Being a traditional and 2D digital artist, what has been your impression of the Blender community? Obviously you have been working quite closely with a lot of Blenderheads through Project Durian.

This question is funny because it’s linked to some comments I get from the community working on Durian like “the Blender family accepts you even though you are a 2D artist” These kind of comments, thinking I’m just a traditional and 2D digital boy is wrong; cause I’m partially a Blenderhead too.

To give a proof, I have to jump back in time :

checks this :
http://www.blendernation.com/short-film-little-fairy

or this
http://www.blendernation.com/videotutorial-dragon-toon-rose

I started in Blender with 2.36 and the cool splash from Venomgfx, and I speedily adopted it as my first 3D solution. I worked in the industry of product design (computer case / USB key ) while imposing Blender as the standard 3D tool too during some years, and  I still start many of my illustrations (landscape) on a 3D base with Blender:

So, sure; I’m not a 100% Blenderhead but you can understand that I was understanding all the conversations about Blender, even if I rarely opened this software in the Blender Institute… And this is really hard when you are a partially Blenderhead on the Blender Institute!

How did you come to be involved with Durian?

The story is a bit long and from 2005; almost same time the Orange team started “Elephant Dreams” production. I was totally fascinated by the concept of “open movie,” and I dreamed of the concept so strongly that I created my own open movie named “Hereva.”  My first contact with Ton Roosendaal was to ask some advice about my project. I trusted his message telling me in the big lines, if I remember, “without a physical place to gather poeple it will be hard,” and a lot of encouragement too to continue to build it. At this moment, I decided to finish the open movie alone, and did the “little fairy” text above. I learned a lot on this period.

When Peach project started, I sent my portfolio link as many artist to be in. Unfortunately I was with Colin Levy- (that’s fun) on the spare list. http://www.blendernation.com/peach-team-chosen/ Spare list was a bit frustrating, but I continued to follow the peach project carefully.

In February 2009, some years after BBB, I received an email from Ton asking if I was available to be on the Durian core team as a 2D concept artist… and you know after. Useless to say I dreamed of such story on my Blenderhead start.

This one may be a bit difficult to answer, but can you give us a rough number of the total concepts/sketches you’ve drawn for Durian?

Mmmm…. it can be possible; counting the exact number of files (excluding WIP files) with the calculator: 189; but some crappy sketch too in it, so let say around 150 concept and maybe half of them for the final script (I drew a lot of refused pictures too).

Btw, I didn’t scan some sketch before and during the pre-production workshop, and this number doesn’t count the paint-overs, 1st storyboard and sheets with more than one drawing on it.

When you start a new piece, do you usually imagine the final visual? Or is it more of a organic exploratory path to get to the final result?

50/50; I come with my ideas, and the papers/computers with its solutions. The meeting of the both create something new. In this video I show a process that use a lot this:http://vimeo.com/6143607

Based on the recent news item from blender.org, it would seem you have a Blender Foundation training DVD coming out shortly. Can you tell us a bit about this?

That’s true, I do. The 5th Open movie DVD workshop for the Blender foundation named “Chaos and Evolutions”. It will be a DVD about 2D digital painting. This title illustrates the previous question about my vision of drawing: starting always a bit chaotic, and proposing with techniques some evolutions. I actually do the video editing with Kdenlive, and spend a lot of time on it.

Read more info about :

http://www.blender3d.org/e-shop/product_info_n.php?products_id=122

Presale is open if you want a copy

After the hours of work, what do you do on the side to relax, or keep inspired?

I like to spend time watching other arts on internet galleries, and try to deeply understand the author and his techniques. I like to read news about Linux software too, and contribute as I can. And outside a computer, I like to play guitar, read sci-fi or fantasy books and cook.

If you could meet anybody from any time and place, whom would it be and why?

“My angel”, “My good fairy”, “My guide” … anyhow you name it/him/her; just to say a big “Thank you”.

And thanks you for reading this and Blender cookie for publishing this.

Thank you David for the interview and the uncomfortable, yet kick arse image below. If you are interested in learning more about Davids work please visit his portfolio site.