Hi.

In this fourth interview of ~Critique-Central we interview `spyroteknik. He tells us about his art, dA and critique.


Hi! Could you tell us something about yourself?

I'm a freelance concept artist/illustrator, working in the North East of England, I freelance as it's the best option for me as I'm a full time parent, means I can set my own hours.

How were you first introduced to the style(s) of art you create?

Gradually, the darkness and mood based leanings came from watching the old school skinners, winamp gods, and their branchoff artwork, the likes of bronze & jigit, scifi came much later on, I'm not entirely sure where that slant came from, I went through phases for a few year before settling on a common theme.

What made you come to dA? (and why did you stay?)

Inevitability, I have been around since it's conception, but only registered in 2002, I had been a regular at Wasted Youth and felt a certain loyalty to the site when Matt left to start this, I browsed daily, but kept on with WY for a year or so, through the Fadi era (eek), before switching over the DA as my main site of preference (as it has been since 2002), it's home.

Do you often receive critique? Has it always been like that?

I do, I get more constructive criticism here than any of the other places I post, which bucks the trend of the outside perception of DA, I do recieve a lot of the 'wow' comments also, but I recieve some gems of advice and support here. it was tricky to get at the beginning, you need to build up to recieve those kinds of comments, gather support from likeminded artists and friends.

How do you handle the critique you get?

With relish, it's what makes you grow as an artist, if you can't take critique, you're in the wrong business, I tend to know what people will comment on before I post as I'm my own worst critic anyway, but every now and again you get one of those, 'damn, wish I'd spotted that' moments, and it makes you stronger for it.

Are you part of any community here on dA? Why (not)?

No, I used to be active, but as time has progressed and I've become more busy on the work front, I've had to step back a lot from the social side, along with taking care of my son and working, free time is something I have in very short supply.

Do you have any advice you could offer to those starting out?


Learn, learn every day, look at art a different way, look at it more as how it was composed than how pretty it is, pick apart peoples strokes, find out how, learn from everything around you, with painting, observation is everything, being able to visualise how light reacts to diffferent surfaces, what colour a shadow will be at dusk etc, these are things you get by taking in what others don't, training yourself to see what's usually hidden.

Is the cake a lie?

The cake is a myth, not so much of a lie, the cake is special.

`spyroteknik


CC's Goal
Our goal, as a group, is to offer eachother honest, constructive critiques instead of the typical compliments and 's, so that we may improve our skills as artists. The only way to improve is to know what you're doing wrong, as well as what you're doing right. Please keep in mind that everyone has a different opinion. This does not mean that anyone is right or wrong. For more information about critique you can go to on of our journals about critique!

If you want to get started right away, you can criticise the favorites of this club!