justinLassen

ISSUE004 COVERART: Photo by Lance Larson, Photo artwork by D. Rolli

EXCLUSIVE UNIQUE INTERVIEW

Don’t miss our exclusive interview with

the one and only musical legend Justin
Lassen. This interview is nothing you
will have seen before, instead of the
forbiddenwhispers team conducting the
interview we asked Justin’s peers and
inspirations to ask him the questions you
have always wanted to ask.

Justin goes indepth into his thoughts

and thinking behind some of his music
tracks and his inspiration in producing
the music that sits so beautifully along-
side some of the most stunning artwork
created by his peers.

Editorial And if that was not enough, Justin is

very kindly sharing with us 6 of his music
Welcome to the forth issue of Forbidden Whispers Magazine. tracks for your listening pleasure.

After a long break we've returned with an excellent comeback issue, filled So make sure you don’t miss it p25
with 124 pages of artistic content, workshops, and artist interviews.
ARTIST/ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
What have we got in store for you for this issue? We throw the spotlight on Want to be part of the magazine?
some talented artists such as, Kristina Gehrmann, Marisa López, and Oliver Contact us at:
fw-submissions@forbiddenwhispers.co.uk
Wetter. Not to mention some fantastic interviews with Poser Artist, Anders
Plassgard, who talks to us about his love for Poser, and how he combines
other software to create his stunning Sci-fi imagery.

Improve your artistic techniques with our workshops and artist walkthroughs, Let us know what you think!
If you have any comments or suggestions
featuring Michael Krenzin with his stunning image ‘La Petit Princesse’, and about the magazine, anything you’d like
Suzanne Van Pelt brings us ‘Mr Leto’ in her step-by-step walkthrough. to see, things you would like changed, or
just to ask us about anything. Please get in
And if that wasn’t enough we showcase some of the best artists in our gal- touch with us via the following ways.
lery expose. Such artists include, Piotr Zwierzchowski, Wen -Xi-Chen, Jakub Email:fwmag@forbiddenwhispers.co.uk
Kujawa, Liu Yang, and Beloved Creature shares with us his sci-fi surrealist
works. Tel UK: 07917204968 (Mike)
07888853467 (Anna)
Our articles in this issue include an in depth look into the controversial world Tel Overseas: (+44) 7917204968 (Mike)
of web site Terms of service, written and submitted by Lara Guffanti. (+44) 7888853467 (Anna)
 Kristina Gehrmann
Issue 004 2007

Artist Spotlight Interviews Articles

Cynthia Lee Rimmer Lauren K Cannon T.O.S Article
Page 57 Page 63 Page 80
Workshops Articles Workshops
Gothic Girl Web site Reviews Mr Leto
Page 98 Page 82 Page 108
Workshops Interviews Interviews
La Petit Princesse Anders Plassgard Suzanne Van Pelt
Page 104 Page 72 Page 9
Artist Spotlight Artist Showcase Interviews
contents

Veronica Atanacio Beloved Creature F. Langford-Sidebottom

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2
 artist spotlight
Kristina Gehrmann Issue 004 2007

Born May 12th, 1989 in Germany. Kristina has been deaf

since birth but can hear a little using two hearing aids. She’s

always loved drawing, and she doodled all the time when she

was little.

In 2002, Kristina discovered digital painting and eventually

got an Aiptek tablet which she still uses now. The majority

of her paintings are painted in Photoshop 7, but Kristina also

frequently uses Painter. Kristina tells us that she also tries to

develop skills in traditional painting using oils and watercolor.

Her preferred subject matters are figures “I love illustrating a

story or depicting the figure as an allegory.” She says. From

studying the works of the old masters, Kristina gets a lot

of her inspiration. She especially loves the works of William

Turner and Eugène Delacroix.

Currently Kristina is a high school student preparing for her

A-levels in 2008. She plans to study painting and drawing at

the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, where she hopes

to learn some fundamental traditional art training. Her future

hopes are to be an illustrator for fairy tale books, or a tradi-

tional portrait painter.

http://www.mondhase.de

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 “I always loved art in all its ways.”

“Painting and literature, music, and architecture.

Since I have memory I always knew that art will
be fundamental in my life. I’m a creative creature.
Curious, romantic, dark, obsessive”

Today art is finally Veronica’s lifestyle, and her phi-

losophy.

Since Veronica discovered digital matte painting, she

now feels that she has found the most beautiful way
to express everything that takes place in her chaotic
and complex soul.

“I think this is just my beginning, my first steps. I’m

full of projects and ideas and I really hope to reach
all of them. I love painting, I love my work. Some-
times things just don’t work out, but it’s OK. I learn
from my mistakes like everybody else. I also have to
fight with my personal demons, because I’m really

Veronica Atanacio
perfectionist and demanding with myself.”

Veronica now splits her time between new graphics

for her online store and digital painting.

“I’m 100% self-taught. I spend a lot of my time

learning and studying all kind of things related to
art in general and digital art in particular.”

“Actually I love to learn everything that I can. All

kind of knowledge is useful and valuable to me. Even
when I’m a very emotional person, I’m very cerebral
too.”

Veronica confesses fantasy art is her strong point.

“Faeries, witches, wizards, dragons, knights. I love
fantasy worlds! Mythology, neopaganism and
magic. I love everything about it”

Veronica works very hard on her artwork, and in

her spare time, she likes to spend as much time with
her beloved family who have supported her and also
inspire her everyday.
 Suzanne Van Pelt

p e z
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Ma
Marisa Lopez was born in Bilbao (Basque

country-Spain) in 1971, Marisa’s artist

name is Sarima. Which is just the result

of inverting the syllables of her name.

Marisa has lived and worked in Madrid

for 12 years, she worked as bridal and

scenic costume designer and patriot for

many years, and as painting teacher.

Marisa has also studied graphic design

so she can work in this field.

At the moment, Marisa is working as il-

lustrator for editorials around the world,

which involves working with game devel-

opers and working on other commis-

sions. Some of her commissions involve

collaborating with photographers and

photo retouch and photo manipulations.

She also works with writers by illustrat-

ing their books.

For her artwork Marisa is using mixed

techniques. This includes pencil sketch-

es, which are scanned and coloured in

Photoshop and painter with a Wacom

digital tablet.

For now she is working as graphic and

textile designer for an alternative fash-

ion firm called “Zen Spirit” and as 3D

developer at Bitart (Bilbao)

You can see much more of Marisa’s work

at her deviantart page:

http://www.sarima.deviantart.com
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M i ch a e l K re n z i n
 interview interview
Michael krenzin Issue 004 2007 Issue 004 2007
Michael krenzin
Michael Krenzin is presently working as a Motion What was the idea behind your images Transmog-

Designer for a large mobile entertainment compa- rify and Mornings Light show on these pages?

ny, and in order to relieve the weekly intensity, he The two images were more like an attempt in some-

turns to digital painting. “It gives me the possibility thing new. I tried using a light, and lots of lose stroke

to be creative, and it also gives me the chance to combinations in order to increase more focus on

leave reality.” He says. the person without getting too detailed. The light

should be the carrier of the mood. Transmogrify

He can often be found surfing through the different is just a side step, something like procrastination

art communities, as this helps Michael learn new from my usual style but in the artistic sense. My

techniques and it keeps him updated with the new girlfriend gave me some books from H. R. Giger as

trends. “It is also a great place to receive critique a present, and I guess that sparked the idea to try

from dedicated artists.” Michael explains. this style.

What first sparked your interest in digital art? Do you find you have to plan the image?

I am not quite sure. My dad taught me how to draw Most definitely! Before I start an image, I make

and since the age of 16 I have been spending my some sketches, And I make some notes. I also try

time working as a graphic designer. But it seems to picture in my head the finished motive. If I would

that the true cause that persuaded me to jump to have done it in the sense of improvisation, I would

the digital arts is my current job. My goal was to get lost. The way to do it is to have a goal, and with-

be creative besides my job, and so I came upon out that map in my mind, I would not be able to find

gfxartist.com, and I thought this site was amazing. my way. I would most probably be staring for ages

I was immediately active on this site, and it have at my image without a plan. But when I have a plan,

been three years now. then I know which direction I am heading.

Who are your biggest artistic influences? Are you always trying to develop your style?

Luis Royo definitely influenced me during my course I seem to improve with every image I make, and I

of digital painting, and my father as well. He taught learn a lot to it as well. I think I am still only at the

me a lot. However, I do believe that the biggest in- beginning.

fluence came from the world around me, it was her

who chose the style for me, and it has basically What do you family think of your artwork?
Do you work with traditional art as well as digital? Which image of yours is your personal favourite?
portrayed in every image I have made. I have full support and trust from my family, and
Yes, before I started with digital art, I used to draw with pencils and oil paints. I have decreased La petite princesse, most definitely. I like it, because I have invested a lot of time and I have
they are very proud of me. They try to help when-
the use of oil now however, which is quite a shame actually, because I somewhat miss the learnt a lot during that time.
What colour pallets do you like working with? ever they feel they can.
uniqueness in such paintings. I think I should start again sometime.
The colours I prefer most are earth tones, natural
What do you find most difficult to paint and why?
colours. However, the colour schemes are usually Could you share with us one useful painting tip?
What do you like about painting woman? Hands and feet, which is why I usually hide them. Why do you ask? I do not quite know. I never
dependent on the mood and the motive. Do what you want, and do not let any other image
Honestly, I do not like painting men. I like painting women, they have a wider range in expressing seem to get it right in the first attempt, however, I keep practicing, and I believe I am getting
distract you from your own style. I think there is an
emotions and feelings. I also think that women are quite complex, and that is what I like. I like better at it each time that I try.
Are there any particular brushes you like to work excess of young artists who try to be like other art-
the challenge in painting such women.
with? ists, because they believe it is the way to do it. But
Do you speed paint at all, and what do you like about it?
I like the normal round hard brush. And also the that is where they are wrong, they lose their selves,
If you had to learn something new artistically what would it be and why? I love speed paints. It gives you the opportunity to get into a certain routine, and the software
smudging tool in painter. Otherwise, I create my and their own style. This is when an image loses its
If there would be a possibility for me to learn something new? Creating Sculptures. I would is less challenging to understand. And it offers you much more freedom of expression than
own texture and pointing brushes. personality in my opinion.
really like to learn how to make figures and toys. painting in a more refined way.
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 interview
Michael krenzin Issue 004 2007

If you had to do a compilation image with any artist of your choice

alive or dead who would it be and why?

Luis Royo, Monet, and Andrew Jones, that would be something really

amazing.

r W e t t e r
If you had to go back and talk to one of the artistic greats, who would

Oli v e
it be and what do you think you would ask them?

Leonardo Da Vinci, I would ask him why he painted the Mona Lisa, and

also what was going through his mind when he painted it. I think I might

receive an unspectacular answer.

How would you explain your style of painting?

My style? I guess it is a mixture of all. I honestly think that I am still

m Man Ray
ar tis ts , fro m Bo sch to Giger, fro
looking for my own style, or my own self.
d by many the moment he
is
His work is inspire of w or k does vary. At
so hi s st yl e llerie to
s
to McKean, and di pl om a w or k and finding art ga
finishing his and design in on
e
Where do you hope your art will take you in the future?
concentrating on ity, to br ing together art
k. The vi rtu al
Great question. Hope is so similar to dreams? I hope to sell some represent his wor n of Oliver ’s wor
k.
on ic un is on , is the main concer
prints and also have the opportunity to become a freelance illustrator. harm
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 artist spotlight
Oliver Wetter Issue 004 2007

Oliver was born in 1978 and raised in Trier, the city where Karl Marx was
also born. Between the years 1993-1996, Oliver started a very success-
ful apprenticeship to become a painter. Since 2001 Oliver had begun
studying Airbrush design at the Arts center IBKK in Bochum (Germany),
where he had master class lessons and was taught by Roland Kuck.
Between the two educations Oliver has trained himself to reach a very
skilled level of perfection to create his digital composing in Photoshop
and various other software.

Oliver has spent a great deal of time creating his own art projects, he also
connects with other artists for collaboration work, from musicians to
fashion-designers. Through the mixed media-technique, Oliver has found
the ability to mix photographs with paintings. Besides this, he does photo
manipulation and sculpture works from fantasy to science fiction based
themes.

His techniques, make use of traditional painting and Airbrushing. Both

combined with 3D-design, photography and digital post work. This allows
him an unrestricted mobile visual expression-potentiality, which carries
almost every medium.

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 justinLassen
forbidden whispers magazine

Canned Extra Grande

Justin Lassen
2002

Track Time: 4mins 7secs

Preview one of the music

tracks included within the
interview.

To listen to the track just

hover your mouse of the
equaliser graphic above
and the track will begin
playing.

To stop the track at any

time just hover out of the
graphic and the track will
stop.

Remember there are 6

tracks in total within the
full version of issue004 of
the magazine, very kindly
supplied by Justin.

Read the unique interview

with Justin Lassen in the
full version of the Forbidden
Whispers Magazine. As well
as having access to the 6
music tracks included with
the interview also.

music
 Wen - Zi - Chen
As soon as Wen-Xi was able to hold a crayon to
paper, she knew that she loved to draw. Now she
has ended up a pathology student but her love
for art is as strong as ever. She aims to capture
the subtleties of light, shadow and beauty in her
pieces.
http://www.acidlullaby.net
acid_lullaby@hotmail.com
Michael Anthony Gonzales
With hopes of mimicking 3D, as well as to divert
himself away from painful experiences, Michael
started digital painting last year.
“In digital painting, I often explore different styles
but most likely my influence is on game designs.
Although most people that I know, call my style
in reference on the nickname of the first person
I loved.”
http://mickyoko.deviantart.com/
expose
Liu Yang
artist showcase
Born in China, 1985. Liu Yang is a student, who is
completely self-taught in art. He has a passion for
science-fiction, fantasy, and Gothic artworks.
Liu use’s mostly Adobe Photoshop for painting.
And has had his works published in Expose 4 and
Exotique 2, Both books by Ballistic Publishing.
poisondlo@gmail.com
http://poisondlo.deviantart.com
Jakub Kujawa
As a child, Polish artist Jakub, had a dream to be-
come an artist, and ever since then he has been
painting, sketching, sculpting and more to achieve
this dream.
“I had classical painting lessons since I was 14.
Then, after the secondary school of art, I’ve the
became interested in digital art. I find computer
illustration a very interesting media to realize my
imagination and my thoughts.
“I think that digital art is the future, but I am sure
that I’ll never stop painting classical paintings.”
http://www.kujawa-art.com
nail_85@tlen.pl
Anne Pogoda
Anne has always loved drawing and painting.
“My father was a gifted person so we did a lot art
related stuff together. About 3 years ago I decided
to go digital, because I am a lazy bum and I also
discovered I had several allergic reactions to my
favorite tools of choice, Acrylics.
Anne is now studying graphic design at an art
academy. Beside her studies, she is currently
working on various commissions and tutorials for
several art publications.
Erich Schreiner
Sieg ‘Beloved Creature’
Piotr Zwierzchowski
Scott Lee Gearhart
Sky Keith
A self taught digital artist, Erich uses Photoshop
and Painter for his images. His biggest artistic in-
fluences are Luis Royo, Cos Koniotis and Justin
Sweet.
For the future Erich would like to make a living out
of his art and learn more to improve his skills. One
thing he would like to try oils or acrylics if he can
find the time.
http://www.drakken.de
e.schreiner@t-online.de
 Black Widow
Wen-Xi-Chen
Top Left

Ghosts
Wen-Xi-Chen
Top Right

Daemon
Wen-Xi-Chen
Bottom Right

Murder Music
Wen-Xi-Chen
Opposite Page

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artist spotlight
Cynthia Lee Rimmer Issue 004 2007

W h is p e r s M a g a z in e
in th e fu ll v e r s io n o f Issue004 Forbidden
R ead the full spotlight
 Lauren would say she has been drawing all of her life, her

Lauren K. Cannon
memories are full of making up stories and characters in
her head and trying to bring them to life through art. “It was
only sometime in the past few years, during high school,
that I realized art was not simply something I enjoyed, it
was something I needed to do.” She explains.
“I grew serious about art, and started posting my work
online, and eventually disregarded my plans of majoring in
English to pursue a career in illustration instead.”

It’s clear to see that Lauren’s art is based around different

worlds and mythologies that she has created. She explains
that one day, she would like to write these worlds and
visions down, but for now, she is just happy to be exploring
them through art.

Now as we explore Lauren’s work, and style, we can best

describe it as surreal fantasy. You can clearly see the fasci-
nation with the strange, the macabre, and the beautiful.

t i n g I l u s t r a t i o n s o f
The Haun

S a n d r i n e R e p l a t
 interview Which of your paintings was the most challenging? What is your favourite colour pallet to work with?

Lorenz Hideyoshi Ruwwe

I can answer that right of the bat. That were a series of illustrations I love all kinds of blue and orange, also green. Those colors can be found
Issue 004 2007 I did for a client who is preparing to re initiate a TV Sci-fi series on a in my art frequently. I don’t like saturated colors and tend to work with

much larger scale and needed key scenes to be portrayed. I cannot limited colour palettes.

reveal much more just as well as I cannot publish any of the art yet, but

I gave these illustrations my all and worked on them over a long period Who are your favourite artists, and what would be your most inspirational

of time. art piece?

It’s almost a must to mention Craig Mullins first, as he basically is the

What do you find most difficult to paint? godfather of digital painting. There is so much to learn from him and

Characters, that’s mostly due to the fact that I almost never use any many artists have acquired a style very close to his. Other artists

reference, and I know that I should. that had great impact on me are Feng Zhu, Sparth, Syd Mead, Vyle,

Khang Le, Jae-Cheol Park to name a few. I need to mention Tsutomu

Are there any default brush types you like to use when painting? Nihei especially. He had a great impact on my art and still has. His

I use an elliptical round brush most of the time for paining and I also like art is visionary. I also remember being immensely stunned by one of
and
id ents ‘chalky’ brushes. I got a big collection of custom made brushes as well. Feng Zhu’s pieces. It portrays a futuristic armoured truck with soldiers
y acc
happ aintin
g.
p on in a p
llow u nts moving in the foreground and has greenish base tones. I saved and
s I fo leme
etime out e in
“Som s a b certa
storie pture I use custom brushes for all kinds of things. Mostly I add techy-looking renamed it to “Feng overkill” on my hard drive.
e little to ca inct
re vo lv e I t r y a ist
d
f t he tim n d g o for
ost o ing a shapes or textures to futuristic objects or even little figures for scale
But m eginn
ro m the b
f
mood
s age.” reference in epic environments. Trees and foliage can easily be created
an im
t e ll within
to
stor y using custom brushes as well Are there any art theory books you could recommend to our readers?

There are many good books on perspective theory and anatomy that

What software do you use? I cannot name exactly. Andrew Loomis is known for his great tutorial

Photoshop is first choice. It has always been and always will be the books on the human form. Keith Thomsom and Martin McKenna have

best tool for a digital artist to work with in my opinion. From the layering published good digital art guides ranging from fantasy art to robot

system to the powerful brush engine and colour correction tools, I can’t design. I made two tutorials for K.Thomson’s ‘50 robots’ book. Also
www.hideyoshi-ruwwe.net miss any of these. don’t forget to check out some of the Gnomon DVD titles.
How long have you been a digital artist and what first got you interested If you had to work on and improve one of your artistic skills, what would

in digital art as a medium? it be and why?

I have been into digital art since 2003 when the general direction of art I’d surely like to improve upon character drawings/paintings. These have

was quickly moving towards digital media and it became apparent that always been secondary subjects in my art that I need to work on.

it held a great future in the field of concept art and illustration.

I must admit that I was pretty skeptic and prejudiced against digital art If you were given the chance to do a collaboration art piece, who would

in the beginning as I didn’t realize it needed just as much know-how and you work with and why?

experience as its traditional counterparts. I have learned to appreciate Difficult question, There are tons of very skilled artist out there who

the freedom that digital art can give you and I am almost painting it would be great to collaborate with. I wouldn’t mind working together

digitally solely now. with Tsutomu Nihei if, by any chance, the opportunity would arise, but I

strongly doubt that.

We notice that you generally draw a lot of Science Fiction Concepts,

what do you enjoy the most about working within this genre? When you paint that final brush stroke on a piece how does it make

I guess it’s the fact that you can have maximum artistic range, and are you feel?

able to conceptualize things that might or might not work or exist for It depends, If you’re really working on a piece that had great potential

real. I like to create futuristic worlds that draw the viewer in and make from the beginning it will be a joy to finally see it completed. On the

them feel as being a part of it. That is the beauty of Science-Fiction other hand you most likely might finish up a piece reluctantly if the initial

as a genre, you can go on and on exploring ideas and almost create sketch is nothing but promising. You go and render out everything kind

anything your mind comes up with. It’s fascinating. of halfheartedly and try to see something worth the effort but actually

you know you should stop working on it and try a different approach.
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 anders plassgardv e r s io n o f Issue004 Forbidden W h is p e r s M a g a z in e
in th e fu ll
Read the full interview
 L.W. Perkins is an illustrator who has been working professionally for

L W. Perkins
over 15 years now, and has been working with digital art as a medium

for at least 7 of those years. Her main software of choice is Poser,

Photoshop and Painter, and a little paint program called ArtRage.

She has been delighted to be able to show her astro art on the BBC’s

The Sky at Night, and has done promotional artwork for the Hugos, as

well as having digital art tutorials published in Michael Burn’s “Femme

Digitale” and “Digital Sci-fi Art”, as well as working on various DVD

covers, including such classics as Hard Rock Zombies, Demolition

Highway and Boiler Room.

She has also been lucky to carry out some cover art for some New

Age bands, and numerous small press book and magazine covers.

She has also done T-shirt designs and puzzle designs, one most

recently for SunsOut, based in California.

She is a member of the CGSociety, the Association of Science Fiction

and Fantasy Artists, and the International Association of Astronomical

Artists. She also has a secret love of cats and dolls, especially Asian

Ball Jointed Dolls, which forces her to work harder to afford the little

rascals.

http://www.lwperkins.com
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CG Realms
www.cgrealms.com
CG Realms is a nice, but small friendly community, so far featur-
ing 71 registered members in their forum. A very laid back and
friendly community CG Realms also has their own store. The CG
Realms store brings together the talents of ButterflyFish, JenX-
Digital (formerly MorriganShadow) and Valerian70 under one roof.
CG Realms is committed to producing the highest quality digital
products at the lowest prices available. In the recent months they
have added an online gallery where members of their web site
can share their digital works. CG Realms has a small but ample
freestuff section, along with a second freestuff category on their
forum where members can share their own free wares. Their web
site is very clean, light and airy, and very easy to navigate. With
the forum, store and gallery clearly marked in the top navigation
bar. There’s no possible way you can get lost on their site. Very
user friendly.
The Angry Crayon
www.theangrycrayon.com
The Angry Crayon was created in 2003, but went public as a
community in January of 2004. The web site is a combination
of literature and art. Their community has 374 members and is
still growing. The Angry Crayon is run by a laid back, fun loving
people who met in Everquest and another art communities. The
AC, also has an Exalted Crayon of the Month, which features
their most valued contributor and artist of that month.
The AC is a forum based community, with a 2d art section, 3d,
traditional and many other mediums. The forum is easy to navi-
gate and is tidy and the design, minimal. The colours are dark,
but clean. Easy on the eyes and visually appealing.
Web site Reviews
Digital Designs Unlimited
www.digitaldesignsunlimited.com
Digital Designs Unlimited was created by Charisse (TFDesigns),
Neesa (APDI), Brandy (Webster2772) and Mel (Dolphins-Dream).
This web site offers a host of services, such as a forum, freestuff
section, online newsletter, gallery and store. DDU is an official
Content Paradise featured Partner, so you can receive their store
products from Content Paradise and the DDU web site. Their
store is easy to move around, with categories listed down the left
hand side of the page. DDU specializes in digital products, such
as Photoshop Brushes, Poser Characters, and backgrounds and
has recently started selling SNAP Magazine in Low-Resolution.
The web site design is clean and is easy to navigate. The purple
and blue tones are easy on the eyes and can be viewed for long
periods of time. The forum and gallery requires you to be a reg-
istered member before you can participate and potential vendors
can upload their products using an easy form system..
The Seventh Complex
www.seventhcomplex.com
Boasting an impressive 800+ members and their own chat room,
The Seventh Complex is an art community that was founded by
Emanent Kaos in 2006. He runs the SC with the aid of dedicated
members of his community and strives to make all members feel
welcome and all artists, no matter what their ability are treated
as equals. The web site has a very active forum and gallery. The
galleries showcase mediums such as photography, 2D, and tradi-
tional mediums. This place is great for artists of all mediums. The
SC also runs its own “Image of the Week”. The winner receives
a voucher to spend at Xurge3d.com and their winning image in
the Exquisite gallery. If you are looking at the screenshots of the
web site, do not be put off by the dark tones. Each member gets
to choose their own preferred skin in which to browse under. They
have nice styles ranging from the dark and Gothic, to the light and
airy. This web site really does take into account user preference.
Overall this web site is more like a large family, offering artists
vast amounts of support, and well worth a visit.
Yanelis3d
www.yanelis3d.com
Featuring services such as a public gallery, freestuff section, tuto-
rials section, guest book and a forum with 150 members yanelis3d
is a nice friendly community. They also have their own archive of
all their digital products compiled into one type of archive store
area. Each of their products externally links to another web site.
For example, renderosity.com, 3dcommune or runtimedna.com.
The web site design is fresh, airy and nicely designed. The col-
ours are very eye-friendly and a dream for any ‘pink’ lovers out
there.
Their freestuff section, though small, is very generous and has
a very nice selection of poser items. From stand alone items, to
product updates and characters.
Fantasies Unleashed
www.fantasiesunleashed.com
Formerly known as shattered-elegence.com, Fantasies Unleashed is a
new community to the web. Since the hacking of their old community.
They have reformed under a new name and are back with a new fresh
look. They pride themselves on their professionalism and product qual-
ity. FU has their own online store, featuring products such as Photoshop
Brushes, SNAP Magazine, and backgrounds for PSP/PS users. FU also
has their own exclusive items, which fall under the “F-U Originals” cat-
egory. Since their relaunch FU has started up a new forum, so far with
nearly 70 registered users. But without a doubt that number will grow.
FU also has an extensive freestuff section, and newsletter. The web site
has an appealing design, which changes from month to month and is
very user friendly.
 artist spotlight

Issue 004 2007

Ida Mary Walker Larsen

Ida Mary Walker Larsen

missdraconia@hotmail.com
http://www.ida-larsen-art.com

My name is Ida Mary Walker Larsen, I am Danish/American, born of

American mother and Danish father in 1981 in Denmark. I live in
Denmark with my man and daughter Lyra in Denmark.

I’ve been creative since I was a child, continuing to draw when my

peers stopped, developing my own style ever since. When the internet
became available to me at age 17 a whole new world opened up. I
got my own computer, bought a digital tablet and pen and began my
journey into digital art. My works are based on photos but details etc I
paint digitally. My style was achieved by 4 years of working in digital art
and Photoshop.

Fantasy, nature and mythology are themes that inspire me the most.
Dragons, fairies, trolls and elves are creatures of my world. I am
always open to a challenge with regard to commissioned work and in
discovering new paths and techniques. I also do freelance work.

I am currently proud to say that my work ‘Frost’ will be published in

Forbidden Ballistic Publishing’s prestigious book ‘Exotique 3’
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 workshops
Gothic Girl
La Petit Princessa
Mr. Leto
Bryce Modelling and Lighting

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 workshop workshops
Gothic girl Issue 004 2007 Issue 004 2007
Gothic girl
The Base First Definition

What I always do first is setting up The first definition (Image 2) basically

a base for the whole figure which describes the simple process of add-
includes overall looklike and color ing some highlights to the overall piece.
scheme. Final color adjustments When it comes to the face, I added
may vary if I find out that certain whiteish highlights with the hard edged
colour schemes tend not to work airbrush to lips and eyes as much as I
well together while I am approach- worked in first strands for the hair with
ing the final result of the painting. a speckled brush. Speckled brushes

can easily be selfmade or downloaded

On Image 1 you can see the colour from the web, found under the section
palette that I used for blocking in „custom brushes“ on DeviantART.com
the base with a hard edged air- for instance. Note how it also works
brush, spacing set to 1%: Skin col- to add in some blueish whites for the
our, lips colour, two reddish blacks cheeks with the soft edged airbrush,
for hair base and clothes base and opacity set to 39% - it seems as if the
the basic eye colour which is of a blue background color is reflected on
greyish blue. I didn’t mark the blues her skin and so creates the illusion of
which I used for the background be- more depth.
cause I changed its colour setting

later anyway. Since the skin is mostly made up of

white and simply got touched up with a

For her hair base, I mainly used a few redish and blueish tones from the
soft edged airbrush set to 80% basic color palette, it was almost done
opacity, and a rather small size then. That sounds easy eh?
since I had planned to make her

body a bit blurred out like on the

photos I had seen. I then used a

speckled brush to put some of the

first strands in with a dark blueish

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 workshop workshops
Gothic girl Issue 004 2007 Issue 004 2007
Gothic girl
Hair Definition Focus 2. The second range of the focus 3. The third range as I might call

So we could say that the most
„challenging“ and time consum-
ing part of this piece was indeed
painting her hair... however take
a look at Image 3 now. The hair
should always work its way down
the shape of the head. So it‘s
like you try to put a wig on a ball:
the hair is soft and fluffy, and so
easily influenced by the scape it
is covering. I set the airbrush to
a very small size (size can vary,
1. Now it was time to think and
come back to the original idea,
the image should have some field
of depth illusion. So it is wise to
get some idea for the focus of
the image. The focus in this case
was placed as a triangle between
nose and eyes.
which is not as strong as the
first one primary deals with her
lips and cheeks, including some
parts of her bangs. Note that it is
always wise to work with a focus
to avoid the eyes of the viewer
escape your painting too easy.
The longer he gets attached to
it, the longer he will watch, the
higher is the chance he will like
and/ or recognize your work.
it, is what slowly get‘s blurred out
towards the background. It‘s the
part of her head which is clos-
est to the background colour and
which will get some of the back-
ground colour attached to it later
with a soft edged airbrush 30%
opacity of a rather large size later.
Since they are part of the focus,
the peeks of the bands have got
highlight colour attached to them
now, to catch some attention.

since this brings more action

anyway) and picked one of the

highlight colours to paint in many

little hairs which follow the shape

of her head. I continued the same

procedure with various small siz-

es of the airbrush and each high-

light colour until I felt satisfied.

Then I chose my speckled brush

to paint in some more highlighted

strands (Image 4) with my blue-

ish highlight colours.

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Gothic girl Issue 004 2007

Almost forgot her dress

On the image to the right you have

a good overview on how I added

many little hairs with the highlight

colours. This effect was basically

mostly made with the airbrush set

to a very small size (examples: 3,

5, or 7 pixels). The hair seems like

it makes sense because what was

finally painted in doesn‘t all follow

the shape of the head.

Hair is fluffy, so it uses to fuzz

around which makes it bend into

many different directions. Take a

look at her bangs were I marked

you two very characteristic parts

of what I am talking about: The

single hairs seem to be crossing

each other.

Please Note that such an effect

only causes pleasure when used

wisely which means that adding a

few crossings when you are nearly

done is good, while over flooding

the whole head with them is bad

because it makes the hair look

dull.

Final Adjustments
After this step was done I carefully

added some redish texture over
her skin, the lower part of her hair
and dress which I had given fur-
ther definition with a hard edged
airbrush reddish black before.
As you can see I didn‘t like the background colour too much, so I went
ahead and changed it by adding more dark blue/blacks to it. Now it‘s
time to take a speckled brush, or a soft edged airbrush (large size,
opacity 30%), or whatever works best for you. And then start to
work some background colour carefully into her hair.

There is no strict rule for bringing the background colour back into

your figure. You might even attach it to the parts of her skin which

Forbidden seem further away, but it finally it is all a matter of taste.. Forbidden
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workshop workshops
La Petit Princesse Issue 004 2007 Issue 004 2007
La Petit Princesse

La P e t
Making of

i t P r i n c e ss e
Michael Krenzin
workshop workshops
Mr. Leto Issue 004 2007 Issue 004 2007
Mr. Leto

Painting

Mr. Leto
workshop
Bryce modelling Issue 004 2007

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