venerdì 29 gennaio 2010

Interview with Dieter Van der Ougstraete





q) Well, first of all please tell us a little about yourself.


a)I live and work in Belgium.

I'm passionate about character design, illustration & art.

To most people I'm a normal guy, but people who know me think I'm crazy.


q) Had you always planned on being an artist [or had you other hopes]?


a)I would never call myself "an artist", but if other people think so...fantastic!

I've been doing what I'm doing for as long as I can remember.

There have been times that I was hoping for a regular 9 to 5 desk-job,

but that didn't work out too well.

These days I'm doing jobs that have irregular hours so I can combine it with painting & drawing.


q) Do you have a preferred medium to work on? Why?


a)Not really. I like painting, drawing and digital work.

The last few months I'm mostly painting, but I don't have one particular style or medium.

I like to change and surprise myself once in a while.


q) How would you describe your style?


a)Anything goes.


q) Do you go through any certain processes while trying to produce your work?


a)Yeah. First I think about what I'm going to make.

That can take hours, days, sometimes even weeks before I actually start making it.

But I also do stuff without thinking.

Just doing the first thing that comes to mind.

Sometimes the results are horrible but most of the time it's great fun to work spontaneously.


q) What are you working on at present?


a)I'm working on a book. It's in the early stages, so I can't tell you much about it.

It will feature lots of weird characters, that's for sure.


q) What about recent sources of inspirations?


a)The painters Hieronymus Bosch & Francis Bacon have always been a great inspiration.

I'm equally inspired by comics, cartoons and vintage illustrations.


q) What are some of your obsessions?


a)Monsters and muscular figures.


q) Which galleries have you shown at and which galleries would you like to show at?


a)Recently I was in a show at the belgian "Alley gallery".

www.alley.be

As for the second part of the question, I have no idea.

I'm not trying to get my work into galleries.

If it happens, fine, but it's not a goal.


q) If people would like to contact you, how would you like to be contacted?


a)They can e-mail me.


q) Do you have any suggestions or advice for artists that are just starting out?


a)Make the work you really want to make.

Keep working. Keep working some more.

Don't be a jerk.


q) Who are your favorite artists?


a)Too many to name them all.

A few: Bacon, Bosch, Schiele, Ensor, Wolverton, Bisley.


q) What books are on your nightstand?


a)Mostly comics and picturebooks.

When I go to bed, I'm too tired to read.



q) To what weaknesses are you most indulgent?


a)The sweet weaknesses of the flesh.

Spending too much time on the internet.


q)….your contacts…


a)Go check out my flickr & blog!

www.flickr.com/photos/dietervdo/


http://horsedeluxe.blogspot.com/