Interview de Ben Heine (Artist Up)

Ben Heine est un illustrateur, photographe et producteur de musique belge. Propulsé sur le devant de la scène et connu internationalement pour sa série "Pencil vs Camera", il crée des scènes imaginaires et originales qui nous embarquent sur un tremplin d'évasion. Son regard artistique combine avec humour la photographie et le dessin. La passion guide les pulsions créatives de Ben Heine. Egalement musicien autodidacte, son univers musical oscille entre la "melodic house" et la chanson pop. Rencontre avec un artiste à l'imagination débordante et qui ne manque pas de surprendre son public. (Lire l'interview sur Artist Up)

Elina Tarade: Qu'est- ce qui vous a conduit vers l'univers artistique? Quels liens établissez-vous entre les différentes pratiques et comment s'expriment-t-elles dans votre univers créatif? 

Ben Heine: Plus jeune, j'étais une personne assez agitée et tiraillée, l'expression artistique a été le seul moyen que j'ai trouvé pour canaliser ce surplus d'énergie ainsi que certaines angoisses et peurs primitives. J'utilise tout ce que j'ai sous la main et les petites compétences que je possède pour exprimer des idées et des sentiments. Pour moi, il n'y a quasiment aucune différence entre le dessin et la photo. Je retouche et cadre mes photos comme si je les dessinais et je dessine comme si je prenais une photo. 

C'est pourquoi j'ai lancé cette série qui mélange les deux disciplines en 2010. La photo est plus rapide que le dessin dans le fait qu'elle capture un instantané du réel ou s'en inspire et qu'une grosse partie du travail est réalisée par le boitier et la lentille de l'appareil (même s'il m'est arrivé de passer plusieurs semaines à retoucher une photo).

En ce qui concerne le rapport entre la musique et l'art graphique, il y a déjà un écart plus grand mais à nouveau, je ne vois pas énormément de grandes divergences au niveau du processus créatif. Les compétences requises pour maîtriser ces disciplines (arts graphiques et musique) sont assez différentes mais l'aboutissement est le même. Dans les deux cas on a des âmes créatives qui veulent exprimer une idée ou une émotion et un public qui les comprend (ou pas). C'est un chemin parsemé d'embuches et d'échecs, mais c'est le parcours qui est important et pas le résultat. 

Il y a en fait de grandes similitudes entre arts graphiques et musique, le flou graphique s'exprimera par exemple dans l'espace musical comme un son avec une grosse réverbération, une ligne nette et distincte sur un morceau de papier s'exprimera comme un son plus aigu ou strident... Les exemples sont infinis.

Vous êtes également musicien, vous jouez notamment de la batterie et du piano. Comment êtes-vous arrivé à la musique, et de quelle manière décririez-vous votre univers musical? 

Rencontre avec l'artiste Ben Heine dans son studio

Visite du studio de l'artiste Ben Heine qui nous parle de ses passions pour l'art graphique, le piano et la production musicale. Il réalise également une rapide démonstration de son concept "Pencil Vs Camera" pour MaTele (l'interview a été réalisée par Antoine Peret pour MaTele).

Interview de l'Artiste Ben Heine pour Babel Cafe

L'artiste pluri-disciplinaire Ben Heine nous parle de son évolution, de ces projets créatifs, de ces expositions en cours et de sa nouvelle passion pour la musique. Interview réalisée par Nicolas Debatty pour MaTele.

Interview for Sort of Life™ (*)
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At the Sagrada Família, Barcelona, Spain, Feb 2012

K. M. Rehan Salahuddin: Everybody around the world knows who is Benjamin Heine, but would you please introduce yourself to your fans and readers of our website?

Ben Heine: Thank you. I’ll try to be short for the introduction. I’m a Belgian visual artist, I’ve started drawing when I was a child, I went on with traditional and digital painting when I was a teenager and I started photography a couple of years after. I never stopped producing graphic art. I have a degree in Journalism and I briefly studied History of Art, Painting and Sculpture as well but I’m mainly a self-taught person in Drawing and Photography.

I’ve launched a creative series in 2010 called “Pencil Vs Camera”, it’s somehow a new and powerful form of expression that mixes drawing and photography, imagination and reality. I’m also known for 2 other creative series started in 2010 and 2011: “Digital Circlism” and “Flesh and Acrylic”.

My photos have been published in newspapers, magazines and websites all over the world and I started exhibiting limited edition prints (Diasec finishing) of my creations in well-known galleries and art fairs in different European countries since 2010.

I’m not sure what I’m going to do next, I’m still searching and working hard everyday to do more innovative and powerful art, I’m in a constant evolution and development in my new artistic projects, I’m never satisfied and I try to take fresh directions most of the time. Although my series may look different, there is always a connection between all the images I share.

Why have you chosen this profession? In this world nowadays people are all running behind glory and money, but you have made yourself very unique, would you please tell us the story of your early days?

I would say “the profession chose me”. But you’re so right, we live in a very competitive world. There are so many corrupted people in our current system. But is it really their fault? From a very early age, we’re told to be merciless and ready for action and good results. This is not easy for many artists to be different and unique and to find their place in such an aggressive global structure.

But I think everybody can do it with hard work and determination. We need to be aware of the system’s failures and we need to do our best to improve every angle of the world, as much as we can. We need more solidarity and more love. Finally, there is also a bit of chance and unexpected events happening in someone’s life. It is fortunately or unfortunately impossible to plan everything in advance.

You have a degree in Journalism, how do you connect journalism with drawing and cartoons?

I really liked Journalism, I know how important it is for artists to have their works published and promoted in newspapers. Creators need journalists to talk about their work and journalists also need creative minds to have something funny and original to talk about in their paper. Although I barely worked as a journalist after my degree, my journalistic academic background helped me a lot to get in touch more easily with the media, because my brain works like a journalist’s brain, I’m one of them somehow. In some cases, I’m the journalist and the artist at the same time, which is strange. I’m trying now to focus on my visual projects exclusively. I feel more confident and I prefer it this way.

Would you please tell us about "The Limits of Freedom of Speech in Political Cartoons", the final thesis paper that you have written at the end of your studies?

I see you are well informed. This is a sensitive subject. For your information, I’m no longer doing political work since 2009, I’m no longer doing "cartoons" neither.

I think every artist needs some freedom and space to express their ideas and thoughts. Provocation can be useful to shake people’s mind, but we are not allowed to offend anybody’s feelings or personal convictions. A clever image shouldn’t harm, accuse or take anybody’s side, it should rather make everybody think in an objective and neutral way. This doesn’t mean we can’t have an opinion, it just means that we need to be careful and think twice before doing or saying something. My freedom ends where your freedom begins.

How do you react when you see a lot of terrorism and corruption around the world? Do you have any plan to do any set/series of creative artworks on this topic?

No, I really don’t want to get involved in this. Terrorism belongs to the political sphere, not to the artistic one. All I can say is that I condemn any kind of terrorism. I just really hope all the innocent victims of terrorism won’t have died in vain and that they will be remembered forever.

"Pencil Vs Camera" how did you come up with this idea? Do you want to restrict other artists from doing similar things by owning the creative copyrights of this concept?

Good question... This concept is the fusion of two disciplines I’ve practiced since many years. It came very naturally and legitimately. I’m honored and happy to notice it’s becoming a new form of expression for many artists. I just don’t want people to “steal” this powerful and eye-catching “invention” I initiated and popularized without being credited. To be honest, I’m a bit mad when big companies use “Pencil Vs Camera” images for commercial purposes without even telling me. This is not fair. I understand Pencil Vs Camera has become universal and popular. It’s hard to keep control over it. But I wish I could be part of every new turn this concept is taking. People need to remember every image of this series is copyrighted and the name “Pencil Vs Camera” is trademarked.

Ben Heine is a cartoonist, an artist, a photographer and a lot more. In your heart, who are you? Who do you want to be?

I don’t see myself as a cartoonist anymore, I’m more of an “illustrator”; I try to illustrate every step of my life in a surreal and timeless way, with simple tools (camera, pencils, brushes…). To be honest I might do something a bit different soon. I’ll be a "creative and productive" person all my life, but I’ll never hesitate to take atypical and unexpected directions when I’ll need it. Surprise is always nice.

(*) Interview by K M Rehan Salahuddin. It was first published on sortoflife.com in February 2012. Sort of Life™ is a website about art, design and lifestyle.

© 2012 - Ben Heine

Interview for Cosmepix (*)
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(Exhibition at Radeski Gallery - 2011)

(Cette interview est également disponible en français ici)

Hi Ben, could you introduce yourself for our readers and tell us how it all started for you?

I am a drawer, photographer and painter. I was quicly drawn to many kind of arts: music, poetry, drawing and theatre. But for several reasons, I started high studies in a very different field: journalism.

Hopefully, even during these studies, I continued to pursue my passion for drawing and graphic arts. After I quickly worked into journalism, and as a professor, this passion came back and took me...

You are famous as an artist mixing several arts: photography, illustration, painting; What pushed you to mix all these different techniques ?

I started with drawing, then painting. Photography really took my attention when I was studying journalism. I don't have a formal artistic background. So I always liked crazy projects, out of the ordinary. I am fascinated about illusion and magic. I practiced several artistic medium and I did not want to let one or another, I thought it would be great to mix several techniques to create something new. Some people call that "mixed media".

Is there one art that you like the most?

Until now, drawing was the track I followed during my evolution, but I think man can reach a level of quality and blooming in any kind of art. Most important is to give the maximum into what you are doing. There is different kind of potential in every kind of art, I don't see any creativity barrier.

"Pencil Vs Camera", "Digital Circlism", "Flesh and Acrylic"... You work very often by creating a series of images, why? What is the creative process for these series?

I also have a production of photos and drawings that are not really in series. But, in fact, during the years, I realized that it was very rewarding to spend time on a set and dig deeper into all possible variations. It's nice to see how we can develop a concept from different angles. The important thing in a series is not to become redundant and always find new ideas by searching as far as possible in your imagination.

Do you take commission? Who did you work with? What is your ideal client?

Although this is not what I prefer, I realized several commissioned works in recent years, for individuals and businesses. For example, I recently conducted a mini-series of 10 Pencil Vs Camera pictures for a gallery in "Cape Verde" (Start Stuff&Art) and I also recently made one creation for "Diesel". Unfortunately, I must refuse many requests because I prefer to be guided by my own creative instincts and follow my personal inspiration.

Do you travel often for your art projects? Is there a place you love especially ?

I try to travel as much as possible. It is somehow a vital need. To recharge my batteries, I particularly like wandering around the great outdoors. This represents for me a real mental therapy. I return to such a journey through northern Spain in which I walked nearly 700 km in the pilgrimage of "Saint Jacques de Compostelle" (I also had the opportunity to take thousands of photos I'll be able to use soon). When I travel, I have the time to think about my future and take many stock pictures especially during periods when the pressure is intense. My studio is located in Braives, in the countryside, one hour from Brussels, it is a bucolic town where I make most of my traditional creations while I make my digital work in Brussels.

Which are your recent expos?

I just finished an exhibition at the "Gallery Garden" (in Brussels near the European institutions). Several other events are planned in London, Berlin and Brussels in the coming months.

Any new projects?

A lot. I want to finish my first main series ("Pencil Vs Camera", "Digital Circlism", "Flesh and Acrylic"). For the future projects, it's still top secret ... And from a more personal perspective, I also want to start a family.

What do you think of Cosmepix.com concept?

The site is beautiful with a nice and bright interface, the overall look is very professional. It's a good idea to mix passion for art and business. I think it's a company that has a good future.

(*) Cosmepix is a French site offering photo editing services.

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(Random sketches - 2010)

© 2011 - Ben Heine

Interview pour Picturalis (*)
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(Travaux en cours)

The following interview is available in French only.

Hello Ben Heine. Mélanger dessin et photo, ça s’est déjà vu auparavant. Mais tu as quand même une approche différente du sujet. Comment te viennent les idées ?

Parfois, les idées viennent de manière tout à fait inattendue. A d’autres moments, je décide de me concentrer, je me détends, je cherche des bonnes idées et j’attends. Je ne fais rien d’autre tant que je n’ai pas trouvé un concept intéressant. Généralement, en quelques dizaines de minutes maximum, des petites histoires et mises en scène naissent, souvent à partir de moments vécus le jour même ou durant les semaines précédentes.

Photo, peinture, graphisme, tu touches à peu près à tout. Y’a-t’il une chose que tu ne feras jamais?

La liste est longue, il y a des milliers de métiers que je ne ferai jamais. Dommage, la vie est trop courte. J’ai commencé par le dessin, puis la peinture. La photo a commencé à réellement m’intéresser à partir de mes études en Journalisme. N’ayant pas une véritable formation en arts graphiques, j’ai toujours entrepris des projets loufoques, peu académiques et hors des sentiers battus. Je suis fasciné par l’illusion et la magie. Ayant pratiqué plusieurs disciplines artistiques et ne voulant pas abandonner l’une ou l’autre, je me suis dit qu’il serait original de fusionner plusieurs modes d’expression artistique pour créer de nouvelles formes d’art. Certains appellent cela du « mixed media ».

C’est amusant, parce que finalement quand on regarde tes travaux, on y voit des choses complètement différentes, aux influences plutôt variées. Tu peux nous expliquer ça ?

Si vous regardez de près mes créations, vous remarquerez que j’aborde souvent des thèmes récurrents, des sujets qui me sont chers, mais, il est vrai, sous des formes, des styles et des techniques parfois très différentes. Je suis intéressé par tellement de choses, je ne veux pas être cloisonné dans un seul style. Ce serait vraiment déprimant.

Ce projet "Flesh and Acrylic", c’est quoi ?

C’est une série dans laquelle je réalise des peintures abstraites à l’acrylique sur un panneau en bois géant. La particularité de ce projet réside dans le fait qu’un modèle vivant se trouve devant le panneau et fait partie intégrante de la composition. Une fois la peinture terminée, je prends des photos, ce sont ces clichés mêmes qui seront imprimés en séries limitées et exposés ultérieurement dans des galeries et foires d’art. Dans ce projet, je souhaite redonner à l’être humain toute sa valeur et sa beauté.

Sympa.Dans les idées préconçues qu’on a, l’art et la Belgique, c’est peut être pas ce qui s’associe forcement le mieux. Qu’est ce qui te plait ici ?

Ha bon ? Je pensais que la Belgique était très bien connotée internationalement au niveau artistique… surtout au niveau de la BD et au niveau de la puissance du surréalisme à la belge. C’est peut-être ce qui me plaît le plus dans ce pays. Je dirais plutôt que c’est au point de vue politique qu’on a des problèmes ici… Mais je n’ai pas envie d’émettre d’opinion là dessus…

Oui, en fait ma question manquait sérieusement de réflexion. Tu as de la chance, on te laisse les dernières lignes pour que tu puisses faire ta propre promo sur tes projets futurs.

Je viens de terminer une exposition à la Galerie Garden (à Bruxelles, près des institutions européennes). Plusieurs autres événements sont prévus à Londres, Berlin et Bruxelles dans les semaines et mois à venir. Les infos sont sur mon blog.

(*) Picturalis est un magazine en ligne francophone spécialisé dans l'infographie, l'art et le design.

© 2011 - Ben Heine

Interview for Jutarnji List (*)

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(Accesible Art fair - Brussels - May 2011)

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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.

(*) Jutarnji list is a daily newspaper in Croatia.

Interview for The Art Inquirer (*)

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(Flesh and Acrylic - Caroline Madison - Making)

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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.

(*) The Art Inquirer is a blog intending to be a source of information for artists and art lovers.

Interview for
Artists Inspire Artists (*)

Ben by Glenn Ferguson

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Artists Inspire Artists is all about inspiration, so tell us what inspires you?

Everything around me is a source of creativity. Every smallest event in my life is a big inspiration. For instance random people I meet in the street or the tiniest details I see on a wall… I often spend hours observing things, like unknown people next to me when I’m in a restaurant, trying to foresee what they will say or do. Traveling abroad, going to a museum, watching a movie, reading a book, talking with a beautiful lady, discovering new ways of thinking or new cultures are also sources of inspiration.

Something I've been trying to figure out for a while now, is how exactly do you do your Pencil Vs Camera drawings?

There are several methods. The concept is fairly simple: mix a photo and a drawing, reality and imagination. I sometimes use traditional tools to achieve this and in other cases, I use digital tools. The result is always the same and the drawing is always handmade. The most important is to find nice and original ideas. Traveling inside your own imagination is something really exciting.

Your drawings are very unique, and I haven't seen anyone who does similar work, so how did you come up with this concept?

I’ve been drawing and taking photos since many years, I’ve been struggling to combine these 2 disciplines in single images. When I found how I would do this, Pencil Vs Camera was born.

How long have you been drawing? And were you self-taught or did you take classes?

Yes, I’m mainly a self-taught person in drawing. I started making interesting drawings at 11 yo. I have a degree in Journalism and studied some bits of painting and sculpture in England.

Like most creative people, would you say you "live in your own little world" and you’re constantly thinking about drawing/ design, etc?

Oh, yes, almost everything I do in my life is based on my creative projects. It’s more than a passion, it’s a way of living. I spend the rest of my time with the persons I love.

Have you ever used your amazing drawing skills to pick up the ladies? Like Shia LaBeouf in Eagle Eye. Do a sketch of her on the subway so you have an excuse to talk, haha.

It happened a few times :)

How about I give you three words, lets say, Spiderman, Yoga Instructor, and Bob Barker, could you come up with a drawing?

Crazy combination, I would maybe make a drawing showing the old Bob Barker having yoga class with his personal instructor at a top of a skyscraper, enjoying a beautiful panorama while doing some well needed stretching, Spiderman would suddenly fall from the sky and start to show them what yoga really means…

Is there any advice you would give to a young aspiring artist?

Never give it up! Some people will always be criticizing your work, take their criticisms as lessons to improve yourself. Don't escape from problems, many other people will be there to encourage and support you. Find them. Life is love, energy and inspiration. Believe in what you do. Good luck and I wish you all the best.

(*) Artists Inspire Artists is a blog owned by Mackenzie Child intending to share articles about art and design.

Interview for Rouge Magazine (*)

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Ben by Mosen
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You were born in Ivory Coast but live in Belgium. Tell us more about your family and career. How did you start to work in Brussels?

My family is originally from Brussels, Belgium. My parents traveled to Ivory Coast from 1980 to 1990, mainly for professional reasons. I lived there 7 years as a child. We all came back to Brussels in 1990. I’ve been living, studying and working in Belgium since then. I briefly studied painting and sculpture in Hastings, England and I also studied Journalism in Brussels and in Utrecht (The Netherlands). I made all kinds of jobs as an employee before managing to make a living out of my art projects. I intend to move abroad permanently as soon as there will be an interesting opportunity. Who knows what will come next.

You are both a photographer and a cartoonist and your project Pencil Vs Camera became very popular. How did you come up with the idea to combine both arts in it?

The original idea came quite naturally. I’ve been drawing and taking photos since a long time. I aimed to mix 2 of my passions in a very crazy and new way. Pencil Vs Camera was born.

If you have to choose between a camera or a pencil – what would be your choice?

I think I would opt for the pencil. I really like traditional art especially drawing on paper, you don’t need anything else than a pencil and a piece of paper, which are some of the most simple, accessible and creative tools, and you can express everything you want with them.

Are there different ways to make such an image?

Yes, several methods can be used to make “Pencil Vs Camera” images. There are traditional and digital techniques. But the result is always the same. The concept is really easy to understand: mix drawing and photography. The most important is to find nice and original ideas. Traveling inside your own imagination is something really exciting.

Do you have a favorite image among all of them?

My latest project is always my favorite one. When I’m finished with a new work, I usually forget it very quickly, I’m only thinking about the next one…

You are also a Samsung imageloger. We saw an interesting 360 degrees panorama of Cologne. How did you start working with the brand and what are your projects with it?

Samsung Imaging sent me an email one year ago; they wanted to start a partnership and sponsorship. The material they sent me is very nice and powerful. It’s some very amazing gear. I try to make the best use of it. If all goes well, we will expand our collaboration and build sponsored events and exhibitions around the world.

Your project Digital Circlism portraits different persons - from Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley to Lady Gaga and Eminem. How do you choose the persons to portray?

I usually make portraits of persons I really admire and find exceptional not especially for their work but mostly for their personality and unique vision of the world.

Tell us more about your digital circlist technique. Do you know exactly how many circles there are in the images you create?

That’s a very good question. I usually don’t count the circles... They are too many of them in every portrait, may be several thousands for each image, but that’s only an approximation, it might be even more for some works.

How long does it take you to create one image? Which one was the most difficult?

Digital Circlism is a very time consuming, challenging and technical way of making portraits; it can take between 100 and 180 hours of work for one single picture. The first steps of the creation process are very important and require application and concentration: find references, create a montage, make a digital painting and finally apply flat circles one by one. In the final steps, I often work like a robot, listening to music and radio podcasts, so that my eyes can stay focused on the image. I always try to put a lot of work and energy in each project.

Why did you choose to work with circles (not with squares for example)?

The circle is a simple, magic and very aesthetically pleasing shape.

What do you know about Bulgaria? Have you ever been here?

Although I’ve never been to Bulgaria yet, I know it’s one of the rising European countries with a huge cultural heritage. Bulgarian way of life was influenced by various nations but it has managed to preserve its national character (a bit like here in Belgium). I hope I’ll have the opportunity to exhibit my creations there soon and to discover Bulgarian traditions!

What would you wish to our readers?

Happiness, success, health and luck!

(*) Rouge is a monthly fashion and lifestyle magazine based in Bulgaria.

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Rouge Magazine - Bulgaria (2011)

Interview for ZoomZine (*)
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"Pencil Vs Camera - 49"

Since you appear to be a one million-talent man, we have to ask: do you cook; do you play an instrument and can you knit? Just for our female audience. J

Haha, unfortunately I don't knit, I cook from time to time. I love music, I used to play many instruments when I was a teenager: piano, guitar and drums. I would have become a musician for sure if I weren’t a visual artist.

To set the right mood, what kind of music do you listen to? Favorites?

I like all sorts of music: rock, reggae, electro… I must say I have been listening to loads of modern electronic sounds recently, it really helps me being focused on my projects and keeping a good rhythm and energy while working.

How does a potential journalist mutate into a digital artist, combining design, photography and illustration? Bad pedagogical approach and counseling or just creative stumbles upon the way?

I would say it was a wrong direction I took when I was younger. I candidly believed I would be able to manage 2 full time activities, one as a journalist during the day and the other as an artist during the night. After trying a few jobs as a journalist, I realized it would be impossible to live like that, my interest for visual arts was always there and I couldn’t get rid of it. I was going to fail everything. So I had to start over again and find opportunities in the art industry. Which wasn’t very easy because I’m mainly a self taught person as a graphic artist and don’t have prestigious diplomas in that field. I mainly have a degree in Journalism and that’s it, academically speaking. It didn’t really help me to be exhibited in art galleries. Anyway, I don’t regret anything; I’ve had the chance to meet several extraordinary persons during this strange progression.

More than ever, knowledge is web accessible and for almost everyone. Do you believe that institutional and college knowledge has made you a better professional? Or, in a nutshell, do you believe that colleges and universities have good creative and artistic teachers in design and photography?

The fact that knowledge is being shared online is something really good. But many learners will always need some real professors, real humans to grasp important things. I think it’s possible to find online almost all the information that’s being taught in art schools. Motivation and determination is the most important element. As far as I’m concerned, I mainly learned what I’m doing by "trial and error”, it takes a bit more time than reading ready-made tutorials, but it’s achievable.

Designers are frequently seen and work well as photographers, as we see across the web. It seems that the opposite isn’t so plausible. Do you think it’s a genetic issue? What’s your angle on this?

Haha, I really don’t think there is anything genetic in this observation. I guess it’s a bit easier to use a camera than to make a design or a drawing. That’s my only explanation.

Who are your creative top influencers? And how about the creative process? Do you have one method to think? Do you believe alternative substances spice up the brain?

Oh, yes, I tried all kinds of substances, lol. It’s always nice to be in a secondary state when starting a new creative task so that I can work in a more “intuitive” way, especially when doing abstract stuff. When I’m on a project that requires many details, my concentration is always at it’s best. The persons I admire a lot are some well-established artists like Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami, Wim Delvoye, Banksi, Panamarenko and many others…

Speaking of brilliant ideas: do you have your shiny moments outdoors, indoors, or in the bathroom?

Cool ideas often come when I’m alone in a quiet place, it might be indoor, or outdoor… this isn’t the important fact. My inspiration works better when I’m in peace, when I feel good.

Someone (we don’t know who) said: “copying is the best compliment you can give to an author”. Do you feel everything is a remix or are you copyright oriented?

I think the community of artists is similar to the community of scientists; both have a few individuals working more than others and doing completely amazing things. Both evolve at a certain rhythm, making some new discoveries and innovations all the time. But in the end, everything affects everything and everybody influences everybody, I totally agree with that.

What’s your favorite photographer? And designer?

Henri Cartier Bresson is one of my favorite photographers. And Shepard Fairey is a great designer.

What’s the best photo ever taken?

I don’t have a very objective point of view on my own work. So I’d pick a photo by someone else. I think the famous portrait of Che Guevara “Guerrillero Heroico” taken by Alberto Korda is an extremely powerful photo. Everybody has seen it.

If some of the creative genes in your DNA failed, and you had to choose between disciplines in your work, what would you prefer?

o Photography

o Graphic Design

o Illustration/Painting => I’d choose that option

o Would you run away for a distant island?

Modern days are a “visual overdose”. How do you see the unique success of pieces such as “Hope”, from Shepard Fairey? Do you believe it’s all about agenda setting and politics? Probably, we won’t have brilliant propaganda posters that will stamps us, from the future generation’s point of view, such as the Cold War graphic approaches, that still remain as communication icons.

As I said above, I really like Shepard Fairey… Well, I think the success of this poster is due to different reasons. No doubt the publicity given by the Obama campaign was a huge booster. But even without this, I think it still remains an excellent and influential poster, simple, aesthetic and right to the point.

3 tips for newbies and beginners in design…

- Confidence
- Originality
- Perseverance

“Computers are to design what microwaves are to cooking”... Is there – or not – an overwhelming dependence on technological tools to create design?

Technology and computers often help doing better stuff than traditional tools. So why not using them?

The design and creation process – all around the world – is frequently influenced and owned by clients and not by the artists or agencies. The sentence “A camel is a horse designed by a committee” is an expression that reveals the usual client interference. What’s your angle and how do you manage the client participation?

That’s the problem with commissions for client. As soon as there is an order with money involved, there will be” clients’ interference”. Artists and designers have to accept it. It’s part of the job.

Portugal … ever been there? What was your feeling to be contacted by a Portuguese blog?

I’ve been there 2 times. I visited Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Faro, Obidos and some other well-known cities. It’s a beautiful and warm country, the perfect place to enjoy life! I was happy to receive an interview request from Zoomzine because it helps me to remember all the good moments I had in Portugal.

(*) Zoomzine is a blog based in Portugal focusing on Art and Design

Interview for E-Junkie (*)

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(See the interview on E-Junkie)

KANIKA GUPTA: Please introduce yourself to our readers. Tell us a bit about your background as an artist and a photographer.

BEN HEINE: I’m 27-year-old, born in Africa, living and working in Brussels, the Capital of Europe. I paint, I draw, I take photos… visual art is my major interest in life. My creations got noticed mainly thanks to a new series called "Pencil Vs Camera". I graduated in Journalism several years ago. I’ve done different jobs so far, but graphic art was always the strongest passion and I’m now making a living out of it. I’m exhibiting my photos/paintings in several countries.

What motivates you to create such masterpieces? Who/what is your inspiration?

"Masterpiece" is a big word... I just make art for people. I want them to dream and forget their daily troubles. I used to write poems many years ago, I want to convey a poetic meaning into my pictures, each new creation should tell a story and generate an intense emotion, like a poem, like a melody. I also want to discover new universes and use new tools or mix them together in an unusual way. Everything around me is a source of inspiration.

There is always a story behind becoming a successful person. We would love to learn your story as well.

Well, I’m not sure I have something spectacular to say about that. My life is rather normal. Luckily, I made some artworks that had an impact on people recently, and that’s it. In the past, I used to make some political illustrations (mainly during my studies in Journalism). I was an artist before being an activist. I’m no longer an activist; I remain an artist, forever. I’ve also had the chance to meet some amazing persons so far. They give me strength and hopes.

When I first viewed your "Pencil Vs Camera" images, the first word in my mind was "awesome" and the second thought was "how are these made". Well, I am still wondering. Tell us briefly how these images are created? How did this idea occur to you?

Thanks for the compliment. Concerning the making, there are several methods but the concept is quite easy to understand: I usually make a drawing on a small piece of paper and take a photo of my hand holding it in an interesting place. May I suggest you to see this recent video report intending to quickly show the way I’m making a Pencil Vs Camera image. The original idea came almost one year ago (in April 2010) quite by coincidence but I’m sure it was the result of a slow evolution and the outcome of my personal graphic exploration. For instance, I made this drawing more than 2 years before I started the Pencil Vs Camera project. It is only a rough drawing but the concept is very similar. Later on, I thought it would be nice to mix my 2 creative passions: Photography and drawing, reality and imagination. I just had to find the best way to do it. In this series, I like to focus on architecture, portraits, and animals. Among many others, the main themes approached in "Pencil Vs Camera" are love and friendship. My hand is always clearly visible. That was a difficult choice but it emphasizes the intimate connection between the viewer and the action happening on the piece of paper. The concept will certainly evolve in time.

On your blog, I came across a project of yours called "The Dancer". It is so impactful! What do you have to say about it?

That piece is very personal. It is dedicated to my mother who is a fervent and talented choreographer and dance teacher. It is made with hundreds of hand-written words. It is a combination of calligraphy and typography. I always love to use small elements that make a whole new image when placed together.

Another of your image got my attention: "Maybe", a contradiction made in a creative way. I read its caption, which really moved me. What are your views on it?

It's just a very rough idea quickly realized. The group says "no" but the individual says "yes"... This is a contradiction I have often noticed in human societies, especially in Belgium, where we have some serious political troubles right now. The people of Belgium (the group) want to stay united and say "yes" to a peaceful nation but a few politicians say "no" and want the division of this (already small) country.

You have made an awesome portrait of Julian Assange using '@'. The good news is you're going to make a portrait of the 20,000th person subscribing to your Facebook Page. Do you already know what you'll do for that lucky 20,000th person?

Haha, I see you’re aware of my latest notes on Facebook… I don’t know yet what exactly I’ll do for this 20,000th person. But I’ll do my best to give him/her something original and that suits his/her goals and personality. The "At sign" typographic characters were perfect for Julian Assange as he is quite a powerful cyber activist.

You possess so many creations! Which one is closest to your heart and why?

Usually, my favorite image is the latest I’ve been working on. So right now, the closest to my heart is "Pencil Vs Camera – 49". But my next pictures will be even more exciting to do!

What was the turning point in your career or is it yet to come?

Pencil Vs Camera was certainly a major stage in my artistic life. I don’t know how the public will react to my next projects. We’ll see. I’ll do my best.

What are the challenges that a struggling artist has to face to create a space for himself in this competitive web world?

Competition is sadly very present in our society. We learn it at school from a very young age: If you don’t get better marks than your fellows, you’re seen as a very silly, incompetent and uninteresting person. It’s the same for adults… You’ve got to be the best or you’ll be treated like trash. Of course, I despise this. I find it awful and terrible. But it’s difficult to change the core values and the culture of a whole system in our society. There isn’t a single intelligence. There are many sorts of aptitudes for sure. Everybody is good at something! I think an artist should stand out from the crowd simply by being himself/herself. Creativity, quality, hard work and innovation should be the leitmotivs.

How and where do you promote your work? As an experienced and successful artist, what do you think is more important to promote your work: online or offline? Which brings more recognition to an artist's artwork?

Online or offline… That’s the question. I would say it depends from one person to another. There are many options to get more exposure. For instance, if you have a huge network offline and get opportunities to exhibit your work in art galleries and fairs and that you can make a living out of it, that’s great and I guess you won’t even need to promote your art online. But if you start from scratch, and if you believe you’ve got something interesting to show to others, then, online platforms can definitely help you to get noticed. They are easy to use and not expensive. If your art really brings something new, it will be noticed. Keep hoping. Keep working. As far as I’m concerned, I started sharing my works mainly on 3 sites since 2006: my blog, Flickr and DeviantArt (also my official website, but it’s less frequently updated so I don’t count it in). Online or offline… Both are important in the end. I would say, try having a consistent presence on the web and also in the real world. This is the most interesting choice in my views.

How would you rate "Social Networking Sites" as a tool to promote your work online on a scale of 10?

I would say 7/10. Social Neworking Sites are awesome and very helpful. I mainly use them to stay in touch with people that find interest in my creations and to build a network. But in my opinion, art sites like Flickr and DeviantArt are even more powerful to get known in your field.

Any project on the cards? Is there any dream project of yours?

To be honest, there are a lot of new projects I would like to start. Too many. I will not explain in details, but my current dream project would be to go in a foreign country and make something creative with a local community. I’m currently working on finding some real opportunities for this goal. I’m also going to focus on other projects in Belgium, including some big size creations mixing sculpture and traditional painting.

(*) E-Junkie is a blog focusing on E-Commerce and Technology

Interview for Grappa (*)

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Ben by Marcin Bondarowicz

(See the interview on Grappa, in Portuguese)

VERONICA PETRELLI: First, tell me a little bit about your trajectory in life. You were born in Ivory Coast. How long have you been living there? Why did you decide to go to Brussels? Are your relatives from Belgium?

BEN HEINE: Yes, my family is originally from Belgium. My parents traveled to Ivory Coast in 1980 for professional reasons (my father worked as a commercial engineer in Abidjan). I was born there in 1983 and we all came back to Brussels in 1990. I lived one year in UK and 6 months in The Netherlands during my studies. I lived the rest of my life in Brussels. I’m willing to move abroad permanently as soon as possible.

What are the differences between life in Ivory Coast and life in Belgium?

I was just a little child but I still have lots of good memories from the life we had in this beautiful country. Everything was more colorful, there was more light, lots of smiles and happiness on people’s face. Belgium is much colder and less colorful but it’s a nice little country, full of surrealism.

You have a degree in Journalism. Where did you graduate? Beside this, are you graduated in any other course, such as Photography, Digital Arts or Design? Or you are a self-taught man?

I graduated in Brussels, Belgium. I also studied Sculpture and Painting during one year in Hastings, England. One year is not enough, so I’m mainly a self-taught person in arts, especially in drawing, photography and digital arts. And I think it’s better this way, as I prefer to not have any academic influence on my work.

When did you realize that drawing was your passion? Were you a young boy?

Oh, yes, I was quite young when I realize that! Every child loves to draw. This interest never disappeared in my case.

Talking about your job: how did the Internet contribute to the propagation of your work?

The Internet has always been very useful for me. I think it is a gorgeous tool for anybody willing to get noticed worldwide and to build a network.

How did the idea of “Pencil Vs Camera” appear? Are you enjoying doing it?

The idea came at a very random moment. It’s always a huge pleasure to start a new Pencil Vs Camera image. I’ve been focusing on this series since almost one year. I can’t believe time went that fast!

Why do you think “Pencil vs. Camera” had a really good reception in the public?

I’m not sure about the answer. What I’m sure of is that the majority of the people appreciates this series, no matter their language, their culture or their nationality, which is really unbelievable. I think it speaks to the child that’s still in every one of us. It’s very simple and accessible to everybody. There is something universal about that and imagination has no boundary!

And “Digital Circlism”? How did it all start?

I’ve been doing portraits since several years now. I always love to use small elements that make a whole new structure when viewed together. I like to add texture and little details to the images I’m working on. So I tried with different shapes (triangles, squares…), when I tried with circles, I thought it looked really cool and special. I think this series is a bit less creative than my other projects. I see it more as a delight for the eyes and a technical challenge because it is always time consuming and sometimes tricky to do.

How does your experience in Journalism modify the way you make art?

Journalism has had a huge influence on my perception of the world. During my studies, I started making pictures having strong political connotations (I stopped making political illustrations a few years after my studies). So I guess this period of my life really had a direct effect on my sources of inspiration. As I often said, I was an artist before being an activist/journalist. I’m no longer an activist but I remain an artist, forever. More positively, Journalism also helped me be curious about everything, be willing to read the worldwide news, have a critical eye about what’s happening in general and verify twice everything I say or do…

Inspiration, creativity… For you, where do they come from?

There is something magic and divine about it. I guess they come from events happening around us. I think artists are used to find these little creative universes hidden around us. As far as I’m concerned, they are the results of past events in my life and expectations for the future. They are also the fruits of a long and slow evolution. Inspiration and creativity are everywhere! Each thing I see around me could be the subject of a creative project.

Do you have a personal style at your pieces of art? I noticed that some of your drawings are surrealistic… Do you like surrealism?

Certainly true I love surrealism! But I don’t think I have a particular style. Uniformity and sameness are not my priority at all. In my opinion, they diminish the potential of a creator. The mediums and instruments I use define the style and I use many. Creativity, quality, hard work and innovation are my leitmotivs.

There is a huge conflict between the traditional ways of making art (with paints and brushes) and the technological ways (with computer programs). What do you think about this? Which one do you prefer? Is this confrontation worth?

Yes, there is a big difference between digital and traditional, especially in the making of an image. But the results are often very similar in the end. I don’t see it as a conflict or a problem, I think both traditional and digital tools can be mixed with harmony. I use them in my daily work. Pencil Vs Camera is a good example… I think artists should live with their time. There will be other tools available in 20 years. Softwares and hardwares are now being employed by creators to express their feelings in an even more powerful way.

Tell me a little bit about your blog “Ben Heine in Colleague’s Eyes”. How is the sensation of being portrayed by other artists?

It’s a nice feeling! We do that quite frequently between artists. =)

I noticed that, in some of your “Pencil vs. Camera” pictures, you use some Walt Disney’s characters, such as Mickey and Tinker Bell. Why do you have this preference? Are you a big fan of Walt Disney?

Walt Disney and his contribution to our western culture is amazing. So I used these 2 famous characters (Mickey and Tinker Bell) as a tribute to his enormous legacy and vision.

To end up: what is art for you?

For me, Art is a door to imagination, freedom, hopes, meditation and happiness.

(*) Grappa is an advertising company based in São Paulo, Brazil.

Interview for Newslite (*)

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Ben by Marcello Rampazzo

SIMON CRISP: Your images seem to have got a lot more popular in the past 12 months, are they getting a lot more views online?

BEN HEINE: Yes, it’s true all these Pencil Vs Camera images have been heavily seen on the web. There was an amazing buzz when I started the series. Although people are getting used to this concept, the interest didn’t end yet. Each time I post a new PvsC, there is a new audience peak. Among all my pictures, the PvsC creations are the most viewed, commented and rated everyday… Of course, all this came as a surprise for me. It’s totally impossible nowadays to predict how the public will react… hard work is always important and a key factor but there is certainly a bit of coincidence and chance too. Beside its simplicity, the force of this concept is that it allows the viewer to travel in a fantasy world and there is no boundary to imagination.

Have you had many gallery exhibitions of your work?

Yes, many! I’ve been exhibiting Pencil Vs Camera and Digital Circlism in various art galleries and art events in Belgium, USA and soon in UK, France and Germany. Slowly, I manage to make a living out of my work, which is important if I want to keep on developing new creative projects.

I understand your method for creating the images has changed slightly (printed background scenery) can you explain this?

Yes, there are actually 4 different methods to achieve the same results (see below). Most of the time I choose the traditional way, being as genuine as possible, it is always a hand made drawing started from scratch. As said in our previous interview, I simply draw something that comes in my mind on a small piece of paper and then take a picture of it with a realistic background behind. May I also suggest you to see this very recent video report intending to quickly show the way I’m making a Pencil Vs Camera image.

And here are the 4 possible methods:

A) (Traditional way++) Make a drawing on paper; take a picture of your hand holding it with a nice scenery behind. When it’s possible, try to draw things that are more or less connected with the environment behind the paper but don’t forget that there needs to be a contrast between your imagination and the reality of the photo (this is the technique I have used most of the time).

B) (Traditional way+) Take a photo of a great place, print it in big size, make a surreal drawing still connected with the atmosphere of the photo, place the drawing over the picture with your hand holding it, take a new picture of this composition, reframe and retouch the arrangement afterwards if necessary.

C) (Digital way+) Take a photo of your hand holding the paper with a drawing on it, take another photo of any landscape, match them and assemble them afterwards in a photo editing software.

D) (Digital way++) Make a full digital work: create a digital drawing over a digital painting (landscape + paper), you don’t even need a camera if you choose this method, but you’ve got to have some good skills in painting to make everything look natural.

How many works have you created now?

I made 49 Pencil Vs Camera pieces so far and there are a few other variations, which I didn’t name “Pencil Vs Camera” but that carry exactly the same concept… For instance that one.

Which are your favourites?

I like especially those that show the paper in fire (For instance that one) because I think they convey a special emotion. The viewers realize that something is happening. It is an instant captured by my camera that will never be repeated. I also like those that have a strong vanishing point/perspective (For instance that one) because the illusion of depth is more interesting.

Have you been approached to create any images for advertising? (I wish Newslite made enough money to do this)

I receive many new propositions every day from individuals and also from private companies. I’m lucky to have a commercial associate to help me manage all these requests. I know that using the “Pencil Vs Camera” concept for any advertising company would devalue the artistic quality of the series, so right now I prefer to focus on collaborations with art galleries solely… But I’m open to any attractive suggestions.

(*) Newslite is a website publishing "odd and quirky news stories".

Interview for Shoot Love (*)
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Ben by J. Bosco

DUSTIN BRYSON: Tell us about yourself without including your profession or artistic background.

BEN HEINE: Well, I’m a human being willing to share my art with other human beings.

What fills your thoughts as you create your art? ie., Chaos, love, childhood, cheeseburgers...

Here are a few words that constantly come to my mind when I’m working on a new project: freedom, friendship, love, illusion, mystery, originality, environment, oxygen, childhood, innocence…

Do you carefully compose your photos with the end result in mind or do you sort of "wing" it?

I usually have an idea of what will be the end result when I take a photo. I sometimes readjust it afterwards when it’s necessary.

What do you enjoy photographing the most?

My favorite subjects so far are: nature, animals, architecture, people…

How has social media affected you and your art?

It’s very nice and enriching to get constructive feedbacks from people who follow you. I also like this friendly atmosphere.

If you lost the ability to illustrate, what would you do? Would you continue pursuing another art form or would your entire lifestyle change?

I have already thought about that… I’m sometimes wondering what I would do if I lost my hands in an accident for example. That may sound crazy, but I would take this as an opportunity to try new forms of art, being obliged to use other tools. So definitely, whatever happens to me in the future, I would continue my creative quest.

(*) Shoot Love is a website dedicated to Photography.
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