[Narutomania's Interview Thread] Fenox

[Avalantis]

Every month it’s a challenge to choose a new GFXer, because so many of you are so great in what you do! But last month I already knew directly who I wanted to interview for this month. He has inspired most of us, and surely left all us in awe with his tags and LPs. To me, he is the definition of Forum GFXing. He doesn’t talk…much.. and mainly in his team thread. But when he enters a battle or makes a thread, he surely is as mighty as that sexy Spartan from his current tag. *go go 300*

What better way to enter the new year, than with an interview with: FENOX.

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Avalantis:
- Could you tell us a little about yourself?

Fenox:
There's really not much to tell. My name is Wayde Wilson, and I was born in Northern California. I'm 18, and in the last 6 months of high school. My life story is pretty boring really.

- How did you discover the world of art and what made you get into it?
I joined some small DBZ forum back in 2002 to, naturally, discuss the awesome that was DBZ. While there, I noticed the little "art" section. Everyone was posting these awesome tags and stuff, and I really wanted to try it. So I got some cheapy free program and made like 2 tags. They were horrible. It was only then I discovered Photoshop. I promptly got it, and the rest is history.

- Not history that I know of :] How did you find out about NM?
kakashix2 actually told me to join. He wanted me to join his graphics team, I think anyways. I don't remember exactly though.


- When you started making graphics, did a lot of people support and help you, as in giving comments critiques and supplying knowledge (programs/tutorials/etc)?
When I first started, no. The board I first started on was obsessed with a X/10 rating system. So all of the replies I would get would be something like, "It's ok. I'd give it a 6/10." It got really old, and the first year or so of my learning was me finding tutorials for myself, and teaching myself. After awhile it gradually changed to a more constructive place.


- What do you think of Narutomania?
I really like it. The graphics section is a fun place to post. I've never really posted outside of it though, sad as that may be. I like the people there, and I definately enjoy the time I've spent there.


- And of the Art Section? Did you learn a lot from it?
I think it's a great place to learn. Some people may be a little harsh on beginners, but I think that's somewhat nessacary to the learning process. As for myself, I learned a great deal there. Before coming to NM, every single tag I would make looked the same. Flat and uninspired. When I first started posting at NM, I was shocked to see that people didn't like my stuff, since the last forum I had been at were really into it. I got over it though, and started really learning again. Stuff like lighting and blending. Basics I should have already known.


Let's face it, the Art section had a big downfall. Slowly we are pulling it out of the mud, but still we miss some activity and big events. Got some tips?
Yeah, it was going strong, then suddenly died. The only thing I can really suggest is that people that frequent it post more. I see a lot of threads with like 4 replies. There used to be an average of around 15. It would be nice to see that sort of activity again.
Yeah, that would be nice, tho I doubt it. Most noobies get so scared by the rudeness and low posts that they don't stick around.
Yeah, that's the biggest problem right now. All the "vets" are getting to lazy/busy.
They (the newbiess) are the future!


- What kind of comments did you get in the beginning, and what kind of comments do you get now when you post at NM?
In the beginning, it was a lot of posts about my stuff being too flat. My stuff was repetitive and generally unappealing. People were helpful back then though. Not saying they aren't now, but it was a different story when I first joined. Now when I post stuff, it's usually just stuff like, "Version 1 is nice," or, "I'm not really feeling it..." I don't get many suggestions on what to change anymore.



- Do you also go to other forums and if so, what forum would you recommend other artists here at NM?
No, I don't go to any other forums. I hate working myself back into a community, so I've been wary about joining another one. I realize I probably should, to avoid any sort of bias in critique, but I haven't yet.

- Are you content with your current level of skill? Are there specific areas you want to improve in?
No, I'm not content. I'm not sure I'll ever be content for that matter. The first area I would want to improve on is my ability to portray emotions and stories in my large canvas pieces. I find it exceedingly hard to do with abstract pieces. While the majority of my work is tags, I enjoy working on large canvas art much more..


- Is there a certain level of skill you want to achieve in the future?
I would like to be able to cover a wide range of styles eventually. I've dabbled in stuff like vector work and cg before, but I haven't really comitted to learning and bettering my skills in those areas. I guess I've been successful enough with abstract to never really be motivated to learn something new.


- What are your main strong points? What are your main weak points (in your opinion)?
Strong points would definately be coloring and lighting. Sometimes depth, depends on how lucky I get. My biggest weakness is definately typography. In nearly every piece I do, the typography is a glaring mar on an otherwise nice piece. I've opted to just stop trying for the moment.


- What technique do you usually use?
Smudging and brushing. I also use stock manipulation heavily in tags. There are other things I do, but I'm not really sure how to describe them. Oh, and I use the pen tool quite a bit as well.

- How do you build up your tags and/or large pieces?
With tags, I always start with a stock. From there, I build up an "enviorment", then I detail it. Large canvases start much in the same, only with a render instead.


- What program(s) do you use?
Photoshop CS2, and Cinema4D. I used to use 3D Studio Max, but I lost it.

- Do other artists influence you?
Yeah, other artist influence me. No one in particular though. If I see something cool, I'll just start think about how they could've done that. Then I set to work trying myself. Although, when I first started doing large canvas work, the usual people were influential. Srtukt, ekud, basically depthCORE.

- Do movies or music or another expression of art (like graffiti or something) influence you?
Music, for sure. I'm a really musical person, and music is a big part of my life. I play guitar, and dabble in keyboard. So when I hear music, I get inspired easily. Not always to make a tag, but always to create something. Movies sometimes give me a spark, but not so much.

- What do you think the future will bring you artwise?
I would like a career of some sort, although I'm not sure whether or not things will end up that way. More likely, I would like to just be able to enjoy creating art for some time to come. If I stop liking what I'm doing, I'll stop. But if my current state of mind is any clue, that won't be for a very very long time.


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Work of Fenbox can be found on his DeviantArt gallery: Fenox on deviantART

LP: attack music by ~Fenox on deviantART
Hugeass LP: http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/5...emulantkm3.png











Fenox uses the following program and is able to answer questions about them:
Adobe Photoshop, Cinema4D “used to use 3D Studio Max, but lost it.”

For more questions about GFX I refer you to the Tutorial section here:
http://www.narutomania.com/forums/graphics-tutorials/
Esp. the New Help Thread might be the thing for you! (compare it with the homework thread in the General Section)

Other interviews:
[Narutomania's Interview Thread] ~acadia
[Narutomania's Interview Thread] Cycliodbeta
[Narutomania's Interview Thread] .ceyx

[Farre]

nice work Avie. lovley interview as allways.

[poony]

didnt expect fenox to be the next interviewee
but nevertheless a great read.
i wouldve expected fenox to have started in some other way - like doing art at school or something.

[X2thaU]

awwww fenb0x u thugggg.

best part of the interview V

Originally Posted by ava

[fenox] is the definition of Forum GFXing. He doesn’t talk…much..

lolol anyway great interview

[carbonmix]

[Narutomania's Interview Thread] Cycliod Beta

ERROR ERROR

[.ceyx]

Dude, Dragonball is still awesome; know that.

Your work is tight too. I'm a pretty crappy devwatcher, I know. I'm almost never motivated to check my messages so someone would make something new and I won't know about it for months. Because of that, I try not to click that 'watch' link [unless it's necessary] so people won't expect much of anything from me. But I try to pay you a visit whenever your name crosses my mind.
I bring this up 'cause I see something up there that I haven't viewed before and I know it must not be the only one...

Didn't know you were a musician. I dabbled in that too [keyboard/piano, drums, almost bass guitar too] but never went anywhere with it. It's funny how commonly artists wander through the same unfamiliar territory. We gotta get that 'fix' someway, somehow.

[Renzo]

Originally Posted by .ceyx

Dude, Dragonball is still awesome; know that.

Your work is tight too. I'm a pretty crappy devwatcher, I know. I'm almost never motivated to check my messages so someone would make something new and I won't know about it for months. Because of that, I try not to click that 'watch' link [unless it's necessary] so people won't expect much of anything from me. But I try to pay you a visit whenever your name crosses my mind.
I bring this up 'cause I see something up there that I haven't viewed before and I know it must not be the only one...

Didn't know you were a musician. I dabbled in that too [keyboard/piano, drums, almost bass guitar too] but never went anywhere with it. It's funny how commonly artists wander through the same unfamiliar territory. We gotta get that 'fix' someway, somehow.

can't you already play the bass and drums?

[.ceyx]

Were you stalking me 4 years ago? 'Cause that's the last time I touched either of those instruments.

[Renzo]

Play Me A Smoooooth Bassline Token

[Akuma]

Nice interview, Fenoxs stuff is always appealing.

[Enishi]

I'm not a gfxer but you guys have a great interview thing going on....wish it spreads to the other parts of the forum.....keep it up!

[Bungle]

YOU FUCKING LIAR, YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE 17!

Either way, nice interview! I really enjoy reading these.

[Atem]

I wasn't expecting Fenox to be the next person to be interviewed either lol. Great interview though Ava. Fenox has some hot tags/LPs. <333

[Century Slayer]

Fen0x is that nigga.

Good stuff again Avan.

[Fenox]

Originally Posted by Bungle

YOU FUCKING LIAR, YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE 17!

Either way, nice interview! I really enjoy reading these.

Technically, I am. For like, 16 more hours.

[Atem]

Happy early B-Day Fenox. =]

[Bungle]

Originally Posted by Fenox

Technically, I am. For like, 16 more hours.

So you ARE lying!

Happy early-b-day.