. Co., Ltd.
Work in Progress (unfinished)
(Click to enlarge)
© 2011 - Ben Heine
(Click to enlarge)This is a quick project I started last week. I spent about 2 hours on this caricature of Quentin Tarantino. It's a digital painting. I must still finish it... soon. Damn, long time I haven't made a caricature. ツ
© 2011 - Ben Heine
.
I took this picture in Brussels (Belgium) some weeks ago. Model: Caroline Madison. This photo has been shot with the Samsung NX11, provided by Samsung Electronics. Co., Ltd.
(See it on Flickr)I took this picture in Braives (Belgium) a few days ago. Model: Caroline Madison. The above photo has been shot with the Samsung NX11, provided by Samsung Electronics. Co., Ltd.
© 2011 - Ben Heine
Another souvenir from Venice, Italy. The above photo has been shot with the Samsung NX10, provided by Samsung Electronics. Co., Ltd.
.
This is a large painting on canvas I started last week (+- 100 x 130cm). I didn't want to finish it so I had the crazy and provocative idea to burn it. Like everything, art is ephemeral. Only a small piece remains, and the photos... Don't misunderstand me, art is precious and I don't like to destroy my work but this was the final purpose of this image. If you wish you can view several other pictures HERE.
© 2011 - Ben Heine
This is a random selection of what I receiced by email and what I found on the Internet recently. All the above images were made by students (their name is on each pic, click if you wish to enlarge) willing to learn the "Pencil Vs Camera" techniques. Congrats to all of you guys! It's such a huge pleasure for me to see that this concept is becoming more and more a new form of expression for several people...
.
Graffiti Lab, a UK based company, is now selling
several of my creations, printed in limited editions.
several of my creations, printed in limited editions.
hello@graffitilab.co.uk
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)