[Narutomania's Interview Thread] X2thaU

[Avalantis]

At your request I asked Century Slayer for this month. Unfortunally due to "the biggest test of his life, the MCATs (Medical College Admission Test)" CS had to decline.

But don't cry.
For I was able to herass another awesome GFX icon, namely:
our very own X2thaU!

I, for one, was always a big fan of his work, and even tho he has been extremely busy with his school (Architecture) I was happy to have gotten some private quality time with him <3
I decided not to edit the answers with capital letters etc, because the way Xu writes is just...typical.

------------------ ------------------

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

X2thaU:
uh.....im 18 and currently attending university at buffalo for my undergrad degree in architecture. i dont really eat or sleep anymore, i just live in studio and sometimes i drink water
You're a camel?
not really, camels still need to eat. i run on energy drinks

- How did you discover the world of art and what made you get into it?
well, it all started way back around '04 when i started watching naruto....and like any other fan at the time found narutofan.com, and their forums. at first i stayed out of the 'gfx'sections but everything changed when i had my sig request. no one did it =[. so i downloaded ps and made my own first sig. and then i made one after that, then one after that...and then couple years later...here i am...

- How did you find out about NM?
uh forum-migration happens alot...usually someone gets hacked or the admins decide to split...blah blah blah. i was on narutotalk before NM, and the gfx on narutotalk bascially died and everyone from NT just transferred here....i just followed suit


- 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)?
uh, let me put it this way....if you think im harsh to gfx n0obs these days....you know nothing. i started in the same forum as some of today's (or yesturdays...im not too big on keeping in date ) digital design gods. people like ill0s, shirya and vivi (just to name a few)...were pretty heartless =]. oh and to the oldies (TMK included)....Naz-O


- What do you think of Narutomania?
it its pretty awesome and kickass. and surprisingly, it has an active gfx section =[]. but thats not all, most design meatheads wont know this, but im a big fan of (american) government/politics, chances are you'll find me chillin' in the debate secion alot of the time. however, i think it'll be pretty sweet if everyone got really active again (myself not included)


- And of the Art Section? Did you learn a lot from it?
yea i try. most of the time it just becomes a spamfest everywhere tho.
You can learn a lot from that too.
its n0t ko0 when mods delete ur posts tho.....especially if they are funny


- What kind of comments did you get in the beginning, and what kind of comments do you get now when you post at NM?
well, i kind of git p0op'd on in the beginning, much like eveyone else. as time went on however, i stopped getting mad at everyone who didnt like my work, and just chill'd out i guess. now i dont really get comments anymore, but if i did it would be awesome if everyone was like 'woah, thats sweet'


- Do you also go to other forums and if so, what forum would you recommend other artists here at NM?
well i used to have like 4 or 5 forums that i would visit everyday, like broken e-den (minus the -, for some reason it's censored, -A.) kfd and TM, now its just back to NM tho, dont really have time for anything else. if i were to recommend another forum it prolly would be TM. sorry for the obvious generic answer but its true, TM has a pretty high standard, and they are pretty active last time i checked

- Are you content with your current level of skill? Are there specific areas you want to improve in?
lol you know that your never content with your 'current level', improvement is always a must. well i kinda want to get a tablet and start cg'ing, but im kind of broke so =x. and it'll be pretty ko0 if i started using C4D and learned 3DSmax
But first 'sko0l'.
maybe i can balance stuffs..but for my major in my 3rd and 4th year im going have to learn progs like 3ds and rino anyway so =x


- Is there a certain level of skill you want to achieve in the future?
not really, i just want to get better everytime i make something new, which isnt always true...


- What are your main strong points? What are your main weak points (in your opinion)?
my strong points is that i have no weak points. lol jp. well i do try to 'do my own thing' and i always try to switch up my styles,so nothing is really repeated. personally my weak points are that im not trendwhore enough....i need more page views d0od


- What technique do you usually use?
well i use alot of techinques...but one of my favorites is playing around with layer properties and graidents...they are those subtle effects that make or break a piece...but you wont notice them at all most of the time

- How do you build up your tags and/or large pieces?
heres the secret....i make an lp, right? then i take a layer from the lp...move it into a 400x100px box...slap a stock on top....its a tag made to go in like 10 mins =P. for my lp's its kind of different, i usally have a like concept beforehand, and i try to express the concept through some kind of render for drawing...and then i just bulid on that
I always loved the tree LP.
haha that was one of my favorites too. i started everything off with some illy lines. and i left the sky blank on purpose =[]


- What program(s) do you use?
uh usually its a comb0 of illy, ps and c4d...i plan on expanding on that is tho

- Do other artists influence you?
uh loads. n0homo. it'll be unfair for me to try to name them all, for i dont want to leave anyone out. but chances are...even people like interviewers can extend their influences on me =[]
**

- Do movies or music or another expression of art (like graffiti or something) influence you?
the most obvious one would be architecture, as i am pretty sure it is draining my soul (im going back to the studio right after this is done)

ok ok last question then, before I let you go..
no, i will not make out with you!

i mean, uh....

?
Damn ._.

But - What do you think the future will bring you artwise?
uh, it will defiinity stay with me for a long, long time. being an architect, i deal with alot of formal qualities....most how 'kickass' something looks. having a background in ditigal art definity helpes in that. and i think the people i meet here on NM are, pretty unique, if i were to go back and live my e-life again i wont change anything


------------------ ------------------


Work of Xu can be found on his DeviantArt gallery: X2thaU on deviantART


X2thaU uses the following program and is able to answer questions about them:
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Cinema4D

Xu made an (in)famous tutorial that probably is the origin of all smudging in all tags on this forum.
You can find the tutorial here: X2thaU's tut for tags

LPs:

Xu x Lunar

Xu x KaM

TAGs:

Was only able to find one tag hosted, if you got more, Xu or anyone, PM me.



------------------ ------------------

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
[Narutomania's Interview Thread] Fenox

[Avalantis]

I also have some questions for you guys:

- What do you think of the interview thread initiative?
- Do you have some suggestions for new interviewee's?
- Is the layout readable/clear?
- Do you have other suggestions (for the layout, font, whatever)?

[.Kaos]

Nice interview Ava 'nd x2
I'd actually never seen anything of X2 except for the tut. Definitely hot shit

-I like the interviews, sometimes learn stuff from it.
-Clear enough
-Maybe put the things you put on the spoiler, also above the text itself?

[Atemesk]

X2 is definitely one of the old pros around here although he rarely shares his stuff =P
- What do you think of the interview thread initiative?
i think its a cool idea ava =) you should keep goin with it though it seems like its a bit of work
- Is the layout readable/clear?
Yea, you did a good job with it
- Do you have other suggestions (for the layout, font, whatever)?
This may take it too far but different colors on the interview section to show whos who instead of bold and regular
__________________

[Bungle]

g00d shit.

[Swatje]

Well, really great interview, love the idea. Maybe add in some of his favourite pieces of art or in his case architecture?

Great stuff!

Help, but wtfh does LP stand for?

[Bungle]

LP = Large piece.

[Century Slayer]

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/5...yx2thaunl7.jpg

Do you have any idea how much I love this piece?

I was always a fan of x2's tags and he helped me get along when I first started.

- What do you think of the interview thread initiative?
Awesome idea, it bring the whole forum together and give them something to look up to.

- Do you have some suggestions for new interviewee's?
DD, carbon, LMP, Amid

- Is the layout readable/clear?
Yea, structured really well.

[Farre]

omg you interwievd the awsomeness itself =)...I'm pumpd with insperation, thx for this lovley thingy.

[Renzo]

Originally Posted by Ex2

its n0t ko0 when mods delete ur posts tho.....especially if they are funny

win

[fieldy3000]

- What do you think of the interview thread initiative?
i like it, always a good read.
- Do you have some suggestions for new interviewee's?
LMP, DD, Rock l33, _cid.
- Is the layout readable/clear?
Yup. Very.
- Do you have other suggestions (for the layout, font, whatever)?
Nope.

[mehMeT]

Hey! this is sweet! Very interesting! nice interview there insperied!

Damn your work is hawtnes!

[silentruth]

lol @ camel..

[Atem]

Great interview. I was just snooping around X2's photobucket a few days ago and looked at some of his older stuff. He is definitely awesome~ <3

- What do you think of the interview thread initiative?
I love it. I'm glad you thought of it. =]

- Do you have some suggestions for new interviewee's?
DD, carbonmix, setlogix(if he ever comes back)...

- Is the layout readable/clear?
It's not great, but it's readable to me.

- Do you have other suggestions (for the layout, font, whatever)?
Not atm.

[Epoxy]

I'm still in love witht he XU and KaM collab "Tech City".

[TheMonkeyKing]

Originally Posted by Avalantis

- 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)?
uh, let me put it this way....if you think im harsh to gfx n0obs these days....you know nothing. i started in the same forum as some of today's (or yesturdays...im not too big on keeping in date ) digital design gods. people like ill0s, shirya and vivi (just to name a few)...were pretty heartless =]. oh and to the oldies (TMK included)....Naz-O

holla

[Akuma]

I luv those interviews Ava, i luv luv luv luv them...they are pretty kewl...^^
and never saw Xu's stuff except that tag...and damn those lp's are pretty nice...you should post some new stuff....

[Miscellaneous]

Yo x2, How'd you do those lines on that 'Blown' piece?