Kelly McLarnon (Topaz Designs)

This interview was done with Kelly McLarnon. Kelly is the artist behind Topaz Designs, Digital Perception and Dreamshadow. An artist who has succesfully combined traditional painting skills with digital painting and web design.  

The Interview 

GFXartist: How long ago was it that you first started making digital art? How did you get into it, and what was your first inspiration?
Kelly: I first started using old MS Paint-like programs when I was a little kid (my parents got me into that).. I've been doing it seriously for a few years, though. The first inspiration I can remember is Ozone's site (ozones.com). That was when I first realized the artistic potential of the web, and began making graphics.

GFXartist: What program (or programs) do you use to make your art?
Kelly: My main tool of choice is Photoshop (big surprise :) I also use Bryce, Painter, 3DS Max, and a few other things.

GFXartist: What are the stats on your machine? Also list anything that makes your machine stand out.
Kelly: PII 400 w/ 256 megs of ram runing Win NT, 19" Sony monitor, 9x12 Wacom Intuos tablet, and nothing else really worth mentioning. Not much to make it stand out (need an upgrade!)... it's all the junk _around_ it that's interesting :)

GFXartist: What factors (as far as practice, tutorials, etc.) do you think made the most difference in improving the quality of your art? If you know of tutorial sites, or books we would love to hear about them.
Kelly: I'm going to have to be completely unoriginal here and say practice, and lots of it. I don't really use any books or tutorials. They can teach you techniques, but not creativity, so I usually just try to draw/paint as much as possible.

GFXartist: Where do you find inspiration to do your work? Please list any sites you visit, books, art you look at, or even music you listen too. Look deep inside.
Kelly: I get inspiration from pretty much anything... other artwork, web sites (can't think of one in particular), books, tv, movies, music, dreams, games, nature, life, etc.

GFXartist: Are you currently working on any cool projects? If so what are they?
Kelly: Well, school definitely isn't a cool project, so I'm not really working on much right now. A few Photoshop paintings here and there, but nothing major since I don't have much spare time during school. [Hyperion - Bummer! I was hoping to hear that you had some cooooool project that was going to release soon.]

GFXartist: There are so many types of cool digital design out there, if you could learn another one of those skills easily which would you choose? What would you use it for, if its not self explanitory?
Kelly: This seems to be a common respons... 3D :) I'd love to get into 3D animation, and might end up studying that in college. If I decided I liked it, I'd use it to try getting a job at a cool animation studio like Pixar... well, if I'm really lucky. [Hyperion - Ya I agree, 3D seems to be the most advanced, yet coolest form of digital art to get into.]

GFXartist: What are your plans for the future as an artist?
Kelly: I guess most of that was answered above, although I might change my mind. I think I'd also like doing something like book illustration. My goal right now, though, is to improve my drawing skills.

GFXartist: Would you like to suggest any hardware or software to other digital designers in your line of work?
Kelly: Software depends mostly on personal opinion... for me, the best is Photoshop. I also find Win NT pretty stable (for a MS product), but it sucks for games. A tablet is essential for digital painting. I have problems with extreme slowness when working with really large images, so get as fast a processor as you can, with tons of ram.

GFXartist: Do you have any tips or words of wisdom for other designers who are working to become as good as you?
Kelly: I'd advise them to set their goals higher, hehe ;) Hard work and practice are always very imortant, of course.. I don't want to repeat myself, so I'll just pass this on to the answer below...

GFXartist: I think most would agree that your style of design is >amazing. The feel of your work is totaly unique from other mainstream >designers. Could you give advise to beginners as to how an artist might >individualize their styles and get noticed as you have?
Kelly: Don't go along with the latest trend just because all the other designers are doing it. It's great to be inspired by people - we can't help but be influenced by others - but not to the point where it's immediately obvious whose site you've drawn your inspiration from. Go to sources other than web sites for inspiration: art history, nature, books, games, etc... most of all, your self and your emotions; that is where yor true uniqueness and creativity lies :) Do the artwork you _want_ to do.

Kelly's Quote: "All it takes to fly is to hurl yourself at the ground... and miss." - Douglas Adams

Post Interview Comments
A painter at heart obviously. Her digital art seems to root from her painting skills. Sure does make me wanna see some of her painting eh? Check out here design site. Topaz Designs (site might be down) See Kelly's work at: Dreamshadow

 - Interview by Hyperion