Dmitri: Alright, let's start with the basic stuff... what's your handle?

Phill: My real life name.

Dmitri: What is your clearance level?

Phill: CL5

Dmitri: And your age?

Phill: 21, I'll be 22 in July.

Dmitri: And where do you come from?

Phill: Originally from St. Albert Alberta, but since I'm a military brat, I've lived all across Canada, from Alberta, to Ontario, to Nova Scotia, back to Manitoba, and Finally, I've Settled here in Calgary Alberta.

Dmitri: Now how long have you been chatting at outpost10f.com?

Phill: 8 Years this November

Dmitri: You've been a member of the artists guild for quite a while, though do you contribute to any other departments at the outpost?

Phill: I'm a member of the Welcoming committee. I also do graphics for the Wizards of Minas Tirith. We got something planned, keep an eye on the updates board ;)

Dmitri: So, you consider yourself an artist huh?

Phill: Yes. *blank stare, laughs*

Dmitri: How would you describe your art work?

Phill: I primarily do abstract work, so thats kind of hard to explain, since it means something different to everyone who looks at it. Other then that, I sketch, but I haven't done that in ages. I also do Anime wallpapers.

Dmitri: Tell me, where does your artistic inspiration come from?

Phill: Boredom. Most of my best work is done late at night trying to fall asleep, so I fart around in Photoshop till my eyes hurt.

Dmitri: When did you first become interested in art?

Phill: I've been drawing things since I was a kid, but it wasn't until around 2002 that I started to really focus on it. Ironicly, that was when I joined DeviantART (http://aceman67.deviantart.com)

Dmitri: We are lucky enough to have a selection of your work on the Artists Guild website, though do you have any other or more recent work you'd like to share with the community?

Phill: I'm going to be redesigning my art portfolio soon, so if anyone's interested, check it out (http://aceman67.freehostia.com/)

Dmitri: Do you just do graphic art or do you like to dabble in other art forms?

Phill: Sketching, and Web design.

Dmitri: Is there a favorite tool you like to use to create your work? Be it a certain set of paints or material to a certain graphic design program.

Phill: Adobe Photoshop CS2 and an industrial sized can-o-whoop-ass. For sketching, Canson 9x12 sketch book and .5mm and .7mm mechanical pencils.

Dmitri: When you're sat there creating your art... and pouring all your 'heart and soul' into a piece of work, do you listen to music to help motivate and inspire you and to get those so called create juices flowing? And if so, what do you listen to?

Phill: I leave iTunes on random with a playlist of over 1400 songs... can't really say what I really listen to, since its all random.

Dmitri: Moving on from that, are there any specific artists you admire or gain inspiration from? It doesn't matter if they are renowned artists or artists within the outpost10f community.

Phill: Recently, there are four artists that I have been watching closely.

The first is Jeph Jacques, the artist behind the webcomic "Questionable Content". Quite frankly, the comic's a pure slice of internet gold, and is a damn funny slice of life comic. Must read in my opinion. (http://www.questionablecontent.net)

The Second is Fred Gallagher, the artist behind the webcomic "Megatokyo". I've been reading his webcomic since it started its run, and is one of my all time favorites. (http://www.megatokyo.com)

The Third is someone known only (To me anyways) as "Kecky". Her art work has a light hearted feel to them, with bright colors. You can see her work over at her DeviantART account, and at her website. (http://kecky.deviantart.com http://www.kecky.com)

The Forth is a photographer named Kylie, or better known at the DeviantART community as Kyza. Her photo's are amazing, she just finished a spread where she was at the Good Vibrations festival in Australia, where she got some excellent photo's of Snoop Dog, and the Beastie Boys. She also kick started me from an artistic slump with donating a 3 month subscription to DeviantART a few years back, so I'm indebted to her. (http://kyza.deviantart.com)

Dmitri: Do you, or would you like to, make a career out of your art or is it just a hobby?

Phill: Right now its a hobby. I tried making a career out of it when I went to college last year for web design, but that didn't pan out. We'll see what happens in the future.

Dmitri: Do you admire any other art-forms? Such as music and architecture?

Phill: Mostly web design. But I like Flash animations and music.

Dmitri: Thank you for putting up with me answering my questions, though while you have the stage and all eyes are on you, do you have anything else to say before the curtain falls? =p

Phill: If you feel your art isn't very good, don't beat yourself up, art is what ever the artist wants it to be. It's neither good nor bad, no matter what anyone tells you. Don't be afraid to take constructive criticism either, it's an artist's most valuable tool, as it can only help you better yourself. Oh, visit my DeviantART account. (http://aceman67.deviantart.com)

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