hi everybody

time for another artist feature. this time i decided to do an interview with my soulmate from indonesia:*balung


introduce yourself in a few words
My name is Adam Novianto. Balung means bone (a javaneese word). My friends call me 'balung' coz i'm skinny. It's also a reason why i use skull as an icon/logo/signature.
I was born and grew up in Surakarta/ Solo, Indonesia. I continued my study at the Faculty of Pharmacy Airlangga University Surabaya and just finished my study on February 14th 2008. Now i'm back to my parent's house in Solo.
I love this city very much. My girfriend ( I hope she will be my wife ) lives here. I can hang out with my neighbours at the wedangan ( a coffee stall on a side walk ) accros my parent's house, ( sometime i meet ~ngupi here ), drinking ice tea, The traditional atmosphere is still thick here, i can listen to wayang Kulit on the radio. People live calm and peaceful here, not in such a rush like in Jakarta or Surabaya. The living cost here is not expensive, I can survive with $ 1,5 a day ( including a pack of cigarrets ).

how did you fall in love with vector art?
Honestly, i fell in love with vector by accident. I call it accidentally Coz my study had no connection with design and vector art. what made me really fall in love with vector was this site: [link] . She shows what you can do with vector.
For me, working on a vector piece is an escape, fun and it's a mental excersise. When i was in Surabaya, i had no television on my boarding room. So i used my PC as an entertainment. Sometimes i played games ( i love "the age of empire" ) and the other time i was drawing, using Corel Draw or Macromedia Flash 5 and Macromedia Dreamweaver MX, to make some blog's lay out. Slowly making vector became a habbit. here's another online example: [link] .

since when are you vectoring ?
i know vector since 2004. i was using macromedia flash 5 and flash MX that time. i did vector for web purposes. and when my study got tight and serious i stopped vectoring for a while. I started again seriously in 2006, after i broke up with my previous girlfriend. I distracted the anger, pain and the sadness with it. Vectoring kept me away from insanity.

what software are you using for it?
i started with corel draw 11 and continued until corel draw X3, i haven't turned into X4 coz i have no DVD room and my PC doesn't fit with the Corel Draw X4's minimum requirement. I still feel comfortable with the X3. and i don't think i have to upgrade it yet.

what is your favourite style ?
I think that vector is techniques, it's not a style. I have to clarify this because there're so many misplacement in DeviantArt's vector gallery. As a vector worker, I feel frustrated with that. For further explaination about vector, you can read at ^Ikue's journal.
for coloring my artwork, i use "manual blending" techniques these months. i reduce using gradient. I've learned this techniques from ~akugyouza via notes. I haven't used mesh gradient for my artwork although the colour is smoother that the manual blending. But i still choose it coz i'm stubborn or perhaps that's my idealism. .
I always feel satisfied after making a smooth skin tone for an artwork.

how long does it take you to finish a piece?
I'm a moody person. so when i'm in the mood i can work fast but when i'm not, it can take some months. It also depends on the detail of the piece. when i make a person, the most frustrating part is the hair. And that's why i can not predict how long it takes to finish an artwork. for a simple artwork, i can do within a day, but if it's complicated, it will take longer time.

what is really inspiring you?
The biggest influence is Yoshizumi Masuo A.K.A ~akugyouza, he's the vector avatar ( a god that represents in human being). I want to have half of his skill.
The most inspiring during making a piece is music. i can't live without it. music affect my mood, and if my mood is good i can enjoy working on a piece. I'm listening to any kind of music,i like Collective Soul, Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid, Ramones , Green Day and The Cranberries. iI also listening to The Doors, Rolling Stones, Jimmy Hendrix, Waldjinah, Gesang, Rhoma Irama and many more.
another thing that influences me is a woman's body. You can explore it for art without ending.

what is your current vector-project?
Right now i'm still working on some pieces requested by a friend. I plan to finished it as soon as possible, i still don't feel satisfied with the result, so i have to correct it. And these days, I'm still looking for a job that has something to do with my study. I have been attended to some job interview on some drug's factory but still have no answer .

what are you able to realize for a client
As long as there's no contradiction with my idealism (and the price is good) i will give my best. And they have to note that an art takes time to be done. And as an Indonesian, everthing could be negotiable. and i will finish my job before the deadline.

what you are planning for the future?
I'm dreaming to have my own vector studio. And i'm on my way to make it come true. I also open commision, so i can upgrade my PC, pay the internet connection, and keep me vectoring.
i also plan to get married with my girlfriend, making a mawardah sakinah warrahmah family with her. it's been a year having relationship with her, and i know that i really in love with her. she's my everything . and that's why i must build a strong financial fondation before doing that.

some beautyful examples of *balung's vector-art:










i know, most readers are able to speak perfect english... well, i try my best to do so too,...i'm from germany and balung's from indonesia, so please folks, don't be too angry about errors in my translation...

best regards and a nice day from *cybaBABE