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Artists

To better appreciate the detail in each of these illustrations, a larger version of the images can be seen by clicking the illustration images on this page.


ATULA SIRIWARDANE

Meet Atula Siriwardane who did the cover art for Ten-A-Week Steale. You can see more of Atula's work, such as the piece to the left titled Rezana, at atula.50webs.com


Where do you live? Where are you from originally?

I live in Sri Lanka, and was born here.


Does your current environment (town, city, country) play any inspirational role in your work? If so, how?

Though I live in the city, I was born in a rural village with streams, meadows and lots of birds and little animals. I used to roam in the village, living the stories I heard and read. These experiences helped me to fill my imagination with detail.


Do you recall the first artwork that awakened you to the possibility of becoming an artist?

Not really. I remember the first comic book, which I read in a house of one of my father's friends. I couldn't finish reading and my father was leaving. They didn't allow me to borrow it. I cried all way back. Father didn't seem to realize what I went through, but I was wrong. Next day when we were passing a town he bought me another comic book, which I still own to make me feel the experience.

Next instance was watching a youth trying to draw a comic about Samson, few years later. I think these must have ignited the possibility.


Where do you look for inspiration?

Mostly other artists' work, especially the old artists. I have no specific style I like, but mostly realistic, artistic work.


What have you not done as an artist that you'd still like to do?

I like to paint with oil and watercolors. I have tried my hand from time to time and feel I may be able to achieve some height.


If you were to rush through a couple of the major museums of the world and had only time to look at the works of one artist, who would that person be?

Rembrandt. I like many others but I really like to see how his work looks.


Aside from paintings and illustrations, what art inspires you? Favorite films? Favorite music?

I like Ingmar Bergman, Akira Kurosawa and Satyajit Ray's movies. I like especially the courtroom scene of "A Few Good Men" from American movies - probably the most memorable scene from movies.

My favorite music is classical and old movie songs of India. I like old Chinese and Japanese music.




PAUL SHIPPER

Meet Paul Shipper who did the cover art for Jack and the Jungle Lion. You can see more of Paul's work, such as this piece for Star Trek Into Darkness, at www.paulshipper.com or watch the making-of video offering tremendous insight into the process of creating the cover - psstudio.posterous.com/jack-and-the-jungle-lion-creating-the-poster

Paul also did the cover art for The Elephants of Shanghai. Here is the trailer Paul made for the Elephants of Shanghai.


Where do you live? Where are you from originally?

I live in Hamilton, New Zealand, but I'm originally from Manchester, England.


Does your current environment (town, city, country) play any inspirational role in your work? If so, how?

Living in New Zealand, it is a beautiful and inspirational country on many levels, and if a project has room to include elements from here, I will find a way to work them into my work. For example, for Jack and the Jungle Lion I needed a waterfall and not far from where I live there is a wonderful waterfall called Bridal Veil Falls in Raglan, which I decided to go to and photograph for inspiration and reference to work from for the illustration.


Do you recall the first artwork that awakened you to the possibility of becoming an artist?

One of the main influences for me in realizing that I could draw and paint, and attempt to make a living from it, came to me when I was very young. I would collect my favorite film posters and hang them on my bedroom wall. Before long I had quite a few and it suddenly dawned on me ... they were all painted by the same person, a signature on each poster was the same, and that name was Drew ... Drew Struzan to be precise. That was my first inkling that someone actually painted these fantastic posters for work, and that it was a job that would inspire me to follow illustration through school, art college and university.


Where do you look for inspiration?

I have books of my favorite artists and illustrators, film posters from the days when they were still painted, these days there are some websites that inspire me, other artists' work inspires me, my family inspires me, the encouragement over the years from my closest family and friends has never wavered and has continued to push me from strength to strength in following a dream and realizing it.


What have you not done as an artist that you'd still like to do?

I'd relish the opportunity to create illustrations for something like the next Indiana Jones film. I'm just waiting for the day that Steven Spielberg might pick up the phone ;)

I'd also like to get involved in some capacity with WETA (visual effects co.) here in NZ to work on pre-production concept illustrations.

Who knows what the future holds, it really does feel like I am only just scratching the surface of my potential as an artist and the future excites me greatly.


If you were to rush through a couple of the major museums of the world and had only time to look at the works of one artist, who would that person be?

You're probably talking about old masters, but given the choice, illustration excites me far more than the paintings of old.

I'd have to find the works of JC Leyendecker in a museum somewhere. I got to go to the Norman Rockwell Museum when Drew Struzan had his show there, which was amazing. Seeing so many original paintings from your favorite illustrator all in one place blew me away. Rockwell's work was an eye opener, I was so used to seeing his artwork in books and magazines. But his originals are MASSIVE! I couldn't believe how big they were. Awesome.


Aside from paintings and illustrations, what art inspires you? Favorite films? Favorite music?

Music is always playing while I work. Film soundtracks are a large part of my collection, but I love so many genres of music, I guess you could say it is an eclectic taste. From scores by John Williams and Hans Zimmer to the Foo Fighters and Dave Matthews Band, music inspires me, and I love to listen while I work, and when I get the chance, or while taking a break from the drawing board, I play on my Korg keyboard, pick up a guitar or play the drums. Music and art are intertwined in my world.

Aah, the movies ... I love going to the cinema to watch films. and equally in the comfort of my own home. If there were no movies, there would have been no illustrated movie posters and I would no doubt be following a different path altogether.

Favorite film ... Without a doubt, Raiders of the Lost Ark.




JONNY RUZZO

Meet Jonny Ruzzo who did the cover art for The Brutal Illusion. You can see more of Jonny's work, such as this piece called Hungover, at www.jonnyruzzo.com


Where do you live? Where are you from originally?

I live in Harlem right now and I love it. I am originally from Coventry, Rhode Island.


Does your current environment (town, city, country) play any inspirational role in your work? If so, how?

My location and environment has played a role in some of my personal work in the past, but never affects my illustration work. When I was living in Brooklyn in a predominantly black community, I experienced racism based not only on the fact that I am gay, but white, which was shocking and interesting to me, so I made artwork about it.


Do you recall the first artwork that awakened you to the possibility of becoming an artist?

When I was in sixth grade I submitted two drawings to a statewide art scholarship contest and won $500 to take art classes in RI. This was the biggest moment that awakened me to the possibility of becoming an artist.


Where do you look for inspiration?

I can find inspiration in so many places. I am always inspired by other painters, as well as fashion photographers, but I also am really inspired by nature, color, and simplicity.

What have you not done as an artist that you'd still like to do?

There are certain clients that I really want to do illustration work for. I really want to be involved in NYC's Arts For Transit to create artwork to be displayed in the subways. I want to show my work in Hi-Fructose magazine. I want to win a gold medal from Society of Illustrators. Some day I want to put together and publish a book with the progression of my work as well as some of my own thoughts/ideas about art & art school. I would really love to spend time abroad on a Fulbright scholarship and do something creative that has purpose and is meaningful to the environment.


If you had to rush through a couple of the major museums of the world and only had time to look at the works of one artist, who would that person be?

Bernini.


Aside from paintings and illustrations, what art inspires you? Favorite films? Favorite music?

I look at a lot of photography for inspiration, especially fashion photography. I am obsessed with the Harry Potter films, as well as Finding Nemo and almost every other Pixar movie. For music, what gets me most excited is techno/pop/electronic. I can listen to anything if it has a good rhythm to it.




JOSEPH CAESAR STO. DOMINGO

Also, JOSEPH CAESAR STO. DOMINGO, from the Republic of the Philippines, did this fantastic comic book sample work for Jack and the Jungle Lion.

You can see more of Joseph's work at his web site josephcaesarsd.deviantart.com/








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