Artist Proof Interview with Artist: Nell Fallcard
Global Location: From Mexico, living in UK
AP Shop URL: http://www.zazzle.co.uk/nellfallcard
I was born in Mexico, started drawing at 5 years old, trying comic stuff at 8, and started poking Photoshop at 13. I got a Bachelor Degree in Integral Design, then been working for 5 years for animation and video game studios, digital experience companies and as a teacher in higher education schools. Currently in the process of being enrolled on a Masters in UK.
AP: How long have you been making art for and what lead you to start.
NF: As far as I remember, I made my first attempts at 5, so you could say I have more than 20 years on this, but what I do started taking decent shape when I was about 18, so quite a long way before stopping doing crap :D
I started on this inspired by the cartoons I used to watch as a child. I wanted to be immerse on these worlds, tweak them and modify them so they could fit my own fantasies.
AP: Where do you currently live and work and how does this influence your work.
NF: I’ve been living all my life in Mexico, different cities. I don’t feel like they have affected radically my work. Work conditions do, though: I tend to perform better in well lighted areas, warm light, and when I am by my own rather than with a group of people - coworkers are not as cuddle-able as my cat… my cat isn’t precisely cuddle-able either but I can overpower him so he has no choice. Traveling tends to inspire me too.Currently I just made a major move, been living in London for two months now. Too soon to know the London effect over my mind and body, let’s see.
AP: Did you have formal training if so whatω If your self taught can you tell us what you prefer about being a self taught artist vs having formal training.
NF: I am a crossbreed :D I’ve had formal training in some areas but most of it came just to reinforce what I already knew by doing my own research. The tricks I do that bring the bacon to the table I learnt by myself, sharing with likeminded people and stuff.
AP: Can you tell us about where you make your work is it in your house, a studio etc.. and how it effects your work.
NF: I’ve worked in both conditions. I prefer to work from home by far. I perform better when there are no meetings, ringing phones, and goofing people around. I like the goofing people, though. They say funny things like “this file has as many layers as Methuselah”.
AP: What are some of you favorite design projects/exhibitions you have worked on to date.
NF: The “Dragons” Illustration I made in 2008. It won a competition, so I got sent several goodies thanks to it. It was also a really enjoyable process because I had no rush, no guidelines, I painted it during my free time whenever I felt like it so the end result was the product of a very enjoyable process and that got reflected on the piece, I guess.
AP: What is your medium of choice.
NF: Photoshop is my father, and father of us all.
AP: What is the relationship between technique and content in your work.
NF: I focus more on the technique, and rarely add content to it unless is necessary. My last piece, “be their angel”, has a message since I though might be suitable for the nature of the contest I made it for, the same I made a poster for an exhibition about Peace that has a message the audience found strong and moving, but that is not present on my personal images. If you become abstract, people become psychologist and assume you have issues. I find that annoying.
AP: Who are some of the artists that have inspired you and or your work.
NF:Enayla and Ayami Kojima are the artists that shaped my current style. Yet still, my aim is to develop an inner world as rich as the ones of Ryan Church or Zdzislaw Beksinski.
AP: In what direction would you like to see your work going over the next five years.
Answer: I would love to be in charge of the look and feel of a movie.
AP: What forth coming projects and or exhibitions do you have scheduled for 2011.
NF: I am planning to study a Masters degree in 3D Imagery, so I can expand my skills to other fields. I also applied for a government support program back on my country to work on a project regarding Color Theory, explained visually. Since it will require a lot of effort and commitment, I will work on that collection depending on the results.
AP: Take us on a guided tour through a day in your life as an artist.
NF: Woah, that one tends to change depending if I am freelancing or working for a studio. Since the freelance one is the one I enjoy the most - and I am currently doing - I’d say: I wake up late, really late; get some food and start my computer. Check e-mail and social networks, then I start either painting in Photoshop or animating in Flash. When I get tired I take a break, either checking websites like 9gag.com, fmylife.com or clientsfromhell.com, or watching a show, talking with friends or grab a snack, then back to work. This process repeats itself until the evening, where I might go out or stay at home with Mr. Boyfriend doing random stuff until we go to sleep. Usually late. Very late.
AP: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions.
