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We interviewed Paul Guzenko, a freelance illustrator from Moscow

Hello, Paul. Please, tell us a few words about yourself(age, location, employment).

I’m 30 years old. I live and work in Russia Moscow. I’m a freelance illustrator. My specialization is cover and interior illustration for books and board games.

Let’s talk about your CG background. Tell our readers how it happened you became a CG artist. What was the reason of choosing this occupation? Did you start it as hobby or your aim was to build up a career in this field? Have you got any art related schooling?

I’ve drawing since I was a kid. I always know that I will be an artist eventually. After an art school, I entered the Russian University of Printing Arts, where I learned book illustrating and graphic design. A few years after, I went to Russian Scientific Research Institute of Technical Aesthetics, where I awarded a PhD degree. My first milestone in my career of illustrating was 2007, when I changed my specialization from graphic designer to book illustrator. In some sense it was quite easy, I’ve just changed Adobe Illustrator and InDesign to Corel Painter. I had still the same computer and Wacom tablet. From other side, it’s a big challenge! Different employer, clients, other tasks and goals.

As we know from your portfolio you take a great interest in creating book and game covers. Why did you decide to become the Illustrator and from where you got the inspirations?

I like to draw a concept art and covers for Pc games, but my real passion is book illustration. I’ve always dreamed of illustrating books. When I was a child my favorite book illustrators were Denis Gordeev, Ivan Bilibin, Gennady Spirin, Věnceslav Černý. Now my list of awesome illustrators has increased dramatically ;)

What software program(s) do you use for your work and why?

I usually draw in Corel Painter. Long time ago, I worked in Adobe Photoshop. Lately Painter’s brushes and how this software blended colors amazed me, and I started work in Painter. Now, I think ArtRage has great opportunity to overtake Painter.

I think it will be interesting for our readers to learn about your work “Dark Elf” . Can you tell us in brief about the making of this image and what problems you have faced? What stage was the most difficult for you? How long did you work on it? What software did you use?

When I was drawing this image I tried to experiment with color balance. The very simple scheme “warm light = cold shadow” has been used by me in a very graphic way. I wanted to emphasize the main contrast in this image. I used Corel Painter with quite usuall Oil Camelhair brush. The first and main idea of this image was very clear and I had the whole picture in my mind, which actually doesn’t happen very often with me. So, I drew it quite easy and fast. The only problem that I’ve had to solve was an anatomy of the main character. At the beginning I wanted to draw a male warrior with unusual proportions, like long hands etc. But, then I decided to turn him into a common male body.

So, your current work status is a freelancer. Please tell us what difficulties a freelancer have to face in getting the work? What pros and cons do you see in working as a freelancer? Is it easy for to organize yourself and not to put the work off?

I found the most difficult that clients always want to get an image like he/she saw in your portfolio. It means that you will not get commission for book cover if you have only ink drawings. So, you have to build your portfolio very carefully. In the latest episode (#26) from the Drawn Today Podcast you can find quite interesting thoughts concerning artist’s portfolio. Actually, there’re tones of site like www.freelancefolder.com and blogs like www.pbeachtips.blogspot.com can help you to manage all freelancer’s difficulties. The second important feature is you can’t just boost your salary. If you want more money you have to work harder, find new clients. It’s quite clear formula and it keeps a freelancer in his toes.

How do you manage to combine your personal life and work? Do you have any hobbies? Is it easy for you to find the time for your family, friends?

All my hobbies (games, sketching, books etc.) are related to my current work. When I sketching, painting, sculpting, watching, and even gaming for myself I’m improving my work’s skills. The rest of the time I spend to my family.

What’s the most useful thing you have learned ? Have you any tricks and your own “know-hows” which you gained with experience during your work?

Sometimes, when I need to find very unusual angle for my scene (with buildings, columns, stairs etc.), I use Google SketchUp. This is very simple and easy to use software, which I’m using for sketching.

Are you a perfectionist? Does it take you long to achieve that final perfect result you are happy with? What is your best work?

I think if I don’t aspire to the perfect result, I won’t get anything. My best work is the next one, that doesn’t exist yet.

Do you have any dream as an artist? How would you like to see your career evolve in the next few years?

I want to draw covers for various publishing companies. I want to make a few game projects and work with talented people in game industry for a while. I would be happy to see and talk to other artists, to get new experience.

Thank you for the interview and wish you all the best!

Thank you too!

Visit Paul’s web site

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