Space art is a subset of digital art, and requires mastery of a variety of different techniques that are prevalent in other forms of digital art as well. Successful space artists must master texturing, 3D, digital painting, and application of traditional art concepts into a digital scene. Many of the most successful space artists often move into matte painting and other styles of digital art, expanding their skillset while bringing a fresh style into their work.
Today, we interviewed Bobby Myers, also known as Kaioshen, who started as a space artist and continues to succeed in this style, exploring the limitless possibilities of outer space, while also successfully expanding into digital matte painting for film. The cinematic style to his work and excellent capturing of light is something that all artists can admire.
- Your Name: Bobby Myers
- Your Age: 22
- Your Portfolio/Website: http://kaioshen.deviantart.com/
- Your Location: McDonough, GA, US
- Software You Use: Photoshop, 3D Studio Max, VRay
Thanks for taking the time to interview with us. First off, could you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Bobby Myers, I am 22 years old and currently reside in McDonough, Georgia, US. I am a self-taught digital artist. I started back in 2004, which just so happened to be a space scene. Back then I thought it was great, but if you look now, it’s no longer in my gallery. The only copy is on my computer, safely stored away from public eyes for safety. It’s mind-blowing, just not in a good way.
How did you get started with digital art?
To be honest, I can’t remember exactly what brought me into it, I just remember being amazed at what I saw on the movies I watched. I wondered how they did those things that I thought was impossible at the time. I was really fascinated with space and planets too, which is what drew me to start making space art.
Outpost
Looking back, I’m glad I started with space art because it allowed me to learn easily. Space art is very forgiving and you are able to pick up on certain techniques so quickly and apply them and have a totally different effect than you had in your last scene.
How do you feel art school has helped you develop as an artist? Anything you dislike about art school? What specifically do you study?
I have loved my time at school. I have had the pleasure to be taught by some of the most enthusiastic people who have a great passion for what they do and want to spread that enthusiasm and knowledge to their students. I love it. The only thing I dislike about it is when students don’t want to make the effort in their work. I mean, why pay all that money and not put the effort in, you know? I don’t get it.
Water Ridge
I’m majoring in Visual Effects, however I have not learned anything digital-specific yet. I still am working on my core classes right now (English, math, etc.) and need to complete those before I am able to take classes in my major. I have however taken Design and Drawing classes (both traditional), which have helped me a lot more than I realized at the time. I don’t look at art the same way I did before taking these classes and they have pushed me farther than I ever thought they could, and I’m extremely grateful for that. All credit goes to my professors.
What are your major influences? Any artists in particular who influenced you a lot, or other media such as music and movies?
Way too many to list. Yanick Dusseault, Dylan Cole, Dan LuVisi, Andree Wallin, Ralph McQuarrie, Syd Mead, Ryan Church, Stefan Morrell, Frederic St-Arnaud, and the artists at ILM are some of the main inspirations for what I do and why I make the kinds of stuff that I do. I am probably leaving some individual people out, but I get inspired by all kinds of things, so there really is no set list of artists that inspire me. It’s just what I would like to do at the time.
As far as music, I listen to Rock, Dubstep, Audiomachine, Film OST’s (love it), and some of the music from the Luminarium when I work. I used to watch movies when I worked, but I would often get distracted by the movie and not work at all. Quite counter-productive if you ask me.
You do a lot of space art, as well as science fiction and fantasy matte paintings. Why do you like these themes?
When I was younger, I used to look at the backgrounds while watching a movie – sometimes even more than what was actually going on – and would always wonder how they got to those locations to make the movie. Sounds stupid, I know, but I was young, and to make it even worse I was watching Star Wars. When I found out the process of how they were made I was totally amazed and wanted to learn how to do that myself.
Unnatural Habitat
I enjoy making science fiction stuff because those were the movies I was always into and watch. I was interested in making my own worlds and universes up. I guess it just seemed more fun than making things that actually existed. If I wanted to see something that already exists, I’ll just walk outside. I want to make something that nobody has seen before, or will ever see again. If you ask me, I’ve yet to do that, but I will one day.
What film (or series of films) do you think had the best visual effects work?
Oh man, I’m either going to be loved or hated with this question.
For the visual effects work alone, I would have to go with the obvious and say Avatar. Though I could probably not sit through that movie again; believe me, I’ve tried. The work done in that film is amazing and really raised the bar high for everybody else, which is a great thing if you ask me. It’s one of the best effects work I’ve seen done to date.
Vesper Falls
Are there any artists you look up to?
I listed some before, but the main ones are Yanick Dusseault, Dylan Cole, Dan LuVisi, and Stefan Morrell. They are all masters at what they do and consistently produce great art time and again. I would have to question anybody that isn’t amazed by what they do.
Do you do any client work? What projects have you worked on?
I have never been very confident in my art when it comes to commissions or clientele work. It’s one of the areas of my art I have never really tried to pursue that much. I just look to get better every day, and if an offer comes around that I can’t refuse, count me in.
Does your heritage, ethnicity or current residency location affect your art? If so, how? Do you draw any inspiration from your environment?
Well, as of now when I look out my window all I really see are trees, so not much an untapped source of inspiration going on there. To be honest, not much around me really inspires me to make anything, it’s mainly just everyday life.
Morredum Decimus
How would you describe your style, in a sentence or two?
I’ve always tried to have a cinematic style to my work, that’s one area I have tried to push a lot. To create action with just the slightest touch, or when needed, something massive that is in your face.
High Altitude
Can you describe your typical workflow when you’re working on a project, whether it be personal or for a client?
For almost all of my previous projects, I never sketched out a concept. I always just go with the flow of the scene and what I think would look nice. But lately I have been changing that and will start sketching out my ideas. Sometimes they are in written form – which I find very helpful – before being translated to a visual sketch.
So, it starts with a sketch and depending on whether I am going to use 3D elements in the scene or not I sometimes will start in 3D Studio Max to model, or go straight to Photoshop and start making it. Then in it’ll stay in Photoshop until it’s finished and I’ll take it into After Effects to place flares in the scene if needed.
Just Like Shootin’ Womp Rats
Sometimes I will use Vue when I need a specific landscape or something that I can’t get anywhere else. But it doesn’t always work out so easy for me because it runs very slow on my 7-year old computer. So it’s almost like a hit or miss at times.
What program do you do the majority of your work in, and why?
Photoshop. I use 3D Studio Max a lot too, but definitely Photoshop the most. Mainly because when I am done modeling the 3D elements, I immediately take them into Photoshop and start compositing them into the scene. It’s pretty rare that I spend more time in 3dsmax than in Photoshop, but it has happened before.
Into the City
Do you use any external hardware such as a drawing tablet?
Yes, I bought my first tablet back in 2008, a Wacom Intuos3. I love it and use it every day when working, I could never do art again without it. Before I got mine, I had always heard that once you got one, you could never go back to a mouse again. Well, it’s definitely true and then some.
Do you have any advice for beginning artists out there?
It’s always the hardest in the beginning, you can either give up and move on to something else, or push on and realize your dream. It’s not going to be, and probably won’t ever be easy, but that’s what makes it so rewarding. To visualize something in your head and bring that concept to reality is unlike anything else.
The Chase
Keep pushing forward and don’t lose hope in what you want. Believe you can reach those goals and eventually you will. No matter how good you may think you are, there is always going to be somebody better than you. Don’t get cocky because you think you’re awesome. Be humble and willing to learn and accept a critique, especially when you think you don’t have to.
Where do you see yourself in the future, and how do you feel that you will be growing as an artist?
In the future I hope to be graduated and working on films as a visual effects artist and matte painter. My dream has always been to work at ILM, ever since I first saw Star Wars, it’s always been ILM.
I don’t think you ever reach your true potential as an artist, we just plateau for a while. My goal is to be a solid matte painter, good enough to land a gig at ILM or somewhere equal to the work they produce.
