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Q1: Let’s start with the common question, if you can kindly introduce yourself.
I am a full-time freelance illustrator, artist working out of New York, USA. Got a bit of a late start in the game, but I’ve been working consistently and professionally for about 7 years now. The majority of my work is for book covers in the Young Adult market. I’ve worked with several publishers including Random House, Penguin, Harper Collins, Oxford University Press and Templar UK.
Q2: How did you get into the field of your work?
I graduated from theSchoolofVisual Arts, NYC in 1999. I was completely unfocused and was not getting much work as an illustrator. I began pursuing more of a career in gallery art, but didn’t have much success. My confidence was gone and I pretty much lost my way for awhile. To fast forward ,I gave the art world another shot 6 years later, and started submitting work to gaming companies like Fantasy Flight Games and Wizards of the Coast. After a bit I realized that book covers aimed at young audiences played to my strengths much more, and landed a job with Penguin Books. That specific job really got my book cover career going.
Q3: Do you have any current favourite artists, comic artists, photographers who may have influenced you to become the artist that you are?
If we are limiting it to current artists I have to mention Jon Foster and Phil Hale, as they were big influences on me. As I change and evolve as a person and artist, the art that resonates with me at the moment changes too. I love the work of Justin Mortimer, Beth Cavener Stichter, Ivan Solyaev, Ruprecht von Kaufmann, Willy Verginer. It spans a lot of things I see. I think the photography of Madame Peripetie is really fun and creative. I have been really into the character designs of Nicolas Marlet lately too. I could go on and on……and on…
Q4: What are the main tools of your trade?
For the bulk of my commercial / illustration work I work digitally. I bounce between Corel Painter and Photoshop, and occasionally try to incorporate Art Rage into the mix. All this using an Intuos 4 Wacom tablet. When I do get the chance to paint for myself , I am pretty much all about oil paints. I like watercolor and acrylic but I feel more connected to oils. I can get the results I am envisioning with oils much closer than I can any other medium.
Q5: How was it for you to learn the process of that? Did you teach yourself, take classes or learn from other existing artist’s tutorial?
My art education background is entirely traditional. We had one intro to computers class in college that was literally, “Press this button to turn on the computer” , or “Backup your files on this Syquest disc” or whatever that vastly inferior technology was back then. I didn’t even have a tablet until I was 26 or 27 years old. Then I just really studied what the top digital artists were doing on the various CG forums. I was especially drawn to the digital painters that had a traditional edge to their work. Justin Sweet, Jon Foster,Todd Lockwood, Craig Mullins- all these guys can paint with traditional media – and I think it shows in their digital work. With my fundamentals being somewhat competent , I really just needed to put in the hours of practice, using the tablet and software. I watched plenty of tutorials of folks painting digitally too, and that can spark ideas and give you those “Ah haaa” moments too.
Q6: Do you think its possible for you to describe the process of your art style, what are the dos and don’ts, the important aspects you set yourself to achieve your style of design?
My process changes a lot and I can start 10 different paintings 10 different ways. This is probably bad advice, and bad form…but it keeps it interesting for me. I like to improvise and try new things all the time. While that organic process is always happening I do always try to have a strong composition and an engaging narrative. I think narrative is often overlooked in image making, yet I think it is so essential for good illustration and art direction for that matter. You can have all the slick, polish in the world and render your picture until it you have paralysis in your hand, but if the narrative isn’t there the illustration fails in my opinion.
Q7: What are the biggest struggles you encounter as an artist?
About a year ago I completely burnt myself out. I was taking on way too much work and I was not enjoying illustration . It’s important to strike that balance and everyone needs different things to keep them going and inspired. I am sure there are some dudes who can sit in a one-bedroom apartment and illustrate 14 hours everyday all year -round, but I really need to recharge and keep my life in balance. It can be very tough as a freelance illustrator, but I have made huge improvements in that area recently. Now I am much happier in my work and life.
Q8: Do you have any other future plans that don’t involve creative art?
i am so unbelievably inept at everything else but art I don’t stand a chance. In fact, you would think I would be way better at art considering how awful I am at everything else. I will astonish you with the level of sub-par life skills I have. In all seriousness, I am so far from where I want to be, and want to accomplish with art, that I only see my future being filled with even more art. Perhaps if I was this amazing 20 yr. old prodigal ,art -wiz, I could consider other career paths. At my rate, I am going to need at least the rest of my lifetime to get there. I am a slow learner I suppose.
Q9: Do you have any personal mottos, quotes or existing quotes that motivates you to do what you love doing? Can you share it with us or provide words of wisdom from your experiences for those who look up to you?
For starters, I know a lot of students and artists get hung up on age for some reason. I never understood this. Yes -it is very impressive when a 20 year old is working for BioWare and has galleries nagging them for solo shows and their prints sell out within days , etc… But we are not athletes – we don’t have to worry about passing our physical prime and directly influencing our careers. Just go at your pace and forget about the age differences. On a similar note, do not concern yourself with the success of others. It is great if you can get positive energy or inspiration from another artists’ success, but I see many folks get resentful or bitter. It really has nothing to do with you or your life, so it should be of little concern to you. So what if an artist gets 14 medals from the Society of Illustrators every year? You are only focusing on that one part of their life. Maybe your mom loves you more than that artist’s mom? Maybe you look better naked? Maybe you are more fun to party with ? Maybe this person is better than you at every aspect of life?! So what– it doesn’t change you are your life. Just concentrate on yourself and your goals. Be nice.
Q10: What do you think the future will hold for all artists from all backgrounds from now?
I like to think artists will be taking more control over their art and IP. I think we are getting closer to that and seeing it more and more already. I have friends who instead of waiting for a publisher to put out a book of their art- they will do it themselves. Artists now have the ability to sell prints of their work directly, without going through anyone else if they choose. I’m hoping this will just keep expanding. I think artists will also continue to collaborate more and share their skills in various disciplines to create things we’ve never seen before.
Q11: To round off the last question, where can your fans and new fans find updated news and progress from you, - Where can we find you?
My main website: http://www.scottaltmann.com/
my blog: http://baddreamsgoodnightmares.blogspot.com/
my webstore: http://www.scottaltmann.com/store/
my Cghub page also has additional work on it: http://scott-altmann.cghub.com/
Q12: Ok this question is optional for you, you and I know that art theft is so common now in the internet world, so are there any words you want to share or shout at to those who steal people arts?
I’ve actually had my art stolen physically and on the internet. It is a different level of theft in my opinion. Of course, stealing something off a shelf at a store is lousy and very wrong, but stealing art from someone is a lower form altogether. Where creativity and imagination once was (or should have been) – there is only an empty void of greed and self-entitlement. I feel pity for that person. And if I catch you stealing my stuff I will sue your pants off.
