Ortaga
03/03/02 @696 | Martin | comments (4)
Not only is Ortaga too talented for his own good, but he is too smart for his own good as well. I personaly had problems understanding a few of the things he said, but that just shows how dense I am. Enjoy the Interview ladies and gents. The Game Art Interface GOD!! ORTAGA!! *And the crowd goes wild*

The Interview

GFXartist (Hyperion) - How long ago was it that you first started making digital art? How did you get into it, and what was your first inspiration?
Ortaga - In 1996 I got involved in a game called Nexus. I came on board as a man of many hats, I did the demo graphical matrixes, story boarding, AI scripting as well as liaising with people outside the company. It was during this time that I first became transfixed with Photoshop. I was helping out the lead programmer build tiles for the games environment, it was your basic isometric tiling with alot of pixel pushing. The tiles were a blast - if a little tedious but it got me interested in digital art. During the following months I started dabbling wherever and whenever I had free time, I started off by making logo's for the company, playing with filters and warping stuff. I guess you don't know how bad you are until you load up those first images you ever made . . . :) [Hyperion: Ain't that the truth. I found some of the stuff I produced in my first few months of making graphix and OUCH! Really damaged what little ego I have.]

I was on again off again for quite a few months until in July of '97 I found an article posted about Dark Reign, an upcoming RTS developed here in Australia by Auran and co-developed by Activision. The concept got me so intrigued that I dusted off Photoshop and got to work building my first ever website "Warmasters Dark Reign" The site was a semi success but I got alot of good feedback. I soon realized I had no abilities so far as content went and spent far too much time redoing the look of the site, I knew I was in trouble . . . [Hyperion: I have always wondered if I was the only designer who did that. Ten different interface designs and 500 words of content for a site. LOL!]

GFXartist (Hyperion) - What program (or programs) do you use to make your art?
Ortaga - I use Photoshop 4.0.1 as my primary tool; I'm slowly making the transition over to 5.5. I also use Metacreations Painter, Deep Paint, Adobe Illustrator, Bryce 3D for my texture DTE. For 3D I use Terragen, Bryce3D and VistaPro. I'm also about to start working with Rhino and at some stage Max. [Hyperion: I have started to notice a patern. All of the greatest designers I have seen online are familiar with several different graphix programs. Seems if you want to get noticed these days you have to be proficient with 20 different tools. I can barely remember where half of my Photoshop tools are, little lone figure out 3D Studio. J/K about the ps thing :P]

GFXartist (Hyperion) - What are the stats on your machine? Also list anything that makes your machine stand out.
Ortaga - I run a Dual P3-450 o/C 550, 192MB, dual 15" & 17" monitors, 20G Quantum 7200, 4.3G Quantum, 3.2G Quantum Scratch disk, Diamond Viper V770 Ultra AGP 32MB, Diamond Turbo (15"), DMX SoundSystem Deluxe, Altec Lansing spkrs, IntelliMouse Explorer USB, Wacom 6x 8x Tablet USB. I guess what stands out is not what you see but what you hear. I run 11 fans in my case to try and keep things cool. They are loud. [Hyperion: Hmmmm, mind if I borrow your system for a couple of ummmm, YEARS!?]

GFXartist (Hyperion) - 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.
Ortaga - Ok this is a true story. In '97 I had the good fortune of stumbling across Walter |2|'s site. When I saw this guys work I thought to myself "that's pretty f****** cool" so I decided to usurp him from his throne This individual has had the single most impact upon me, not so much in terms of style but rather I realized the skills I was developing were in an area he had already trod. It felt good to know a fellow quaker was making inroads without the use of an (RPG) :) [Hyperion: It always comes back down to Quake. You think it may have been a revolutionary game?]

GFXartist (Hyperion) - 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.
Ortaga - I started playing computer games when I was 7 to give my parents backyard a break. Infact they actively partook in my alienation from society. When I was around 13 I decided I wanted to work in the Entertainment industry. I wanted to make games. The inspiration for all of my work comes from my imagination & an acute sensitivity for "the other world" a gamers psyche. The digital medium offers the artist unparalleled access onto a superhighway into their mind. I can't think of another medium that mimics so closely the imaginative spurts and alternations that permeate our subconscious. I guess an artist is only as good as his tools; in terms of computers the tools are his or hers imagination, the limitations are your preconceived notions of perfection. Nothing is perfect & everything has its faults. A good artist realizes the difference between character and deviation.

GFXartist (Hyperion) - Are you currently working on any cool projects? If so what are they?
Ortaga - To use the famous words of Ronald Reagen: "I'm not denying, I just can't recall" ... any such projects ;)

GFXartist (Hyperion) - 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?
Ortaga - Well I'd like to draw Lara Croft better [Hyperion: I would like to be a character model in a game with her!] ... If I could learn a skill it would be to naturally orientate myself spatially within the X,y and Z just like Descarte envisaged it. Unfortunately I'm not much of a 3D modeller so for now at least I'll just stick to 2D art.

GFXartist (Hyperion) - What are your plans for the future as an artist?
Ortaga - I'm currently looking for contract or full-time work, so, if I had plans it would be to get a job in the industry. Until such time I have a couple of mods I'm contributing to which will be released in the coming months. [Hyperion: If I understood that correctly, he is looking for work that pays, so if you have some go to his site and check him out.]

GFXartist (Hyperion) - Would you like to suggest any hardware or software to other digital designers in your line of work?
Ortaga - A really comfortable chair, don't slouch! umm, oh and get a tablet if you can, they rox!

GFXartist (Hyperion) - Do you have any tips or words of wisdom for other designers who are working to become as good as you?
Ortaga - Ask yourself realistically what you expect from the industry and what its going to give you. Success isn't born overnight, the rules of engagement are always the same, if you plan to be an artist, expect to be poor. If your talented then remember that talent is only there so long as you understand what drives it, that's you. If you don't love graphics more than you love doing it then find another job. It's hard and your going to get screwed over by allot of people. doesn't that sound depressing? actually just think about all the other boring jobs out there and how cool it is to do graphics all day :)

Ortaga's Quote: "My name is Kornholio, are -- you threatening me!?" - Bevis & Butthead
 

Post Interview Comments
After interviewing Ortaga I have gathered that he is very talented and exceptionaly inteligent. Keep your eyes out for him, he's got a lot to offer. In the mean time check out his website. Ortaga.com