Interview with Francesco Mai
What do you like the most: Modeling, Texturing or Rendering and what will be the advices for the future wanna be animators?
Interesting question! Well, they are three very different and delicate steps and each one influences the others. Think in three different manners. The first (the modeling) in my opinion the most difficult: this is like extracting thoughts, ideas and concepts from my mind and converts into a 3d model. The other at the end two passages are embellishments of the native idea. I like to relate the process of rendering to the photography; this is like to take a snapshot of your creation and this fascinates me very much. Now with the actual power of (multi) CPUs and with the engineering of software is it possible a research the shapes, details, surfaces that was unthinkable some years ago. But we have to careful to the dazzling rendering speed; the ideas could be fast but their realizations run always at "analogical" speed and require the right time. It is easy to fall into the trap of give more importance to the speed of creation instead his content. Year by year I have realized that the works achieved with more difficulty are more appreciable. By the way, I use two PC’s for my work: a dual core Opteron for modeling and a 4 core Opteron for render. I also have a quite powerful notebook that I use when I go around the world. For the second half of your question I can say this: who want to became a digital artist must observe, study and experiment a lot (possibly if you have something to say). And to use your own ideas! It could be enough.
Which is your favorite piece in all your artwork and why?
My favorite piece usually is the latest. Because always new experience and knowledge in the latest artwork.
As we came to know you are the digital photographer, so which camera you use for capturing the beauty of the Italy and which is the thing always keep in mind while doing photography?
Thank you for speaking about the beauty of Italy (artistic, landscape and cousin for example). To be honest I have to say that I do not take many pictures in Italy. I photograph especially foreign difficult countries like Ethiopia, Madagascar, Sri Lanka and so on. I love to know another reality, particularly human one. For this reason that I often attend markets, especially African and Asian ones. I walk about in those places with a lot of humility and curiosity surrounded by a multitude of colors and odors. A near future project will be to organize several exhibitions with the photos I had collected in many years of travel. And with the proceeds I would help personally those people. When I photograph I use a Canon 5D 12 megapixel with two L-lens, a 100-400mm and a 24-70. I also have a prime 50mm for close photos. I always keep in mind that I am stealing a piece of truth and I try to make it in the best way possible rather with discretion, humility and many enthusiasms. Before I had a Canon D60 6 megapixel and many years ago I used the "old" film. It was a wonderful school using the analogical photography. It taught me lots of thing about the holy art of shooting. When I was ready I passed to the digital class with all benefits that are followed.
Are you working on any projects currently? If so, what are they?
Continuing with my research of ALIEN DIGITAL SCULPTURES I am beginning to use ZBrush 3 for a fairly revolutionary project. For now everything is "top secret" but when it will be ready I will show on my site. I am very curious how the public will react. Another project is a photographic research very conceptual. It is based on rust and corroded surfaces, elaborated with software and printed at large dimension.
Anything you like to add? It is your chance now to state your opinion about anything!
Nothing to add. Most part of the public begins to understand that the computer is only a (powerful) way to make Art. It is a tool like brush and scalpel. Unfortunately there are too many people thinking that computer makes all and the artist is only an executor who is limited to click with his mouse. Here in Italy the artistic inheritance is rightly heavy and important. And this fact can make believe that if an artwork does not coming from a brush or a scalpel has much less important and value. There is also a distorted concept of digital art. Many galleries are not yet able to recognize it and many times they confuse my digital sculptures with real one! But for me their mistake are source of honor. This means that I have done a good work!
Thanks a lot Francesco for taking out sometime for us from your busy schedule.
|
|
|
