LuneBleu was recommended to me for this series of interviews, and I'm glad that she was able to share some of her time with us. If you're interested in commercial work, this is a good place to start. I feel the information is very valuable, and I hope you feel that way too.
Q. What would a beginner deviant who is interested in commercial work in photomanipulation need to know to get started?As far as what a dA beginner must know about the commercial ways of photomanipulation is not that complicated.
Yes, in my opinion it is important that you're able to deliver a good product. The happier clients are with the result of your work, bigger are the chances that you'll get more clients in the future.
Try to keep your page professional and clean. If you really want to be a working artist, you must show yourself as a professional.
Create several folders showing different aspects of your art; the more versatile you are, the client range will also be bigger. If in the future you notice that just a specific type of clients are contacting you, than you'll be able to focus and get even more expertize on that specific area; but as a beginner, you can't afford to be picky.
Don't limit your gallery portfolio to deviantArt. Create galleries on other professional art communities and always add your Bio, stating that you work in a freelance level and what type of your you do.
In my opinion, deviantArt is definitely one of the best art communities so, despite I have other galleries and portfolios all over the web, deviantArt is always my main focus and, I'm always keeping my gallery updated. I also have a special folder for my commercial work. many times clients contact me saying that they chose to work with me because they liked the commercial work I already did; they were able to see that I can deliver a good product for them.
Even if you still have nothing to show, create examples of the work you could do (e.g. create book cover examples, a CD covers, a Logo, etc... everything you can recall that translates your work and that visually explains what your fields of expertize are.
Also, don't sit and wait for people to come and meet your work. Explore deviantArt. Join groups, comment on other artists artworks. This is definitely the first step so that the deviantArt community starts noticing you and therefore, external clients will notice you as well!!
Q. Since our month theme this month is illumination, can you select three of your latest deviations and write about them?In my opinion, good lighting is one of the most important things in order to achieve a good photomanipulation artwork. I always try to portray light in a dramatic way; always hitting part of the main subject; while shadows start hiding the rest.
I (almost) always use side lighting, on the left or on the right and I love playing with shades and light in order to achieve the perfect mood for my artwork.
Light sources can determine the mood and the intensity of the artwork itself and, no doubt that, for me, is one of the most important parts of the work through, while I create my artworks.
5 artworks from my gallery:
Thank you LuneBleu for the very informative interview. These are my favorite commercial works from her gallery:
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