ADVENTURE SKULL INTERVIEWS: CHRIS COLD

Thanks for sitting down with me to answer some questions Chris, I had a blast doing this interview and i’m sure our readers will gain a lot of insight from your answers! -Michael Steinheiser x Adventure Skull

Hey, well people know me as Chris Cold. I'm 29 years old working as a concept artist and illustrator on pretty much whatever projects need visual solutions, from games to movies, from book covers to posters, and whatever else comes along.

- Did you go to school or are you self taught?

I never studied anything art-related aside from doing so in my own free time, so to that extent I am self-taught, though there are just so many free tutorials and guides online that it hardly feels self-taught. Not just for art either, I mean even when I was back in school studying history or whatever, I'd just go on Wikipedia to read about stuff. I guess I'm internet-taught rather than attending art school.

- What are your feelings on art school?

I can't say for sure. Education is definitely important in general, but as far as teaching a very specific skill, I think it might be just a tad overrated or outdated. In the end if a person wants to learn something specific they will find a way, so it all depends whether you need the extra motivation from going to school or if you're disciplined enough to study by yourself. At least that's one of the main differences. Having a teacher who knows what things are like in the art world will help too, but it varies to what degree.

- What are you doing now for study?

Well, I don't specifically study anything, I'm just practicing and trying to get better at what I already know with art. Looking up competition and other talents certainly helps with drive, though.

Corruption by Chris Cold

- How long have you been making stuff?

Making stuff for about 12 years, though maybe 5-6 years of that was mostly a hobby and not a successful career. Only later could I actually earn enough money, and doing so consistently, that I would be able to afford a living and pay the bills with it.

- What gear do you use?

Honestly as a digital artist, at this point there are many valid options. Back when I was just starting it felt like only Wacom was making decent tablets for artists, but now pretty much every tablet manufacturer has some option for it. The latest I'm trying out is a Chinese "Huion" tablet, works just as fine honestly, no complaints. I mean even my last Iphone supported a pen with pressure sensitivity, used to sketch things on it when I was on a flight or something.

- How do you feel about Taco Bell getting rid of the cheesy fiesta potatoes?

Never really set foot in a Taco Bell before, but cheesy fiesta potatoes sounds like a best-selling recipe. Dunno why they'd ditch that. Must have been just too good to exist.

- Is Virtual Reality in your workflow? Do you think it’s going to impact what you do in the future?

It's barely on the horizon now in terms of entering the workflow. In the end adding extra dimensions and extra tools just means extra time to work on them, so for example a 2D sketch or a 2D speed-painting can be done several times faster than the visual equivalent in 3D. I would expect virtual reality to add even more strain on that. 

Though, of course 3D (and VR in the future) will just solve a different set of problems, or compliment how somebody can do the same thing but in a different space. I can only see benefits when it does become more viable, for now it's just hard to tell what exactly it would mean for artists.

- Are you passionate about anything outside of art?

I do creative writing quite a bit. If anything I never really had a dream to be an artist when I was in school, only developed an interest in it later on. So if art would have failed I maybe would be an author instead.

- Who are your biggest influences?

In terms of art, Greg Martin was the first artist that I remembered the name of, and whose art made me give the whole digital painting a try. Then later Craig Mullins probably made me try and go beyond.

Otherwise, I have a bunch of video games that influenced me, movies, music, books. Shadow of the Colossus, Lord of the Rings, Lez Zeppelin. Too many to name individually really.

Vultures by Chris Cold

- Any artists who you think are underrated? Tell us about them!

Well, on the global stage all modern artists are underrated. Even throughout history most masters became famous only in death. I'd have to link you half my friendlist if I wanted to give a shoutout to everyone who is underrated.

- Music/movies/shows: which is your go-to when making art?

If I need to be really focused, I sit in silence like a maniac. Or just listen to something very subtle and ambient. Otherwise, heavy and high tempo music makes me get into gears the easiest. Sometimes, I can listen to audiobooks while painting, but depends on the mood.

- Are there any game-changing addons or gumroads you'd like to share with us?

Not sure about any of that, I don't really use anything out of the ordinary personally, mainly sticking to standard tools, and never really paid for any gumroads myself, nor made any. If anybody is looking for tutorials, just give FZDSchool a try first, their lessons are free on Youtube.

You can find more work by Chris Cold on his Artstation: www.artstation.com/chriscold

Thanks for taking some time to give us an insight into your work Chris!

-Adventure SKull X Michael Steinheiser