This week our Artist to Watch is Javier Santamaria Carpio from Barcelona, Spain. Javier is an upcoming video game design artist and we are glad we will be seeing his art on the Wii-U soon.
Hey Javier, Thanks for taking the time to chat with us! Could you give us some background information about yourself?
Hello, it’s nice to have the opportunity to be interviewed by you! Thank You! My name is Javier Santamaria Carpio, and I’m an artist from Barcelona, Spain.
[blockquote cite=”Javier Santamaria Carpio”]There are many video games I could play for hours[/blockquote]
It could be said that my passion for art started at my very early age of three year old, when my parents enrolled me in a school of art. When I was 12, I left the school of art and started my career by myself. Nowadays I’m interested in concept art and video game design, I’ve got, currently, two ongoing projects. I’m always open to new commissions, I love my job!
Yay, for video game design! I guess it’s a good thing we got this interview in early so when you’re designing games we can say we got you first. J So how did you get started creating art? Who are your inspirations or role models?
As I have mentioned before, I started on art thanks to my parents who enrolled me in the school of art, then I developed my own style and I discovered new ways such as Concept art which is linked to digital art. About my inspirations… Tim Burton is one of my favourite artists and he was always a great inspiration for me, from him I take the dark hues of his drawings; but also, I really admire the work of some current young artists as, for example, Dan luvisi, kendrick Lim aka. kunkka, and Luke Mancini aka. Mr–Jack.
Tim Burton’s work is truly unmatched. I have noticed your very distinct style so I can understand how he would be someone you looked up to. How long have you been creating?
This question is easy and short… my whole life!!
Tell us a bit about your creative process:
First of all, I switch on the computer… ahaha, no, it’s a joke. I have many ideas, constantly, running over my head, but I usually take the best of each and make one which is the result of all of them, then I look for references on the internet to have a clearer idea.
The following steps are made directly on Photoshop: 1. Lineart (plain drawing), 2. Basic colors of the illustration, 3. Lights and shadows, 4. Textures and final details, and….. 5.Review and corrections.
Music, or no music (while creating)?
Yeah! Music, UKF Dubstep, Two Steps From Hell, AC/DC, Ensiferum, Slipknot, Avenged Sevenfold…
Ahh, so you’re a rocker! Let’s say for some, totally hypothetical reason Earth is about to blow up. Don’t panic, there is a savior aka a spaceship getting ready to save you! But you can only save two pieces, what will those two be?
Ummmm, this is a difficult one indeed, but I think… that those two would be “Fiddlesticks Dark Mage Skin” because it is important for me since it is the first piece that introduced me into the world of digital art. Also, “Carnofago Egipcio” because it’s my first work for War of Myths (trading card game).
Your guilty pleasure video game, that one game you can play for hours on end and tune everything out, what is it?
There are many video games I could play for hours,but If I have to choose only one… I would say Metal Gear Solid.
Let’s dig into your pile of shame for a minute. Tell us one game you haven’t played, that you’re ashamed you haven’t played yet.
Haha! This is a nice one indeed… Well, I think that would probably be Bioshock Infinite, I have beat the first and the second one. I really love it, but I have not had the opportunity to play to this one.
Do you remember the 1st video game you ever played?
Yes!! It was Super Mario Bros from NES
Your dream job, what is it?
To create (and work on) my own video game studio.
What are you currently working on?
I’m working on a Trading Card Game as Illustrator (War of Myths) and also on several projects: an indie game for Nintendo Wii-u, as concept artist and animator, and two other video games on my own.
Now for my favorite question: It is Friday and you are about to get off work, what song are you listening to?
Welcome to the Jungle, hahaha, there is nothing better than that song after a hard day of work.
Thanks again for your time, where can we find more of your work?
You can find it through the following link, and very soon on the Nintendo Wii-U:
