ATA Interview with theCHAMBA

Interview with =theCHAMBA
11/3/12
<thefluffyshrimp> Welcome to ASKtheARTIST. My name is ~thefluffyshrimp and today I have the great privilege to interview =theCHAMBA, a very talented artist and creator of many well-known works on deviantART.
<thefluffyshrimp> Thank you for presenting us with this opportunity to interview you, theCHAMBA.
<thefluffyshrimp> ~BaneNacent asks Chamba  “Are you going to do new Darkstalkers art for the XBLA release next year?"
<theCHAMBA> Darkstalkers on the XBLA release : I WISH
<theCHAMBA> No news on that if UDON is doing anything on it
<theCHAMBA> If they are, I've not been told
<theCHAMBA> But that would be neat!
<thefluffyshrimp> ~jel asks "Hi Chamba! Can you talk about what professional projects you're working on right now? What can we hold in our hands in the near future?"
<theCHAMBA> UDON work:
<theCHAMBA> Digitally : there's the Shiftylook stuff which has been fun
<theCHAMBA> In Print: there's that Street Fighter next generation Trade
<theCHAMBA> and that's it as far as I know
<theCHAMBA> there could be more
<theCHAMBA> but again, I'm usually told just before I need to do it
<theCHAMBA> and since I tend to get things done very promptly, it's probably best that way
<thefluffyshrimp> ~daswolf asks "On average how many hours do you draw a day?"
<theCHAMBA> on average, when I don't have plans to go out during the day and that
<theCHAMBA> when pretty much a majority of my waking hours
<theCHAMBA> when I'm not playing or watching something w/ my Nephew
<theCHAMBA> or taking a break or having meals
<theCHAMBA> I'm drawing

<theCHAMBA> it's easy not having a social life, as all me mates are out at work too
<theCHAMBA> so it's easy to get lost in drawing
<thefluffyshrimp>  ~dark-es-will asks "Who is your favorite Street Fighter?"
<theCHAMBA> DAN!!!
<theCHAMBA> The hardest working fighter
<theCHAMBA> hah
<thefluffyshrimp> ~Sonofmog asks "I just have to ask about your bow ties, do you buy them online or is there a local shop?"
<theCHAMBA> there's a few local shops that sell them, but those are the super high quality ones
<theCHAMBA> so I rarely shop there, but sometimes i like to spoil myself
<theCHAMBA> so usually online
<thefluffyshrimp> *scute asks "I heard you're holding a character design contest for random veus, is that because you're too lazy to create your own character?"
<theCHAMBA> haha
<theCHAMBA> Lazy : far from it when it comes to art
<theCHAMBA> I figure it would be a great way to get folks involved
<theCHAMBA> to be part of something
<theCHAMBA> even if the book isn't super well known
<theCHAMBA> that they could feel like they've contributed to something
<theCHAMBA> but lazy, nope
<thefluffyshrimp> *Ry-Spirit asks "If you have to pick your most happiest/satisfied/proud artwork from your gallery, which would it be?"

<theCHAMBA> ahhhhhh tough question
<theCHAMBA> I think, personally
<theCHAMBA> the first RandomVeus collage piece I drew up
<theCHAMBA> although old
<theCHAMBA> might be one
<theCHAMBA> It was the birth of an idea
<theCHAMBA> that I wanted to run with
<theCHAMBA> sure the style and ideas might've changed since
<theCHAMBA> but it was the beginning
<thefluffyshrimp> ~CableNathan82 asks "Hey Chamba, what computer setup do you have and what software do you use for your art?"
<theCHAMBA> computer : CRAPPY so will get a new one, haha
<theCHAMBA> Software: I priamrily use Photoshop CS3 as it's what I have
<theCHAMBA> I honestly prefer Photoshop 5.5
<theCHAMBA> but what with all the small additions like folders within layers
<theCHAMBA> they've swayed me to upgrade to these
<theCHAMBA> I will also get the new Photoshop
<theCHAMBA> as it finally has autosave
<thefluffyshrimp> ~Dark-bliss asks "Everyone tends to have something they have real difficulty with, especially when they first start drawing, what did you find was the hardest thing to grasp as far as drawing the human body when you first started?"
<theCHAMBA> when I first started to draw
<theCHAMBA> I think proportions
<theCHAMBA> this was well over decade ago, but i think it's because all I looked at then was comics
<theCHAMBA> not the best way to learn
<theCHAMBA> so after looking into life drawing and such
<theCHAMBA> the eyes learned how to 'look' at things
<theCHAMBA> and still learning
<theCHAMBA> figuring a style comes more natural when you know what the source looks like
<thefluffyshrimp> ~BaneNacent asks "Drawing that much every day, how do you protect your hands from Carpal Tunnel? Do you use arts school techniques like moving your whole arm instead of just the wrist?"
<theCHAMBA> take hourly breaks
<theCHAMBA> folks tend to forget
<theCHAMBA> and say it's not important
<theCHAMBA> but breaks are just as important
<theCHAMBA> can't draw with a damaged wrist/arm
<theCHAMBA> well you can, but it is much more difficult, hah
<theCHAMBA> but yes, 10 - 15 minute breaks help
<thefluffyshrimp>*scute asks "How would you explain the character of Raimundo and how is he different to your standard comic book hero?"
<theCHAMBA> he’s not really a 'hero'
<theCHAMBA> he's the lead in the book, so you follow he and his crew's exploits
<theCHAMBA> he has a moral code which he follows, but he's not a 'hero' really
<theCHAMBA> at least to me anyway
<theCHAMBA>*shrugs*
<thefluffyshrimp> ~dark-es-will asks "Chamba, what is your cultural background? Great accent BTW :-D"
<theCHAMBA> folks are from the Philippines
<theCHAMBA> raised in Australia
<theCHAMBA> I was born in Philippines, but moved to Australia when I was four
<theCHAMBA> so I don't really remember much of anything from it.
<thefluffyshrimp> ~DraworDye asks "Where do you get all the inspiration for your zany characters and plot points for random veus?"
<theCHAMBA> imagination I guess
<theCHAMBA> which is a mash up of influences
<theCHAMBA> things I like
<theCHAMBA> things people say
<theCHAMBA> things that could be fun to draw
<theCHAMBA> just a load of anything really
<theCHAMBA> the Beauty for me about RV is that I can pretty much do what I like
<thefluffyshrimp>~PorkyMeansBusiness asks "Any tips for how to be that good?"
<theCHAMBA> practice
<theCHAMBA> be open to learn, always
<theCHAMBA> passion
<theCHAMBA> patience too!
<thefluffyshrimp> =FooRay asks "Chamba, hypothetically, if you had to live with another artist for a year, whom would you live with and why?"
<theCHAMBA> any of the artists that influence me!
<theCHAMBA> So I can see how they work on stuff
<theCHAMBA> see how an artist goes about in the process of their work
<theCHAMBA> easier to learn for me by seeing
<theCHAMBA> rather than being told how
<thefluffyshrimp> What artists have influenced you?
<theCHAMBA> oooo big list
<theCHAMBA> all kinds of folks behind animations, so many to name so i'll name animation studios
<theCHAMBA> like Disney feature films
<theCHAMBA> when I was younger especially
<theCHAMBA> anime studios like Gainax and Bones
<theCHAMBA> MadHouse
<theCHAMBA> those cats are boss
<theCHAMBA> earliest comic influences was J.Scott Campbell
<theCHAMBA> Adam Warren
<theCHAMBA> now cats like Eric Canete, European artists like Barbucci
<theCHAMBA> dudes of Catfish DX
<theCHAMBA> Mangakas like Toriyama
<theCHAMBA> Yusuke Murata (easily my fave all round!)
<theCHAMBA> there's too many
<thefluffyshrimp> ~PorkyMeansBusiness asks "Hey Chamba. Do you prefer drawing freehand first and scanning your work in, or doing it all completely digitally?"
<theCHAMBA> I enjoy both equally NOW
<theCHAMBA> depending on what's asked of me
<theCHAMBA> I would take one over the other
<theCHAMBA> it really depends on what mood I’m in
<theCHAMBA> but
<theCHAMBA> if I could get cleaner scans
<theCHAMBA> I would prefer to draw tradish and bring it into digital
<theCHAMBA> if the work is for print
<theCHAMBA> but if not for print, traditional is extremely fun
<thefluffyshrimp> ~CableNathan82 asks "What character would you really like to draw that you have not gotten the chance to work on yet?"
<theCHAMBA> professionally, like for comics
<theCHAMBA> there's heaps!
<theCHAMBA> hah
<theCHAMBA> Like If there were a chance, I would draw a Freakazoid comic
<theCHAMBA> a Deadpool comic could be stupid fun too
<thefluffyshrimp> ~BaneNacent asks "Chamba, did your parents recognize your artistic ability whenyou were younger and help develop that?"

<theCHAMBA> they never told me to stop
<theCHAMBA> heh
<theCHAMBA> which I am always thankful for
<theCHAMBA> they saw that it brought me happiness
<theCHAMBA> and it also didn't hurt that it was a cheap way to entertain me
<theCHAMBA> heh
<thefluffyshrimp> *Mopeyface asks "What inspired you to grow that fabulous moustache?"
<theCHAMBA> hahh
<theCHAMBA> originally, boredom
<theCHAMBA> this is the third Time i've had it also
<theCHAMBA> most successful too
<theCHAMBA> 1st time, got irritated and shaved it all off
<theCHAMBA> second time, didn't have the correct wax, then got irritated that it would get in the way when eating/drinking
<theCHAMBA> now that I have the right wax, it's all good
<thefluffyshrimp> ~thefluffyshrimp asks "Simple question, but out of random curiousity, what is your favorite DBZ character?"
<theCHAMBA> krillin
<theCHAMBA> HE'S THUG!
<theCHAMBA> and was wicked in original Dragon Ball
<thefluffyshrimp> =FooRay asks "Chamba, you've had a long stretch in the deviantArt community; How do you think the friendships you've made have influenced your art and life in general?"
<theCHAMBA> it's allowed me to grow and expand on what I had already known
<theCHAMBA> to be able to share the same passion for art that I couldn't really with the friends I already had was a great thing
<theCHAMBA> it was an avenue that I wouldn't have known of so am always thankful for having
<thefluffyshrimp> ~DraworDye asks "How picky are you about your own work?"
<theCHAMBA> always, but definitely more lax
<theCHAMBA> know what I'm capable of, but always try to push harder
<theCHAMBA> not to be hard on myself for not being better, but being open to learn whenever I can
<theCHAMBA> since I'm always experimenting I can't be too down if I can't achieve something instantly
<thefluffyshrimp> ~EarlyApplesMagee asks "Some young artists like me get really pessimistic about their skills when they compare themselves to more experienced artists like you. When you started getting srs about illustration, did you ever cross the fine line between aspiration and jealousy?"
<theCHAMBA> nah, can't be jealous
<theCHAMBA> there's simply some things other will do better (or more so DIFFERENT) than you at the time
<theCHAMBA> doesn't mean it can't be achieved
<theCHAMBA> should push you to work at it harder
<thefluffyshrimp> ~WarlockMaster asks "How do you achieve such a nice quality to your illustrations / drawings?"
<theCHAMBA> always try to push the best of yourself whenever you create
<theCHAMBA> no matter what it's for
<theCHAMBA> it's part of you
<theCHAMBA> so why not show the best of what you are
<theCHAMBA> it represents you
<thefluffyshrimp> *scute asks "What were some of your favorite comics growing up and what are some of your favorite comics now?"
<theCHAMBA> growing up : Thor, spider-man and Gen:13 (it's what got me drawing full on in a 'comic' style
<theCHAMBA> now, I read Invincible, Yotsuba&! and One Piece (to name a few)
<thefluffyshrimp> ~BaneNacent asks "As a artist have you ever been commissioned to draw a story for a writer that you hated? Or hated the story content?"
<theCHAMBA> i will decline something if it didn't interest me
<theCHAMBA> of course there are moment where you are in need of money
<theCHAMBA> very common for freelance artists
<theCHAMBA> hah
<theCHAMBA> so depending on that, sometimes you have to bite your tongue and go with it
<theCHAMBA> rarely has that happened though
<thefluffyshrimp>*Mopeyface asks "Your traditional sketches always look sparkly clean, do you work with an underlying sketch or do you draw things freehand?"
<theCHAMBA> 4H pencil for underlines
<theCHAMBA> HB for main lines
<theCHAMBA> level in PS when scanned
<theCHAMBA> bam!
<thefluffyshrimp> *coreylandis asks "Chamba, my wife wants to know how you deal with all your rabid fangirls?"
<theCHAMBA> as I don't get many, it's not an issue
<thefluffyshrimp> ~Hatianidiot asks "Chamba, you have been drawing a lot of Dragonball Z as of late, what does the series mean to you?"
<theCHAMBA> Toriyama is easily one of my biggest influences
<theCHAMBA> so his series (dragon ball and dr.slump) mean a great deal to me as far as being artistic influences
<thefluffyshrimp> ~CableNathan82 asks "Chamba, what is your thought process when coloring your pieces?"
<theCHAMBA> colouring : get it done!
<theCHAMBA> haha
<theCHAMBA> well work out where the primarily light is coming from
<theCHAMBA> and al should fall into place after that
<theCHAMBA> least for me
<thefluffyshrimp> Alright everyone! The official interview with =theCHAMBA is now complete! I want to thank you all for joining us today and for supporting the ASKtheARTIST project.
<thefluffyshrimp> If you can wait for just a minute, theCHAMBA is kind enough to be joining you all in AtAChat in just a bit for a little bit of free chatting with you, one-on-one.
<thefluffyshrimp> Thank you again, =theCHAMBA , for the privilege to interview you today, and for your patience and dedication in answering so many fan questions for our ASKtheARTIST event!
<theCHAMBA> thanks for holding it!
<theCHAMBA> it was fun
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