Interview with Wysiwyg

Time to get to know a bit more about Wysiwyg. You've seen the work, let's hear a little something about the person.

Give us a short introduction about you.
I'm a total mutt with a mixed background in every area. 1/2 Italian, 1/4 German, and 1/4 Ukraine (last name Karpowicz). Born on Long Island NY, moved to North Carolina when I was 15. Graduated college in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in Graphic Design and Painting. Joined the Army in 2000 and have been in it since. I'm happily married with 2 daughters.

Where did you grow up? Tell us a little story about the young you.
Long Island NY....I haven't been there since 1993 and I still miss it. I was lucky to have grown up in a pretty diverse neighborhood, with people from many different backgrounds so I never understood the 'differences' in people. I've always had a dog, a German Shepard for 12 years, and a Bassett Hound from kindergarten until my Junior year of college, 16 years!!!!! Right now I have a lab/chow mix with a tongue that is 3x the size of her head . I changed school systems from 7th (in NY) to 8th, 9th, and 10th grades before we settled down, art was the only constant. I never took in art in high school (they all seemed stuck up) but I drew all through high school (during my other classes )

What aspect of yourself really stands out? Any peculiar habits or odd fascinations?
I talk faster than most people can understand sometimes. When I get into something I go all out to accomplish that task. I get really pissed when little things go wrong, but on the flip side, I'm calm and smooth when correcting large scale disasters, weird huh? I think it stems from being in so many large scale problems that desensitized me, yet if something little goes wrong, it should have been predicted or prevented (because it's little) and that will sometimes frustrate me.

I still like cartoons, and video games at age 29. I am definitely a big kid, I've been told I'm pretty funny, often the first to try and break the silence/awkwardness of a situation with something amusing. Never really been afraid to talk to strangers when needed to. If something grabs my attention, like a song, movie, or book, I will (unconsciously) do what I can to show it to someone else...maybe to help validate my awe of something I find creative and inspiring. I just really fascinated with extremes of emotion....from happiness to rage, just the pure essence of emotion.

I've been told by many that I'm really good at analyzing people, stepping out of the box and facing problems objectively. I am a BIG believer in "Say what you mean and mean what you say." I'm the first to miss a meal, or sacrifice something to get the job done. A martyr some have called me...I just like my job and getting it done.

What is that common every day thing that can really make your day?
Well, I was kind of upset the other day, and this little girl asking her mom some silly questions just put a smile on my face. My wife, my dog, talking to my daughter on the phone. Coming to this site and seeing a new work or getting a constructive critique. My wife knows how to pick me up, she's the best. When all else fails, music, music, music. But I guess that's another question altogether. A good workout, pushing myself in the physical sense gives me a sense of ease at the end of the day.

Is there a typical topic, story or concept that fuels your creations? Where does that fascination come from?
Everything and everyone around me influences me in a degree. I like pieces that have an anecdote to go with them, but in the same time I like the viewer to come up with their own stories. I grew up on comics, toys of the 80's when (in my opinion) at their best. I could easily say the story/concept that influences me the most (in all I do) is the trials and tribulations that a hero goes through and resists temptation or the easy way out. As corny as it may sound to you, I think Spider-man is great example of that. The human struggle is what I like the most. Right now I'm struggling to push myself, not take the easy way out (ie paintovers) or change jobs altogether out of a fear of not succeeding. Seriously, watch Spider-man 1 &2....especially 2 to get my meaning. Great story. Another would be the animated short World Record, from the Animatrix.

Are you part of a collective or group? Would you recommend it to others and why?
In college I was a brother in Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, now I'm in the military. A collective/group is great if you have people skills. What I mean is that you are willing to humble yourself and realize that you don't have all the answers, just some possibilities. If a particular collective/group undermines your ideas, views, and forces a sense of absolute conformity (this is coming from an Army guy?) then I would not recommend it. Although some people need to be forced into these situations to help grow as well. Individuality is great, but to revel in it is unhealthy.
As far as art is concerned, I'm just a GFXer, I was a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP for short.) but it really just didn't seem worth the money. In the next 2 years I'm hoping to get my certification in Photoshop, and maybe some other Adobe programs if lucky....extremely lucky.

Visual artists and music is like cookies and milk, does music do anything for you?
Music is EXTREMELY important. From symphonic orchestra to techno, rap to rock, it all is motivation for me. Tribe Called Quest, Smashing Pumpkins, Bach and strangely enough Milla Jovavich's album's got me through my painting classes in college. I throughout my travels I must have acquired at least 7000 mp3's.

Which artists really influence you?
I love the impressionistic painters, yet I feel not able to tear myself away from deliberate strokes and details as so I can mimic that style. Artists in the fields of anime (to a degree), comics, Giacometti sculptures, J Scott Cambell, Jim Lee, Francis Bacon, Patrick Nagel, Mucha...geez there are so many. The funny things is, you won't see anything like my work look as if I took something from theirs. I just don't want to incorporate their 'styles' per se, but I will observe how one can depict a woman's expression (Nagel) and try to mimic it (like my Lita painting). Cambell is one of my favorites for combining western comic illustration with a manga feel. Marc Silvestri was influencial in high school to me. THE GFXers are the MOST influential overall, as I see people from 15-40 dishing out amazing works in such low (self proclaimed) time and from all over the world. I take a little bit of each piece I view and take it with me.

Which artists do you consider to be the great ones of this time?
ANY artist who was told he/she wasn't good enough, and didn't listen.

How would you describe your style?
Varied and inconsistent. I never really thought about it, but I do know what my goal is. When time allows and my life is stable enough for art full time, (basically not be deployed) I'm wishing to find a perfect balance of being able to render photorealism w/o reference, and also be able to simplify it to an impressionistic, or even comic style when needed. I do know that I am a fan of color, dynamic color.
Many people say that my works have a cinematic feel to them, to me that's the ultimate compliment as I have sucked the viewer into my world and got them both visually and emotional attached to my work.

Is there something specific that sparked your creative side?
The 80s, definitely. I didn't think so until VH-1 ran that I love the 80's special and I remembered so much that I forgot about. My parents also never became an obstacle for me to try something new.

What's your opinion about traditional media? Is it an advantage to have experience with real pencils, paint or conventional camera?
Absolute advantage. With the mass marketing of digital media for art, many people think that they just need to learn a program to get by, (and some are right, they are just that good.) But from what I have learned in my years, (especially going into the military as a Multimedia Illustrator) is that my fine arts background gave me an edge. A better understanding or the fundamentals helped me excel beyond my peers in training, and in my job once I got there. Plus, as I combed the job market after college it became clear to me that the only way I was to get an interview was to have a degree on my resume.

On the creative side, what are you trying to achieve? Is there a reachable goal you've put your focus on?
Jack of all trades, and it's tough. I am totally aware that I can do better, I just need the time, to do it. Life has been pretty hectic these last two years. I've been deployed to Iraq for 6 months, 3 times already with only a 4 month average break in between. I've just gotten the basics of digital video/audio editing, currently pushing my web development skills to a solid intermediate/advanced level...same goes for Flash. I've slacked off my manual arts skills for long time as my work doesn't need it. To 'brand' myself I need to start working on my self promotion and finally define the style I'm after.

Do you strive to be as versatile as possible or do you stick to one thing?
I think my strive to be versatile as inhibited me to excel in one thing. In the future I need to focus more on one aspect before I move on to try something new. That's why I haven't cracked open my AVID software or 3D Studio Max and Bryce.

Is there a certain ritual that takes place before you start working on something?
Find the time, the energy. Check which music I have on me, and carefully plan the intent of the piece. My personal goals (that I know I've achieved in the piece), and professional goals, (how will this benefit my career, what aspect of my portfolio is this going to augment?)

How do you work? Describe the process you go through.
Thumbnails, thumbnails, nap, more thumbnails....a week later I review it, wait until an insane time of night, make more changes, put on the headphones and go to town

What equipment do you use to create your work?
I got an Alienware Area51-550 that has been tricked out enough so that I will be in credit card debt the rest of my natural life Check out my blog for specs. I own a 12x9 Intuos3 Wacom for digital. I also have a Nikon CoolPix P1 for photography, my Mom's Nikon 35mm SLR when it's working. I'm a big oils fan for painting.

Have you been educated in what you do? Where did you study and how much do you profit from it?
I studied at a small school not worth mentioning, the Graphics Dept didn't get Photshop 5 until after I had finished my Graphic requirements. I received a BFA (Bacholer's of Fine Arts) with an emphasis in Graphic Design and Painting in May 2000. In my studies I had to learn sculpture, photography, and other forms of media. It has aided me in my job, and has helped me become one of the top soldiers in my field.

My current job IS that of an Art Teacher, working at the Dept of Defense Information School's Multimedia Dept.

Wich programs do you use and what do you use them for?
I own the Adobe CS2 Suite, Macromedia Corel Draw 12, I just bought Painter 8, Bryce 3d 5, 3dMax 7, Premeire Pro 1.5, Avid DV Pro, I pretty much use them all based on their particular purpose, but I must say Photoshop is my fav!

How do you work on improving yourself? Any secrets you'd like to share?
My secrets are so secret, I DON"T KNOW THEM ! Practice people, it's the only way....I scour the Bookstores and online all the time for new materials and tutorials..

Computer Arts Projects, Computer Arts Magazine, Digitz Magazine, and Photoshop User Magazine are great as well.

Do you work in the creative industry? Describe your job or the work you do.
PAST
I work for the military, helping win the hearts and minds of people all over the world. The messeges are often lost in the career evaluations papers of those appointed above me. But there has been some great worthwhile projects. Projects where I have documented evidence that my work has made an impact on it's target audience. Whether it saved lives, stopped infrastructure sabotage, or educated people on a political or social state of affairs, it's nice to get feedback. My job landed me on a (very small) interview in CBS nightly news, Stars and Stripes magazine, got to see my work in newspapers and websites around the globe...so yeah, it's been a resume builder.

PRESENT
Instructor in the Multimedia Dept of the Dept of Defense Information School. An accelerated 13 week course that covers 5 manual art mediums and 7 different programs. Currently I teach the block that covers Powerpoint, Dreamweaver, Premiere, and Flash.

What makes your job so much fun?
I love teaching...

I love teaching those who want to learn, and convincing those who don't that they do This is my first creative environment in a long time (college days) so I'm making the best of it.

What is the most exciting (commercial) project you've worked on? What made it stand out?
The CPA, or Coalition Provisonal Authority logo.....definitely had the most press/exposure. It was there at every press conference addressing the situation in Iraq's reconstruction during it's existence. It was nerve racking to come up with too.
It was the seal that was to represent the Coalition (35 or so countries) and inspire hope and well being while trying to retain a sense of determination and sturdiness while ALSO representing the nation of Iraq. Check it out CPA Logo

The Joint Psychological Task Force Logo was also difficult as I had to show representation of 8 different symbols. To me, it's the best logo I've done to date. Check it out JPOTF LOGO

Describe your dream job. Where would you love to let loose your creativity?
Working somewhere that when mentioned, some recognizes the company. I want to be a part of something big. Where creativity is revered and imagination is expected. Where my space is MY space, decorated as I see fit, with my music. Video game company??

If possible it would be great to be freelance as well, working out of the home with the kids while my wife finished Med school.

Any final words for the readers?
Thank you if you took the time to read my babbling. Keep up your great work, and feel free to drop me a line if you wish me to critique your work (if I miss it). And share the love!! Feel free to go to my gallery and critique my old stuff as well.