Hello everboydy and welcome to this fine day
Today, I took the "Hidden Talent" serie, in another way. This other way is by doing Interview on some great people, some you may have not heard of, some you may So starting this Interview, I interviewed one of the great ressourcing minds in this Graphical Community over many forums. A lot of the DA popularity loved and he still got banned due to some reason which remained Unknown (to us). But here is a short introduction of +mw.pmi

My name is Cleveland A. Paige Jr., and I love ART, and work my damndest daily to defend it and develope others to do the same, and reach their hidden potential. Join us here at Dream Evil Concepts and Masterworks, and find out for yourself, how WE Develope People in the Arts.

So now, that you know his basic information, we shall get into the interview Read and enjoy till the last ...

The Interview

What is your name and alias?
Name: Cleveland A. Paige Jr.
Alias: +mw.pmi

As a child, were you already getting artistic ?
Started my first personally official drawing at age 4. Crafted a fox picture from a storybook at age 5 while in kindergarten.

Did you receive support from your parents or friends ?
Always. My Dad & Mother were both into Arts and still are, but most of what I crafted was created just from child-like imagination and creative skill.

What were your passions, before you started Digital Art ?
Oil Painting and Pen/Pencil Paintings and Drawings, also using Charcoal and Rocks to draw and craft any imagery that I could think of. My aspirations were to be a cartoon Artist and also Comic Books, since Marvel and DC Comics, and Dark Horse were the leading comics back then, before Image Comics made their daybiew in the late 90’s.

When and why did you start getting into Photoshop ?
Introduced to Photoshop, through Photoshop 3 from a friend of mine who said that if I was into drawing and making my Photography and Oil Paintings sold, to get them transposed into a larger canvas (10,000X15,000+ dimension) sizes for sell. Back then Photoshop 3 was popular, but it wasn’t until 4 and 5LE that Photoshop really sparked my interests and kept me focused on producing what I do now for fun, my Customers and my Client Base and some major Corporations and Companies.

If you were to represent yourself as an animal, what would it be ?
I was actually born in the Year of the Dog. I like Lions, Dragons, and even some Whales and Eagles. But, the Dog would represent me most of all. Because Dog spelled backwards, is God.

Where do you get Inspired from ?
Self Inspiration, and Life itself. Merely walking through the Forest, reading magazines, and seeing daily Life, and whatever I met throughout that day. Whether in a good tone or otherwise. Be open, and not limit yourself to just ONE set theme or inspiration. Once you have your own Inspiration, then transfer it to OUTSPIRATION for others to learn from and also be encouraged by.

Did your move to Germany, affect your artistic feeling and creativity ?
Nope. Germany is well known for its great Artists, and Artistry. I came/arrived in Germany through military means, as I’m a former US Army Soldier. But, since being here, I do realize that my experiences have increased and doubled, and more influence from surrounding environments and elements that make up this wonderfully fine Country.

You, started one of the biggest, actually the LARGEST resourcing Graphical Families! How do you feel about such a successful achievement?
It motivates me to keep doing THAT which started it all: FOCUS UPON HELPING OTHERS ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS and TEACH THEM TO NOT ONLY SURPASS ME AS THE CORE MEMBER, but start groups and teaching/resourcing Groups/Teams that start from them as being Core. Teaching and Helping Others As You Teach and Help Yourself! Masterworks was never started to be seen as the best, or the “group you need to join”, but to show folks that True Helps and True Teaching is YOU providing Resources showing others how you as a Communitied Group create what you create and teach a “man to fish”, not merely give him a fish, if you understand the symbolism here.

You have been swimming in many styles, from LP, sigs, stampictures and all those style you invented. What style would you classify yourself?
I’m more of a DP (digital painting) Artist. That is my Core and Start when I actually started in the ART Genre. Finger painting and oil painting, and even acrylic paints were used in my past works when I was a teenager. I just flowed with whatever I used and shaped what and how I felt that day, whether it was outside weather or my emotions involved. Again, never limit your current environment of the INNER YOU when making whatever you make. That MOMENT is as it should be, and from that moment, CREATE. IMAGINATE! Be You In All Artistic Form. Simple.

Where do you feel the most comfortable area is before you start a creation and the one where you can make some beautiful artwork?
The place where I feel the most comfortable is in pure wholistic SILENCE. When my computer is humming, no music, and I’m lain into my Photoshop and I’ve chosen what I feel is the stock or photograph that I am going to work on, and I just start manipulating, and photo-morphing, and combining Digital Painting, Vectorizations, Sketch (Photoshop/Corel PX) techniques and other applications of my knowledge. I’m home alone and no one is interfering with me and I’m not disturbed.

3D Vertical, is your latest style. Would you like to describe us, what it looks like or what it is ?
3Dvertical is actually my Company here in Germany, basically “underground”. The “style” itself involves a crossover of CG, 3D/4D imageries, Digital Painting, Vectors, Sketch, Stocks, Photography and many numerous elements that other Artists count as being “taboo” to utilize, and still crafting it, shaping it, and molding it to have an end-result of appearing beautiful and inspiring to the observer and yourself. Going Beyond 3D With Your Head Upwards!

You are known for your great resources : PSD and Tutorials. What tips would you give to people that want to be as successful as you are in the resourcing industry?
Find your OWN inner reasons for Resources. Not following a Group and trying to do something you’re not really “feeling” or wanting to do inwardly and of your own freewill. Let it be your own inner drive and stay on top of it. Find ways to make your own Resources, and if you’re using other’s works, get permissions and KEEP A DETAILED LISTING OF YOUR DOCUMENTATIONS OF WHERE YOU GAINED THOSE PIECES FROM, to protect yourself.

If you could, you would?
Do more than what I’m doing now. If I had all the Time and Money in the world, I’ll double my efforts and keep Resourcing. Its so rewarding. To see people becoming “great” and well known through your efforts of providing help tools to getting them started, whether they are Beginners or Experienced Artists. To know you helped it along, and was part of that “formula” is all the reward a Resourcer can hope for, and more.

As we all know, you died, well not really but you were in comma, how do you feel about coming back to this Earth?
I did die. For real. But, the doctors in the OP (operation room) worked their rear ends off to getting me revived. 3 days coma afterwards. When I awoke on my first day out of the coma, the first face I saw was my wonderful and beautiful Wife. For me, that was the best gift of being back that I could have gained. Being back, was doubly good too, because my 3 Children definitely needed to seeing me back, and I’m glad to be alive to get a FRESH START again. So, I’ll be changing a few things in my Life and avoiding things that causes me stress or irritates me, including STILL DISGRUNTLED ARTISTS.

Now being back on the GFX Community, and still seeing people attacking you, what would you like to say to them (option- dont have to answer) ?
Point Blank: Get a Life. If you are still pissed off at me for a nearly 3 years situation of long ago, you need to get your head checked, and see a psychiatrist. I’m not your main concern, and if you’re still pee’Oed, then I have become your Artistical Focus, that I didn’t set up in your Life, but YOU did! Forgive, forget about my past and move on. Its not worth holding grudges. Trust me, you have better things to do with your brain cells, time, and money. And besides, everyone has mis-used and pirated both materials and software without permissions from the Owners and Creators of said programs or materials. So, we’re all guilty. If you’re using warez, cracks, keygens, or pirated software, which 95% of you have done so, you’re a ripper as well. So, Point Blank: LEAVE ME ALONE! You have better things to do with your Life Energies! Unless you would like to die and experience what I’ve already experienced?

Are you going to come back on DeviantArt ?
Truthfully? For what? They really do not have anything to offer. Virb, Shadowness, CG (Talk, Elite, and Society), Ballistic.Com, and DepthCore have more variety and an active Community that actually grants Resources and Teach People how to further utilize their talents for actual Career Steps.

Could you show us, 3 of your best pieces and why you chose them ?



She Gathers Rain, Get A Grip and Untained are my 3 favorite Digital Paintings, because these were a combination of Photoshop and Corel Painter X, and the emotional state that I was in when I made them all was total FRUSTRATION and BITTERNESS. I needed to find a medium to release the emotional energy and create beauty and not angry pieces that I see folks painting lately, such as Death, Destruction and Loss of Self Control in their imageries. These 3 pieces show SELF CONTROL, in the midst of the “storm” of my Frustration during the time that they were crafted. Not many Artists can do that. They will most of the time create some destructive, deathly and evil and dark in appearance as reflecting with their current “state of mind” and emotional level. Which is in my understanding, they are still not ready for the Real World of Graphical & Art Genre(s) on numerous levels.

What 10 top tips, would you give to artist ?
#1: Stroke: You’re not damned if you do, nor damned if you don’t.
#2: You do not have to depend upon Filters and Effects to make a uniquely visual image.
#3: Share your works with like minded Artists.
#4: Press the CTRL+S. Helps Bunches!
#5: Documentation! Documentation! Documentation! (Word/.DOCs or .RTFs)
#6: The First One To Tutorialize It Is The The Originator/Pioneer of the Style/Technique! REMEMBER THAT!!!
#7: Resourcing proves that you have both the Knowledge and Experience to making what you craft.
#8: Practice SILENCE sometimes when Photoshopping. You’ll be surprised at what IDEAS you come up with.
#9: Sit under Mentors that know more than you, and learn all you can from them, while asking questions and picking their brains of creativity.
#10: Be Yourself In All You Do! Its POPULAR TO BEING ORIGINAL, not the opposite!

When you first start a signature, what goes through your mind ?
Many things, but not the end-result outcome. Mainly, the size and will I finish it today. LOL!

Do you think of an outcome and set yourself a target to follow during the process of making this sig,or do you do it as your instict say ?
I just flow with how I feel or thoughts just come as I’m in the project. Or I’ll put it on the SHELF. ON THE SHELF Projects are more appealing and fun, and are USUALLY the images (Sigs, LPs, DPs, VPs, SPs, WPs, or DPVSs) that become well known and recognized. So, if you have never seen it before, and you’ve never seen the image in the piece that I release, you know it was an OFF THE SHELF piece or an OTS-P. <There I go with another acronym again! Ha,haha!>

What would you like to say about this ?
Surprise YOURSELF! Never make an image with the end-result of trying to impress others. Impress yourself FIRST, and be happy with your end result regardless of both good and harsh comments and critiques. Let those words help support you, whether good or bad, and continue the LOVE towards what you and how you make your imageries.

You've had many bad times, so has everbody. But what was the most challenging problems you had to face as a digital artist ?
I must admit the most challenging “time” that I’ve had to bare and endure, and still endure is that wherever I go, I hear these two things, even after 3 years after the situation is dead and buried. Mis-using and usages of LPs by Artists of DA. And most recently, folks asking me why was I kicked from MW. Which didn’t happen. I was wrongly removed by someone who didn’t have the right to do so, who’s name will be refrained from this report. Luckily, a Senior and now Core Member, ReAnimator had me re-instated, and restored me to my rightful position. Himself, SLR and myself are now the Core Members of MW.

Being a father and a husband to your wife. Do you feel like having double the pressure, keeping things running in the family both real life and virtual life?
Being married nearly 11 years, and having children ranging from ages of 4 to 11, you tend to find a method, pattern or solution to balancing it all out, and making it work for you. My Spouse understands my LOVE for what I do and she gives me space for that, however, I mostly do this when all members of the house are asleep, and not interfering with my operations or actions. So, as a “smart Dad/Husband”, you have to know when to do what you do, regardless of the limitations or open arenas of your Life, and curtail it towards those motions for a Happy and Fulfilling Living/Lifestyle.

And those words ends this Interview
So firstly I would like to thank +mw.pmi for answering some of these questions with honesty and truth I would also like to thank everybody that supports me irl (in real life)and vl (virtual life).
Hoping that this Interview has helped some of you guys, and that people do sometimes need a break to recover
We shall all pray for Cleveland that he recovers fully and must remain safe

hope you enjoed have a lovely day and enjoy what you love do to
This Interview was brought to you by Sangiev,
"Hidden Talent" Series 3rd Volume,
Hidden Talent - Interview of +mw.pmi
Enjoy !